What's Up Yukon, January 15, 2025 by What's Up Yukon

Manus Hopkins is a Whitehorse-based journalism student and

RAW POWER

Raging Asian Women (RAW)

Taiko, a Japanese drumming group based in Toronto, will perform in Whitehorse with Yukon Taiko this month

It would be an understatement to say Yukon Taiko, the North’s own traditional Japanese drumming group, active since 2015, is still going strong. In fact, the ensemble is gearing up for their biggest year yet, kicking off with a Jan. 31 performance at the Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) alongside RAW Taiko from Toronto.

Since they normally play slots on festivals and other events with multiple different types of performance, it isn’t often that Yukoners are treated to a taikoexclusive showcase.

“Personally, I love this group,” says Yoko Oda, president of the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY) and a founding member of Yukon Taiko.

“We haven’t had a big taiko concert for awhile, so I felt it would be good to have a taiko concert and show the Yukon community we can use taiko for social justice as well as a Japanese traditional art form.”

RAW Taiko is made up of Eastand Southeast-Asian women and gender non-conforming drummers. A politically-motivated group founded in 1998, it partakes in the taiko tradition born of Asian-American and Asian-Canadian participation in racial and gender justice movements of the 1960s and ’70s.

The ensemble has performed at large-scale events including

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RAW Taiko performs “Unhaunted”

Pride celebrations in Toronto and Buffalo, NY, the Dim Sum Chinese Festival as part of Harbourfront Centre’s World Routes Summer Festivals, Muhtadi International Drumming Festival in Toronto and Tobago, Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts, labour union conventions, International Women’s Day events, art festivals, social justice events, and more.

This winter marks the performers’ ﬁrst time visiting the Yukon

and sharing their expressions with a whole new audience that may or may not be familiar with their work, and the Taiko tradition as a whole.

“I’m excited and also a little apprehensive,” says Young Park, who has been with RAW Taiko since 2007 and took up the mantle as artistic director in 2017.

“I don’t know the area at all, and we just keep hearing about

cont’d on page 12 ...

PHOTO: Vinca Ha

musician.

Freelance with Manus Hopkins

Angélique Bernard is a

LES ESSENTIELLES

The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Yukon francophone feminist organization Les Essentielles

Les Essentielles’ employee and board of directors in 1999. Back row, left to right: Angélique Bernard, Lise Ouimet; Front row, left to right: Margo Pincombe, Flo LeBlanc, Hélène Lapensée

Ofﬁcially incorporated on March 13, 1995, this notfor-proﬁt organization represents the interests of Yukon francophone women in the ter-

ritory and works in the ﬁelds of well-being, support for families, education and youth, social justice and lobbying.

For this anniversary, biographies of historical and contemporary Yukon francophone women will be presented throughout 2025 in What’s Up Yukon. Angélique Bernard, the ﬁrst development ofﬁcer of the organization from 1996 to 2001, was hired to research, write and revise the biographies in French and translate them into English.

Some of the Yukon francophone women were already presented on the Album des femmes, published in 2000 to celebrate the ﬁrst ﬁve years of the organization. These biographies will be enriched and updated.

The English biographies will be published throughout the year in What’s Up Yukon and in French in

l’Aurore boréale and will be broadcast during the francophone radio show Rencontres on CBC North. An ofﬁcial launch of the biographies is also planned for May 15, 2025.

Les Essentielles would like to thank What’s Up Yukon and l’Aurore boréale newspapers, the Association franco-yukonnaise, through its Community Fund, and the Rencontres radio show for supporting this project.

Do not hesitate to contact Angélique Bernard, at abernard@ northwestel.net to submit names of Yukon francophone women that contributed to the Francophone community.

The ﬁrst English biographies will appear in What’s Up Yukon on January 29. n

Bernard

2000

PHOTOS: Supplied by Aurore boréale

Angélique

(left) and Florine LeBlanc (right) at the women’s march in

IDIOMATIC ORIGINS

Josephine Holmes is a freelance writer and former copy editor of What’s Up Yukon. She is a prairie girl at heart, but loves the Yukon and has been a sourdough since 1994. The other thing she loves, apart from spending time with family, is being called “Grammy”.

A Clean Slate

loved) was when the slate was wiped clean.

can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t want this … Who doesn’t want a clean slate in their lifetime – throughout their lifetime? This idiom is one I have counted on and am, once again, counting on as I enter this new year and consider the things that may end and what new beginnings are waiting.

Of course, health is right up there at the top of the list, with copyediting following close behind.

Slate was what students recorded their classwork on in the 1800s. You remember – chalkboards, and the nerve-shattering screech of that wonderful chalkboard line-drawing tool (we loved it, we hated it). So many fond memories. But what I loved most of all (and what I bet many of us

I was always amazed at how a chamois could wipe a slate so clean that it looked almost new … and I remember the satisfaction of being the ﬁrst to print or write on that clean, green blackboard. Yes, green. Green because black reﬂected too much light. Black (as in blackboards) because the original boards were made of black slate.

And we were both silently and simultaneously aghast and delighted when a rectangular chamois would deﬁantly tumble out of a teacher’s hand and bounce off their freshly-pressed attire (even more fun when they were wearing dark clothes) and onto the ﬂoor – often paired with a sigh or some subvocalizations involving indiscernible or barely-discernible words – leaving chalk dust to dance in the sunlight.

Not sure why we found that so scintillating – a bit of dark classroom humour, perhaps, that broke through the blackboard banality.

Now Welcoming New and Emergency Patients!

Our dentists and team of dental hygienists have been proudly serving the Whitehorse community for many years. Come in for your first consultation and you’ll leave with something to smile about.

I am pausing now to look up at the recently purchased, newly installed chalkboard on our ofﬁce wall. Now all that is needed is chalk – the dustless variety (even chalk has come a long way).

Anyway, as satisfying as those boards are, it is even more satisfying to see a clean slate. It represents a new opportunity, a completely fresh start and a chance for old things to be forgiven, if not forgotten, and for new things to take their place.

Two thousand and twenty-ﬁve is that clean slate that we’ve barely begun to write on. Imagine what you would like to see on that slate, this year, then pick up that “chalk” and just go for it. Oh, there will undoubtedly be occasions when some screeching will be heard, but that’s all part of the journey.

So, here’s to a clean slate, where a clean slate would feel helpful, and a happy new year. And here’s a piece of “chalk.” It’s time to dream and to plan and to start creating. n

You can expect friendly and welcoming care in an environment that relaxes even the most anxious patients. We all love what we do, and look forward to welcoming you and your family to our practice.

IMAGE: Alexandra_Koch at Pixabay

column with Josephine Holmes

MENDENHALL

YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON THE KINDNESS OF YUKONERS

Part Three

My metamorphosis from Cheechako to Sourdough was helped along by some incredibly kind Yukoners

It was a cold and early Sunday morning in late October when there was a knock on my door, I opened it wearing my housecoat. It was Shultzie, my neighbour from two doors down. He came walking in and said “Well, Shitterie!” (A phrase that he used quite often and I still use to this day)

“Put on some pants and get in the truck, I’m going to teach you how to keep your family warm through the winter!”. I put on some pants and got into his big 3/4 ton Ford.

We’d rented a mobile home in Northlands Trailer Park and it had a small Arctic entranceway addition with a woodstove.

I’d been living in town for almost a year and the only time I’d been out of city limits was after we bought a small Chevy S-10 pick up from our Child Tax Refund back pay. (It was the only way we could save any money back then – don’t do our taxes then when we did we’d get a massive retroactive lump sum payment all at once).

We’d bought the truck that summer and made a quick turnand-burn to Golden B.C., to pick up the rest of our stuff. Other than that, I’d never left town before. Now, I do not condone drinking

and driving or pufﬁng and driving, but Shultzie and I headed west out of town with a box of beer and a bag of weed. Virgin territory for my cheechako eyeballs!

We passed the Casa Loma and Trails North, the furthest west I’d ever been.

As we passed the Mayo cutoff I said what’s that? “That’s the Mayo cut-off and the road to Dodge!” Then as we started to climb this massive hill, he said, “And this my friend, is Pop-A-Top Hill!” and proceeded to pass me a beer. After a few miles we pulled into a rest area that I now know as the Takhini Crossing pullout.

I jumped out of the truck to stretch my legs and stare around in awe at the beauty surrounding me. When I jumped back in, Shultzie had twisted up a doobie and stated matter of factly that, “This here, is what we call Puff Point”.

I just had to laugh. But again, I still to this day, tell tourists that the hill is Pop-A-Top and the pullout is Puff Point.

We carried on down the road, chit-chatting when I wasn’t too busy staring at the spectacular views and scenery that I lived so very close to but had never before seen. Every bend in the road was like a postcard image. They still are, and I’m very lucky to

now live out in Mendenhall and see this all, every time I go to town and back.

Sometimes when I drive past Kusawa Lake Road, I chuckle to myself, thinking back on that very ﬁrst trip with Shultzie, taking me down there.

We pulled into the Takhini Burn rest area and he said, “If you’re going to need an outhouse, this is your last chance for a while.” I was good but it was time for another beer.

Then we headed down Kusawa Lake Road. We got about ﬁve 5 miles down it and he slowed the truck to a crawl and hunched over the steering wheel, staring at the bush on each side of the road.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “Looking for dead ones”. After a while he saw one and pulled over to the side of the road.

A lot of things have changed in the Yukon since we took this trip nearly 25 years ago and a lot of what we did that day would be totally against the rules nowadays. But looking back, I can totally understand how some folks could wish for the old days again. Back when you could make an honest living with a saw and a truck, maybe some chains.

We jumped out of the truck and headed in to ﬁnd the ‘dead one’ that he’d seen. We got up to it and it was massive! Probably 18” thick at the bottom and 50’ tall. “Right on!” I said. “Are we taking this home?”

“I thought you said...” “Just fetch my saw!” I did as I was told. It was the ﬁrst time in my life that I’d ever held a chainsaw. And it felt pretty good in my hands.

“This tree’s just about dead, so I’m not killing it, just helping it along” he said, and proceeded to show me how to ‘ring’ a tree. After he was done he told me, “Those needles will be gone soon, we’ll come back for this one next year”. And we did.

Shultzie wouldn’t let me run the saw at all, no way, no how. Told me that he didn’t want to have to pack some bleeding newbie cheechako out of the bush to the hospital and get blood all over his truck.

My job was to haul 8-footers to the road. He did the felling and limbing, then back at the road he would buck it up and I’d pile it in the truck. By mid-afternoon, the truck was full and we headed back to town. Three weeks each of ﬁrewood, but the beer and weed were gone.

When I told my brother the story he laughed and asked, “But you still had all of your ﬁngers and toes? Amazing!” Hahaha. I don’t think to this day that my brother has ever started a saw, much less felled a tree or delivered a cord.

I have to admit that ever since that day, I’ve been constantly looking for, and noticing, ‘dead ones’ when I’m driving anywhere.

To be continued… n

“Nope! See that little branch way up there with those green needles on it? That means the tree’s not dead yet and will be green. Won’t burn.” “Fetch my saw”, he said.

PHOTOS: Gary Atkins

with Gary Atkins

Gary Atkins is the editor of What’s Up Yukon, and is proud to promote, feature and support All Things Yukon.

Kusawa Lake Road

A nice dead one On the ground

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS JANUARY 24 - APRIL 19

Photos: John Howland Photography

A CLOSET FULL OF FURS

Imagine the Kardashians’ fingers gently sweeping over 20 different fur coats!

How should their closet look? First of all, this closet should be dark, cool and very roomy.

Dark, so that the sunlight won’t be able to oxidize the hair and dry out the leather. Sunlight can loosen the fur’s lustre and can even change its colour. Cool, so that the oil in the leather won’t dry out and therefore make the leather brittle and prone to tearing.

Your closet shouldn’t be cramped, otherwise air won’t be able to circulate around your clothes, the leather will dry out and mold could start developing. Therefore, don’t put your fur coat, hat or moccasins in a garment bag.

Never, ever, put it in plastic, as the condensation will make it, again, moldy. If you take your fur on a trip, put it in a bag of loosely woven cloth in your luggage. Only use broad hangers with shoulder pads.

The

furrier’s storage:

The furrier will place your heirloom in a strictly temperatureand humidity-controlled vault for the summer months. The temperature is set between 7.2 and 11 degrees C and the humidity at between 48 and 50 per cent. By the way: the word furrier comes from the Old French word “fourrer” which means “stuffed”.

How the furrier will clean your jacket:

Beware: never take your fur piece to a dry cleaner – they don’t have the means, products, nor tools, or the knowledge of how to clean that coat. Also don’t try to do this at home with store-bought cleaning agents.

Take your garment to an authorized fur care specialist or qualiﬁed furrier (fancy combining that Air North trip to Edmonton with a concert?). What normally happens to your fur coat: dust and pollutants are attracted to the oil of the hair and settle on your coat, then draw the oil out of the pelt, causing it to look old and tired, dull and matted. The natural shine is missing.

The professional fur cleaner will ﬁrst inspect your coat for any tears and stains. Then the lining will be cleaned, after which the fur coat is placed in a large drum that holds sawdust and a cleaning solution; this process will remove dirt and oils from the fur.

The piece then is being vacuumed to remove the sawdust, then hand-steamed to remove any ﬁnal residue. Using large rollers that provide a static-electricity effect, the hairs will lift, separate and lie in the same direction. The furrier then uses oil to recondition your coat, both hair and pelt, so that’ll look, once again, shiny and sleek.

Then there is “lusterglazing”, a dry-cleaning process that will clean and deodorize your vest, preserve the lustrous beauty, restore the silkiness, so the leather will stay soft and supple.

Furriers who use organic, not petroleum-based, cleaning agents, can also take care of your faux fur item. But then again, faux fur is not biodegradable.

When keeping your garment at home:

Shake the fur piece out regularly. When dirty, wipe it with a clean damp cloth only in the direction the hair is growing, then take a fresh dry cloth and do the same until mostly dry. Don’t scrub. Best is to let it dry on its own; you can then, with a fur brush, brush it out very gently. If

you don’t have one, use your ﬁngers. Follow the direction of the hair with short and even strokes, working a small section at a time.

The leather of furs that are always kept in a warm and very dry environment might start to crack or rip.

As for hats: When wet, shake and reshape so that it will hold its form. Don’t rub the water away –

the fur will end up matting. Let it air dry in a well-ventilated, dark and cool area, away from direct heat sources. You could make your own custom hat stand. Fur is very durable when cared for properly.

This column has been compiled with information gleaned from fur.ca, meganmelanson.com, benzingfurs.ca, morrisfurs.com and furhatworld.com n

Navigating

What is dementia and how to respond to the diagnosis

Monday, January 20, 2025, 1:00 to 3:30 p m

Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre | Room: Artists Studio 1171 Front Street, Whitehorse

Introduction

It’s never too late to make changes for a healthier brain! Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Teslin Tlingit Council Longhouse

ART and

PHOTO: Cindy Carey

PHOTO: Sonja Seeber

and PHOTO: Karen Nicloux

HOUGEN GROUP OF COMPANIES: MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCH Visit yk.st/mentorship to learn

July 21st to 25th: yk.st/robotmania

ART SHOWS

Until Jan 17 Pixel Perfect: A Journey Drawing Outside the Lines by Riley Cyre YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Showcasing the vibrant and evolving artistry of 14-year-old Riley Cyre, whose digital creations reflect themes of empowerment, emotion, and selfexpression.

Until Jan 17 Threads of Change: 50 Years of Northern Fibres Guild YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery

Until Feb 2 Celestial by Yukon Art Society Members Arts Underground

Until Feb 20 The Land Speaks to Me by Jackie Olson YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery A rare glimpse at her collected works-in-process: Olson makes works that want to be returned to the land, and many of her works have already been curated back.

Until Feb 20 Land Mass by David Curtis YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Dawson City-based artist David Curtis presents a compelling series of film and multimedia sculpture installations in his latest solo exhibition.

Until March 1 Growing Up With the Yukon - The Van Bibber family Arts Underground Showcases selections from almost two thousand photographs taken by the Van Bibber family between 1919 and 1965

LIVE MUSIC

Sat Jan 18 Community Dance 7:30 PM Church of the Northern Apostles Featuring a live band - Megan MacLeod and Rick Avery and a variety of contra, square and ceilidh dances.

Thu Jan 16 Happy Time Radio Family Band 8:00 PM 98 Hotel Traditional Fiddle Tunes & Honky Tonk!

Sat Jan 18 Songwriters Night with Ellorie McKnight, Logan Mckillop & Hendrika 9:00 PM Lefty’s Well Original, solo and duo folk tunes.

Sat Jan 18 Cosmic Grooves – 1 Year Anniversary Celebration 9:00 PM Yukon Transportation Museum Celebrate Cosmic Grooves’ 1-year anniversary with BB, VCHO, and special guest Joses from Edmonton! 19+ event.

Sat Jan 18 The Bennett Sun 9:00 PM 98 Hotel Come and dance, listen to

Monthly

Mondays Gray Jay Café 6:00 PM

A HABIT

You will be able to see things clearly and avoid accidents and injuries. Here are a few tips to sharpen your vision and ensure a safe drive at night. First, check your lights. It is important to check your headlights that includes fog lamps, driving lights and brake lights if they are working properly before heading out. It is also important to visit your

or change your

or if it requires some cleaning in order to have a

Whitewater Wednesday 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

Thursdays

Muster Point 6:30 PM Baked Cafe

Muster Point live and featuring a rotating lineup of local guest artists.

Ginger Jam 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Fridays Live Music 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House.

Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Saturdays

Live Music at Whiskey Jacks 7:00 PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill. whiskeyjacks. ca/

Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Sundays

Open Jam 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

GENERAL EVENTS

Until Thu Jan 16 Wicked 6:00 PM Yukon Theatre A big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining two-part cinematic event this holiday season. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/wicked1

Until Thu Jan 16 A Complete Unknown

7:00 PM Yukon Theatre An enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. https://yukonfilmsociety. com/schedule/a-complete-unknown

Mon Jan 13 Life Drawing Sessions

6:30 PM Arts Underground Practice your life drawing of a live model in a casual setting. The model will be guided through short and long poses. https://www. artsunderground.ca/

Mon Jan 13 Yukon Bison Hunting Workshop 6:00 PM Mt McIntyre Recreation Centre Learn expert techniques, ethical practices, and sustainable strategies for Yukon’s wild.

Tue Jan 14 Pivot 2025 – Poetry Crawl 7:00 PM Old Fire Hall Our annual night of poetry along the Yukon River in January. Curated by Peter Jickling. https:// nakaitheatre.com/

Wed Jan 15 Social Media Data Safety 12:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Join Martin Lehner, a leading cybersecurity expert, for an in-person session that explores the hidden dangers of social media data.

Wed Jan 15 Words Out Loud – January 2025 6:45 PM Multicultural Centre of Yukon – MCY Open mic event series for writers and readers alike - featuring Eric Epstein & Trina Moyles.

Thu Jan 16 13 Ways to Draw on Clay with Nicole Bauberger 6:30 PM Arts Underground Experiment with colored slip, oxide washes, and underglazes, with techniques such as wet carving, leather hard carving and numerous others. https://www.artsunderground.ca/

Thu Jan 16 Pivot 2025 - A Room for Looping 7:00 PM Old Fire Hall Loop Sessions is a non-competitive sample flip challenge among beatmakers and producers, in over 30 locations around the world. Now in the Sun Room. https:// nakaitheatre.com/

Thu Jan 16 Women’s hunter Education and Ethics Development 6:00 PM Vista Outdoor Learning Centre A free women’s hunter education course! Open to participants of all skill levels. Call 3358388 or mayapoirier7@gmail.com for more info.

Fri Jan 17 Opening Night – Nosferatu 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/nosferatu

Fri Jan 17 Pivot 2025 – Short Works for Quiet Nights 7:00 PM Old Fire Hall A night of Yukon writing and music. Curated with Yukon Words.. https://nakaitheatre. com/

Fri Jan 17 After Dark Series: Cribbage Edition 1 8:00 PM Yukon Brewing Cribbage doubles tournament complete with prizes & specials on pints!

Sat Jan 18 Pivot 2025 –Look Up

10:00/11:00 & Noon PM Old Fire A series of intimate short performances combining live visual animation, storytelling and a foley soundscape. https://nakaitheatre. com/

Sat Jan 18 Pivot 2025 – The Sun Room for Kids 2:00 PM Old Fire Hall Join Claire Ness for some fun in the Sun (room). https://nakaitheatre.com/

Sun Jan 19 Colourwork Knitting 1:00 PM Itsy Bitsy Yarn Store Learn to read colourwork charts, carry your floats and manage tension, and have the confidence to approach new stranded colourwork patterns. https://itsybitsyyarnstore.ca/ Mon Jan 20 Life Drawing Sessions 6:30 PM Arts Underground Practice your life drawing of a live model in a casual setting. The model will be guided through short and long poses. https://www. artsunderground.ca/

Tue Jan 21 Pivot 2025 –Burn Things Parade 7:00 PM Frank Slim Enjoy the fires, and add our own lights to the night. Fire performances from Yukon Circus! https://nakaitheatre.com/

Tue Jan 21 Pivot 2025 - Burn Things Craft Making! 6:00 PM Frank Slim

Building Join us at the Frank Slim Building before the parade to make a paper craft to add to the fire. Hosted by Allison Button!

Tue Jan 21 Project Management for Small Business 9:00 AM Northlight Innovation Focus directly on what is necessary to succeed in both projects and business. https://www. whitehorsechamber.ca/

Thu Jan 23 Pivot 2025 – A Room for Singing 7:00 PM Old Fire Hall Erica Mah leads the learning and singing of a song in the Sun Room! https://nakaitheatre.com/

Fri Jan 24 After Dark Series: Euchre

Edition 1 8:00 PM Yukon Brewing The first of three Yukon Brewing euchre tournaments.

Fri Jan 24 Pivot 2025 – Short Works for Loud Nights 7:00 PM Old Fire Hall

Curated by Music Yukon with Kirsty Wells, we plug in for a last night in the Sun Room. https://nakaitheatre.com/

Fri Jan 24 Polar Night 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre join our dancers, singers and artists as we embrace the magic and wonder of our Northern Winter; from the joy of those first flakes of snow that stick on the ground, to the stunning aurora overhead. https://yukonartscentre. com/

Sat Jan 25 Polar Night 1:00 & 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Join our dancers, singers and artists as we embrace the magic and wonder of our Northern Winter; from the joy of those first flakes of snow that stick on the ground, to the stunning aurora overhead. https://yukonartscentre. com/

Sun Jan 26 Bike Touring with Kids: A Visual Story Ride for Winter 3:00 PM Mt McIntyre Recreation Centre See and hear the stories of a local bike family who’ve pedalled around the world, from toddlers to teens - and dream of your own adventure!

Thu Jan 23 Photo Sessions for Artists applying to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection 9:45 AM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Artists can photograph up to 3 completed pieces with expert support from photographer Erik Pinkerton. Call 334-6612 or email at martyna.makiela@ yukon.ca for more info.

Thu Jan 23 CanNor Anniversary

Business After Hours 5:00 PM Sternwheeler Hotel Celebrate 15 years of CanNors commitment to fostering a sustainable, diversified and innovative economy across the North. https://www. whitehorsechamber.ca/

Fri Jan 24 Opening Night – Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim Yukon Theatre A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/ lord-of-the-rings-war-of-the-rohirrim

Fri Jan 24 Photo Sessions for Artists applying to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection 9:00 AM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Artists can photograph up to 3 completed pieces with expert support from photographer Erik Pinkerton. Call 334-6612 or email at martyna.makiela@ yukon.ca for more info.

Fri Jan 24 Live Comedy – Graham Clark featuring Randee Neumeyer 7:00 & 9:30

PM Head writer of the Debaters, Graham Clark, joined by Vancouverite Randee Neumyer! Get your first chuckles of the season with this hilarious pair! https:// www.jumpcomedy.com/e/graham-clark-ftrandee-neumeyer

Sat Jan 25 Photo Sessions for Artists applying to the Yukon Permanent Art

Collection 9:00 AM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Artists can photograph up to 3 completed 2D & 3D pieces with expert support from photographer Erik Pinkerton. Call 334-6612 or email at martyna. makiela@yukon.ca for more info.

Sat Jan 25 Live Comedy – Graham Clark featuring Randee Neumeyer 7:30

Sat Jan 25 Burns Supper 2025 5:00

PM Elks Lodge An evening of Scottish cuisine, music, scottish country dancing, and a performance by the Midnight Sun Pipe Band. Call Pat 687-3701 for tickets.

Sat Jan 25 Trivia Night (Members & Signed in Guests) 7:30 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Theme Star Wars/Star Trek, cash prizes, and bragging rights!

Monthly

2nd Monday Ukulele Group 6:00 PM Golden Age Society salvin@northwestel.

net

2nd Monday Whitehorse Slow Jam 7:00

PM Golden Age Society

2nd & 4th Mondays Service Officer 7:00

AM Royal Canadian Legion Whitehorse

An invite to all Veterans, Police and First responders for the service hour at the Legion, socialise and find out what is going on. https://bit.ly/3Lm40ZG

2nd & 4th Wednesdays Whitehorse

Photography Club - Meetup 7:00 PM Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Held in Rm A2204. Discuss photography, share your work, learn new tips and tricks. http://whitehorsephotoclub.ca/

First Thursdays QYS Craft Night 7:00

PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache This is a great place to gather and meet other queer crafters. And there will be tea of course. Regular drop-in is still available.

2nd Thursday QYS Movie Nights 5:00

PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache

Last Thursdays Repair Cafe 6:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Bring it in and see if it is fixable using soldering irons, multimeters, and other tools. This easy introduction to electronics and small home appliance repair is a useful evening of DIY learning that you can take home.

2nd Thursday Music Trivia 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come on out and test your music knowledge! Teams of no more than 6 people.

Last Friday Pioneer Women of Yukon 12:00 PM Golden Age Society

3rd Sundays Messy Church 3:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. Crafts, singing and food will be the focus.

2nd & 4th Sundays Grade 8 – 12

High School Youth Group 6:00 PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth

Monthly

Weekly

Mondays

Mtg: Competitive Commander 6:00 PM

Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Women’s Bible Study 6:00 PM Women’s Bible Study. Refreshments are served followed by the study. For more info check out www.mountainview.church or email rachel@mountainview.church.

Ukulele Group 6:00 PM Golden Age Society

Euchre - For Members and Signed in Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Euchre a trick-taking card game for four players, two on each team, As a member you

Tuesdays

Bridge 12:00 PM Golden Age Society

Café de l’amitié 2:00 PM Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) Le Café de l’amitié est un rendez-vous hebdomadaire et une occasion de rassemblement pour les francophones de 50 ans et plus.

QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache

Language Skills for Ukrainians 5:15

PM Yukon Learn A discussion group workshop provides a relaxed and friendly environment where learners can practise and learn English conversation skills.

Weekly Shuffleboard Tournament 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For members and signed in guests. A double knockout style competition and games are limited to 6 ends or 15 minutes

Chess Club 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!

SuperSmash Bros, Mtg: Commander 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

10 Card Crib - Members & Signed In Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Whether you are a seasoned crib player or a beginner, come play! Learn tips and tricks and have some fun! https://bit.ly/3KP0B5s

Wednesdays

Multicultural Connection Group 11:00

AM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon –MCY Connect with other parents and caregivers, learn about parenting in different cultures. A free lunch program for immigrants and refugee families. Lunch and transportation provided. Call 3321803 for more info.

Spanish Conversation 12:00 PM Whitehorse United Church Call 333-6081 for more info.

Anglican Holy Communion –

Whitehorse 12:10 PM Christ the Church

Cathedral The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd Wednesday of the month

Sew & Tell All – Elders Hangout

1:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre

Facilitated by Kwanlin Dün Elder-inResidence Shirley Smith, everyone welcome. Feel free to join and start a beading project or work on something that you’ve already started! For more info email culturalprograms@kdcc.ca

QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon

Society The Cache

Texas Hold’ Em 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For signed in members and guests. Bragging rights!

Mtg: Modern, Warhammer Age of Sigmar 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Thursdays

Public Speaking TrainingToastmasters 12:00 PM Decora Guests are always welcome. There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters. Practice 2 minute table topics

Anglican Thursday at the Cathedral 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral Bring a lunch (Book of Alternative Services)

Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Find out what role playing games are all about! Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are always welcome.

Mtg: casual Commander, Warhammer 40k & Kill Team 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Mountainview Church Community Group 7:00 PM 16 years or older?

Mountainview Church Community Group! We’ll share some snacks and talk about what the bible has to say about discipleship.

Fridays

Coffee & Chat 11:00 AM Golden Age Society Coffee and chat is a way to connect with your community, develop friendships, and have fun.

Mtg: Pioneer, YuGiOh Casual 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Saturdays

Yukon Amateur Radio Association

Coffee Discussion Group 8:45 AM A&W Restaurant Hams from outside the Yukon and those interested are welcome to join us in this casual event.

Cribbage - Members and Signed in Guests 2:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Masks are mandatory. Members must have a valid 2021 membership and they may sign in 2 guests MAX.

Pokemon, Mtg: Youth Magic, Lorcana 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Sundays

Mountainview Church Sunday Service 9:30 AM Church In The Building 9:30 AM, 11AM or Church At Home 7 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM Mountainviewwhitehorse.ca/Watch

Clothing Room 10:00 AM Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone

Whitehorse United Church Worship Service 10:30 AM A caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth

Secondhand Clothing Bizarre 2:00

PM Whitehorse Seventh-Day Adventist Church Clean clothes needed and donations accepted if in good condition. Please call before dropping clothes off and for more info 633-3463.

Sunday Gatherings 3:00 PM The Northern Collective Church KIDS & FAMILIES

Mon Jan 13 Whitehorse Open House 5:00 PM Boys and Girls Club Yukon Meet and inspire the BGCY Team, try out a fun activity.

Mon Jan 13 Acting Through Song Workshop 6:00 PM Guild Hall Learn to practice and develop your audition material or music theatre song choices with direction and guidance from Kevin McLachlan and Calvin Laveck.

Wed Jan 15 Kids Clothing Bag Sale

11:00 PM Whitehorse Community Thrift

Store We all know how hard children can be on clothes during their early years. Our friends at the Community Thrift store are offering a one-day-only $5 bag sale.

Sat Jan 18 Ceramic Gnomes for Kids with Ann Chapman 10:00 AM Arts Underground Learn to wedge, roll, pinch, and connect clay together to make whimsical gnomes and mushrooms. https://www.artsunderground.ca/

Sat Jan 18 Kids Night Out 5:00 PM Polarettes Gymnastics’ Games, pizza, movies and fun!

Sat Jan 25 Youth Club Ski to Harvey’s Hut 9:30 AM Canada Games Centre For ages 10-14, cross-country ski or snowshoe equipment, day pass and snacks included.

Monthly 1st & 3rd

Saturdays

Grades 5 - 7 Junior Youth Group 7:00 PM Mountainview Church Passionate about giving kids opportunities to have fun & make new friends, while teaching them about Jesus & His great love for our world https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth 2nd and 4th Saturdays Grade 8 - 12 High School Youth Group 7:00 PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth

Weekly

Tuesdays

Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library Join us for stories, songs & rhymes! A free drop-in program for children ages 0-5 and caregivers at Whitehorse Public Library

Parent-Child Mother Goose 10:30 AM The Child Development Centre Celebrates the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories. Bonding time with your little one or to learn for later.

Wednesdays

Community Connections 1:30 PM Yukon Family Literacy Centre An intergenerational story time and craft program. Meet local elders, have a coffee, do some crafts, and make a friend!

Thursdays

Transformations Along The Chu Nikwän 1:30 PM Yukon Visitor Information Centre Join Amber for a free walking tour every Thursday along the Whitehorse waterfront to learn about the Yukon First Nations people and the history of the Yukon. Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Youth 11-17 are invited to join, no experience necessary.

MEETINGS

Wed Jan 15 Whitehorse Disc Golf Association 6:30 PM Sport Yukon Held in the boardroom, come out and tell the board members that the courses are too snowy, there’s too much sand at Solstice, and one time you threw a disc into a tree to demand compensation! All disc golf enthusiasts are welcome!

Wed Jan 22 Paddlers Abreast AGM/GM 5:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Breast cancer survivors/supporters. Are you interested in paddling in a future Yukon River Quest race? Or just wanting to participate in some recreational paddling? Bring your ideas, some snacks to share and join us for an evening of discussion.

Weekly

Tuesdays

Rendezvous Rotary 6:30 PM Tony’s Pasta and Seafood House Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at Tony’s Pasta and Seafood. Come and join us for fun, and fellowship.

Thursdays Toastmasters Decora 12:00 PM Sundogs Toastmasters Club. Club is open to all interested parties and we provide constructive feedback to help develop public speaking skills.

Monthly

First Monday Klondike Snowmobile Association Board Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon https://ksa.yk.ca/comingevents/

First

Third

ZOOM Yukon

for regular meeting. Everyone is welcome. Call Kathy 334-9317 or info@yapc.ca for a zoom link or join us in person. https:// yapc.ca/actions/detail/yapcs-monthlymeetings

Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon

ONLINE EVENTS

Fridays AA Yukon Unity Group 1:30 PM Online For Zoom Room address Contact 334-7693

Saturdays AA Detox Meeting (OM, NS) 1:00 PM Online For Zoom Room address call 334-7693.

Tuesdays Restorative Online Healing Circles 7:30 PM Online Check-in, Q&A, connect and feel the results. No experience necessary. Register online, or call 335-0078 or email alison@ alisonzeidler.com for more info.

TWe had a craving for fish the other day

he night before, we’d been thinking that it had been a long time since we’d had halibut for supper, reminiscing about the very best we’d ever had.

We’d visited my niece in Haida Gwaii, where her stepsons had just landed 25,000 pounds of ﬁsh. And following the tradition of sharing, she said “Bring a cooler.”

Well they ﬁlled the cooler with seriously-fresh frozen halibut and snapper and a few cold packs.

We followed that tradition and also shared when we got home.

So that’s what I was thinking as I cruised the frozen sea lanes in the grocery store and these halibut steaks caught my eye.

“Wild and Fresh,” the package said. Uh huh. Meaning frozen of course, but looking like they came from the Paciﬁc.

Grabbed the steaks and the milk that I’d actually come in for and went home.

Imagine our surprise when we saw this note in the bottom corner of the label: “Packed by Paciﬁc Fresh Fish, Regina, SK. Canada REGINA? What the hell??? Turn the package over and what stands out? PRODUCT OF USA!

I guess each of us knows someone who has fished for halibut in the Pacific off the coast of Alaska. Don’t we? To be optimistic, the nearest place I can think of to start yer halibut fishing trip would be Haines, hey?

Not to beat you over the head with it, but Haines is 1,786 miles to Regina via Whitehorse! 1,358 by air. Even if the thing was caught somewhere off Seattle it’s still at least a 1,040-mile trip. And we here at home are 1,366 miles from Regina. This halibut was a little tired to say the least.

Lesson learned: go to the ﬁsh store! If you’ll forgive a blatant plug: The Haines Packing Co. n

PHOTOS: Supplied by Carl Maguire

Continuing Studies

Northern Institute of Social Justice

WINTER TRAINING COURSES and WEBINARS

Caregiving Through Loss And Grief

- For Frontline Professionals & Family Caregivers

Jan 21-Feb 18 (Every Tuesday), 9:30-11am

CRN: 90011

$175 + GST

Registra on deadline: Jan 17, 2025

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530

Beyond The Binary: The Evolu on Of Gender

Jan 23, 2025, 10-11:30am CRN: 90062

FREE

Registra on deadline: Jan 20, 2025

Delivered: Live streamed via Zoom

*NEW* 13 Factors Of Psychological Health And Safe

Jan 24, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm

CRN: 90079

$175 + GST

Registra on deadline: Jan 21, 2025

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530

FASD Informed Support

Jan 30, 2025, 9am-4pm

CRN: 90098

$50 + GST

Registra on deadline: Jan 23, 2025

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1440

De-Escala ng

Poten ally Violent Si a ons

Feb 5, 2025, 9:00am-4:30pm

CRN: 90109

$329 + GST or $299 + GST early bird registra on by Jan 15

Registra on deadline: Jan 22, 2025

Late registra on un l Feb 4, through CTRI by emailing: sam@ctrins te.com.

Delivered In-person: YukonU Room T1023

*NEW* Administra ve Law For Advocates

Feb 7, 2025, 9am-4:30pm

CRN: 90064

$125 + GST

Registra on deadline: Feb 3, 2025

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530

*NEW* Leading Through Fa gue, Complex And Uncertain

Feb 12, 2025, 10-11:30am

CRN: 90065

FREE

Registra on deadline: Feb 7, 2025

Delivered: Live streamed via Zoom

*NEW* HOPE 4 U – Reconcilia on Of Challenges In Everyday Living

Feb 12, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm

CRN: 90066

$75 + GST

Registra on deadline: Feb 5, 2025

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1440

Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training (ASIST)

Feb 26-27, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm

CRN: 90067

$225 + GST

Registra on deadline: Feb 19, 2025

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530

Yukon First Na ons (YFN) 101

Feb 26, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm

CRN: 90078

$325 + GST

Registra on deadline: Feb 19, 2025

Delivered: In-person in room 1 at Northlight Innova on, 2180 2nd Ave

REGISTRATION OPTIONS:

• Contact Registrations & Records at 867-668-8710 EXT 2 and quote the CRN;

• Register by emailing registrations@yukonu.ca

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

Please note that if you wish to withdraw from your

prior to your course start date in order for you

all withdrawal of non-academic courses.

Mental Health First Aid For Northern Peoples

Mar 5-7, 2025, 9am-4:30pm

CRN 90069

$260 + GST

Registra on deadline: Feb 26

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room T1023

Mo va onal Interviewing (MI)

Mar 6, 2025, 9am-4:30pm

CRN 90110

$329 + GST

$299 + GST Early bird registra on by Feb 13

Registra on deadline: Feb 20.

Late registra on un l Mar 5, by emailing sam@ ctrins te.com

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1440

*NEW* Transforma onal Leadership: Segment AThe Resilient Leader

Mar 12, 2025, 9am-12pm

CRN 90096

$125 + GST Registra on deadline: Mar 5

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530

*NEW* Transforma onal Leadership: Segment BThe Resilient Organiza on Mar 12, 2025, 1pm- 4 pm

CRN 90097

$125 + GST Registra on deadline: Mar 5

Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530

how cold it’ll be – but I’m very surprised and happy to hear that there’s a taiko group up there who found us.”

Park says she is excited to expand her own taiko community

and meet the Yukon drummers in what will be an opportunity for an “exchange of ideas.” Oda found RAW Taiko online, and with funding from Lotteries Yukon and the Government of Yukon,

was able to bring the two groups together for a unique experience in performance and education.

“I think it’s great to use taiko to express our identity and to bring the community together,” explains Oda. “We are not a big social justice group yet, but I think it’s a good start for the community to show that taiko can be good for that.”

The Yukon Taiko drummers will also have the chance to learn from RAW members and hone their techniques in a special workshop between the two groups. The drumming ensembles will also host a public workshop to teach community members of any skill or experience level about the taiko craft and history, the day after their YAC performance.

For Park, the chance to perform for and teach a whole new group of interested patrons was an opportunity that couldn’t be turned down.

“Residing in Toronto, sometimes we can be singing to the choir,” she says. “It’s easy to do the work when you’re in your bubble, and we’re always striving to stretch ourselves in drumming but also in our values and philosophy. It was an opportunity that came out of nowhere, and we like to say yes to the unknown when we can.”

Like Yukon Taiko, RAW Taiko is committed to constant evolution and continuous growth. Park goes as far as to say the RAW Taiko you see today looks much different than the one formed in 1998. Tak-

ing new opportunities, even ones she feels apprehensive about, is essential in the ensemble’s development.

“I can’t believe I’ve been part of [RAW] for so long,” she says. “I think the reason it doesn’t feel so long is because I’m constantly learning in this group; there’s something about being in RAW that makes me feel like a student in different ways all the time, whether musically, physically or the many other ways in how we work as a group.

“We take a lot of effort and energy to make sure our group dynamic is working well and that we’re practising our values as much as possible, internally as well as hopefully representing them externally. I’m very proud of RAW in the sense that it hasn’t gotten stuck in outdated philosophies. I feel like I’m still in the group because I’m still learning, and the group itself is constantly evolving.

“I’m really proud of the fact that the group has survived as long as it has,” says Park.

RAW Taiko’s performance with Yukon Taiko takes place on the YAC mainstage on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at yukonartscentre.com To keep up with RAW Taiko, visit the group’s website at rawtaiko. ca. To learn more and register for the Drumming Into Action workshop on Feb. 1 at the YAC, contact yukontaiko@gmail.com n

PHOTO: Aako Kurokawa

Yukon Taiko

p Yukon Taiko at Arts In The Park, 2024

q RAW Taiko plays “Naname”

PHOTO: Imajing

PHOTO: Aako Kurokawa

GREY MATTERS

Dianne Homan is a retired school teacher, dancer, and long-distance walker. She is the author of Walk Your Own Camino, Mother Earth Legends, and two children’s books. She lives an oh-so-simple oﬀ-grid lifestyle.

LIFE’S TIME FRAMES

I’m sure we all remember being in school and surreptitiously glancing at the clock on the wall every 30 seconds or so wanting, with every atom of our over-stimulated brains and understimulated bodies, to get the heck out of that place

At that stage of our lives, time was felt hour by hour –the wake-up / get-up time, the changing of classes in school, the after-school play / sports / extra-curricular time, the dinner hour, and then homework time / TV time in the evenings (before there was any such thing as social media and video games.) Life chugged along like a train with regular stops.

Most of us don’t remember the time frame of our years before school. But those who’ve parented young children have experienced it second-hand. Eat, sleep, pee, poo, laugh, cry, look around, wiggle around, demand to be picked up,

demand to be put down – and then do it all over again.

Every single minute is new. And every one of those minutes is a bit disorienting for the adult-in-charge.

Jumping ahead, we look at the big chunk of time from age 20 to about 60. Time is divided up into work weeks, pay periods, monthly long weekends, and monthly bills to pay. The verb that fits this part of life is “to do.” The adjective is “busy.”

Much of it is rewarding. Much of it is exhausting. There’s a feeling of never having enough time.

Then comes retirement. Poof, it’s as though the scenery on your life’s stage suddenly changes from a hustling-bustling busy street scene to a backdrop showing a wide flat empty prairie. How do you navigate that? How do you know where you are?

You start walking, swishing through that tall grass. Swoosh, swoosh. After a while, you realize what a nice sound that is, and your heart rate slows down. You breathe

more deeply.

You walk every day, and that makes your body happy. And then you see that, in this wide expanse, there are a few signposts. As you do a yearly circumnavigation of this field, you look forward to seeing those same signposts again.

Each of us has different signposts, of course, depending on our interests, our families, and our communities. Here are some of mine:

In January, a sign about family birthdays shows up, and about halfway through the month I start to notice lengthening days. February is when I see too many films at our local film festival. March to May is garden prep time and roadside litter pick-up time.

June to September is gardengarden-garden time, briefly interrupted by summer music camp, mushroom picking, berry picking, and bulk food ordering. Tai Chi and Yoga start up again in the fall, and my husband goes hunting.

The lake freezes, the snow

comes, and I create our winter trails. In December, there are wonderful concerts and the magic of all the coloured lights in town. Also, my holiday gift to myself is two weeks to re-read all the Harry Potter books. So here’s a little haiku I wrote about my senior years time frame: daily busy rhythms slow to yearly garden gather hibernate

Well, you might say, that’s not very exciting. True, my signposts aren’t terribly big or eye-catching. But I look forward to small, simple, meaningful things that come around each year. I see old friends I haven’t seen for a while, because they stroll by some of the same signposts. I see the sun rise and set at slightly different times every day. I track it as I walk through the field. And time swooshes by. n

Time swooshes by

Signposts

PHOTO: Dianne Homan

column with

Dianne Homan

IMAGE: FixiPixi_deluxe at Pixabay

T“The

OF CABBAGES AND KINGS

“‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said, To talk of many things: Of shoes –and ships –and sealing-wax –Of cabbages –and kings – ”

hese charming and whimsical lines from Lewis Carroll’s poem, “The Walrus and The Carpenter” are spoken to a gathering of unsuspecting young oysters, just before the Walrus and the Carpenter tuck in to feast upon them. Perhaps not so charming and whimsical, then, but instead, rather sinister.

However, those lines are often quoted when one is inviting a friend, maybe someone you haven’t seen for a while, to come and have a chat, to let the conversation roam where it will, on an exploratory expedition with no topic off limits and all ideas possible. Accidental discoveries are made; eureka moments shared; friendship deepened.

Now and again similar moments happen in the kitchen. All ideas are possible. Accidental discoveries are made.

Late in the holiday season, between New Year’s Day and the return to work and sober pursuits, it was my husband’s turn to make dinner. There was leftover turkey tetrazzini to be warmed up, and for a vegetable, roasted cabbage. He prepped the cabbage by cutting it into thick steaks, coating them with oil and sprinkling with salt. He then microwaved the steaks for four minutes, “to soften the core,” he said. (I thought this a redundant step, but I was wrong.)

He then roasted the cabbage in the same 375F oven in which the tetrazzini was warming. All was going to plan. Then I called from the living room, “At the very end, just sprinkle some grated cheddar on top to add creaminess.”

I meant the tetrazzini. He thought I meant the cabbage.

All ideas are possible. We discovered that barely melted cheddar on roasted cabbage steak is a perfect culinary marriage. The cabbage is buttery soft, and the cheese enters every crack or crevice and becomes one with the vegetable.

Like many, I’ve reached my limit with the possibilities of turkey, except for the turkey stock I spent a whole day making. Here proposed is a simple risotto to accompany a roasted cabbage steak, with a leek you might ﬁnd rattling in the vegetable drawer, and some dried morels from last season.

Idle chat and roaming conversation at dinner encouraged.

ROASTED CABBAGE STEAKS WITH

MELTED CHEDDAR

• 4 thick slices of cabbage, including core

• 2 to 3 Tbsp olive oil

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 1 cup grated old cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. To prepare the cabbage, cut a whole cabbage in quarters. Cut 1-inch-thick slices from two quarters, so you get goodsized steaks. It’s best to leave the core in so the steak stays intact.

2. Coat both sides of each steak with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

3. Preheat oven to 375F.

4. Microwave the steaks on a plate, two at a time, at high for 4 minutes – this will help to pre-soften the core. Test with a fork – if it pierces easily, you are good to go.

5. Roast the steaks on a baking sheet for 10 minutes, remove from oven, carefully ﬂip each steak and roast for another 10 minutes.

6. Sprinkle one side of each steak with a few tablespoons of grated old cheddar—white or orange, up to you. Return to oven for 2 to 3 minutes, just enough that the cheese melts into all the nooks and crannies, but before it begins to brown. (Alternatively, let it brown a bit!)

7. Serve right away. The cabbage will be buttery soft, and you won’t even taste cheese and cabbage as two distinct ﬂavours, just one gorgeous whole.

Makes 4 servings.

LEEK AND MOREL MUSHROOM RISOTTO

• 1/2 oz (about 1/2 cup) dried morels, soaked in 1 cup hot water

• 1 leek, white and tender green parts

• 3 cups turkey, chicken, or vegetable stock

• 1 cup morel mushroom soaking liquid

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 Tbsp butter

• 1 clove garlic

• 1 cup arborio rice

• Zest of one lemon

• 2 Tbsp butter

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Soak dried morels in hot water.

2. Prepare the leeks: trim tough green ends and save for stock. Slice the white and tender green part lengthwise and chop into 1/4-inch slices. Place in a small bowl, cover with cold water and leave to soak for 15 to 20 minutes –this will loosen the dirt, and it will fall to the bottom of the bowl.

3. Lift leeks into a colander and drain. Rinse under running water and shake to dry. They should be thoroughly clean.

4. Remove the morels from the soaking liquid, squeezing them to release excess water. Chop into bite-sized pieces

5. In a small pot, heat stock and soaking liquid over medium heat until boiling; reduce heat to low to keep warm.

6. Melt butter and oil in a cast iron or other heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Once sizzling, add leeks and cook until limp but not brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.

7. Add rice and stir to coat grains in butter and oil. Cook for 2 minutes.

8. Add 1/2 cup stock to the pan, stirring occasionally until liquid is fully absorbed.

9. Continue adding stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally after each addition until all the liquid is absorbed, rice is creamy in texture and still very slightly al dente. This will take 20 to 25 minutes and can’t be rushed.

10. Turn burner off underneath the rice and allow to sit for a couple of minutes on the cooling burner until every bit of liquid is absorbed, but not so long that the rice sticks to the pan.

11. Stir in butter, Parmesan, lemon zest, and salt and pepper. Serve at once as a main dish or a side. Roasted cabbage steaks with melted cheddar are a great accompaniment. Option: if cheese in two dishes is too much, leave it out of the risotto.

Makes four servings. n

Michele Genest is a Whitehorse-based chef and writer. She is also somewhat of a gardener. Michele has also written two

Boreal Feast – A Culinary Journey Through the North” and “The Boreal Gourmet – Adventures in Northern Cooking.”

PHOTO: Michele Genest

Leek and Morel Risotto, Roasted Cabbage and Cheddar

Elderactive Pilates level 1 9:30

ACTIVE LISTINGS

Fri Jan 17 Try Derby Night 7:30 PM

Selkirk Elementary School Have you been interested in roller derby, but maybe too afraid to try it out? Come put on some skates and experience it firsthand for an evening! https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/GP9MRKF

Fri Jan 17 & Sat Jan 18

Frosty Nicks

Squash Tournament 5:30 PM Better

Bodies Draw-Men and Women-Open, A, B, C,D, Doubles, Youth - Guaranteed three matches! Friday Pizza Supper & Saturday Breakfast.

Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.

Flow and Fly – Vinyasa Yoga 8:30

AM Grace Space This dynamic and invigorating practice is designed to awaken your inner strength and leave you feeling revitalized and empowered.

Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Specifically designed for the retired population, but open to anyone.

AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!

Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40

AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2.com/jiacg

Noon Strength & Conditioning

12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/

Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00

Sat Jan 18 Caribou Hike 12:00 PM

Department of Environment A hike into the winter range of caribou. Along the way, we’ll talk about their habits and habitat. https://yukon.ca/wild-discoveries

Fri Jan 24 Learn to Skate – Derby

Style 7:30 PM Selkirk Elementary

School A learn to roller skate for derby program that is 12, 3-hour lessons. Email president@yukonrollerderby.ca for more info.

Mondays

Judo For Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days

Martial Arts

Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM

Northern Strength Academy

Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00

AM Canada Games Centre Yukon

Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged

Babynastics with Coach Libby 10:30

AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics

Noon Strength & Conditioning 12:00

PM Northern Strength Academy

Indoor Cycling 12:05 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days

Martial Arts 12:05 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Kids Muay Thai 4:45 PM Eight Days

Martial Arts KIDS MUAY THAI a dynamic and engaging martial art that can be traced to the middle of the 18th century. Open to ages 8 - 12.

Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM

Northern Strength Academy

Ladies Kickboxing 6:00 PM Eight Days

Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days

Martial Arts

Tuesdays

Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM

Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts

Yoga with Richard Mueller 10:00 AM Guild Hall Free for everyone some fitness required. https://www.elderactive.ca/ Babynastics with Coach Libby 11:15

AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics

Strength for Endurance 12:00 PM

Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Strength & Conditioning 1:00PM

Northern Strength Academy

Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Indoor Cycling 5:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy

Ladies Lift 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.

Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini

Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a nonprofit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www.whitehorsearchery. com/schedule

Stretch & Stabilize - Functional Conditioning 7:00 PM Grace Space

Purposeful movement with our Functional Conditioning non-yoga movement class. http://amitieyoga.ca

No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Wednesdays

Muay Thai Kickboxing 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.

Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/

Midweek Morning Warm-ups 9:00

AM The Guild Hall Start your day with gentle, and energizing warm up. Led by Jacob Zimmer and guests. Drop in, by donation. Sign Up Appreciated - Upstairs at the Guild Hall https://whatsupyukon. events/51584e

Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00 AM

Canada Games Centre Yukon Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged

PM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!

Ladies Kickboxing 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.

Move & Meditate - Slow Vinyasa Yoga 12:10 PM Grace Space Movement and mindfulness with our Moving MeditationSlow Vinyasa Yoga. http://amitieyoga.ca

Line Dancing - Beginners 1:00 PM Golden Age Society

Elderactive Intermediate Hiking 1:00

PM ElderActive Recreation Association Leisure Walking is similar to Nordic walking but is suitable for those who prefer a slower, more relaxed pace

Line Dancing - Experienced 2:00 PM Golden Age Society

Indoor Cycling 4:15 PM Northern Strength Academy NSA offers Indoor Cycling classes with certified instructors Adrienne Marsh and Maria Wise. Improve your conditioning and strength on the bike! northernstrength.ca/ Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM

Northern Strength Academy Functional strength class teaches compound multi-joint lifts that improve athleticism, strength, coordination, power and more.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Thursdays

Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts

Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.

Tai Chi for Seniors 10:00 AM Golden Age Society Come early, bring water, and wear comfortable, smooth soled indoor shoes.

Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach.

15, 2025

Lunchtime Fitness Classes 12:00 PM

Northern Strength Academy Tuesdays classes are more resistance and strength focused and Thursday classes more HIIT cardio. Drop in & passes are available. bit.ly/3oiTBVz

Strength for Endurance 12:00 PM

Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels

No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Strength & Conditioning 1:00 PM Northern Strength Academy

Babynastics with Coach Naomi 3:30

PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics

Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Ladies Lift 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.

Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini

Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a non-profit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www. whitehorsearchery.com/schedule

Fridays

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days

Martial Arts

Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/

Strength & Conditioning 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy

Thursdays Noon Hatha Yoga 12:00 PM Grace Space Energizing blend of Hatha and Kundalini with Pranayama (breathwork), Friendly and Community oriented space! http://www. gracespaceyukon.com

Muay Thai Kickboxing 12:05 PM Eight

Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy

Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - teen classes 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.

Saturdays

Flow & Fly – Vinyasa Yoga 8:30 AM

Grace Space A dynamic and invigorating practice to awaken your inner strength. http://amitieyoga.ca

Ladies Lift 9:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.

Strength & Conditioning 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy

Saturday Morning Strength and Conditioning 10:15 AM Northern Strength Academy Full-body movements to improve functional strength. Suitable for all levels and aligns with NSA’s strength programming. northernstrength.

ca/

No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Open Mat 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts

Sundays

Circus Sundays 10:00 AM Avalanche

Athletics We will have equipment for people to try out, including stilts, juggling stuff, aerial silks, aerial hoop, static trapeze, spinny things, balance things…

NSA Spin Classes 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy NSA offers Indoor Cycling classes with certified instructors Adrienne Marsh and Maria Wise. Improve your conditioning and strength on the bike! northernstrength.ca/

WELLNESS LISTINGS

Mon Jan 20 Yukon Education –Navigating the Dementia Journey 1:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre

Learn how to access resources, so that people affected by dementia have the confidence to navigate the journey ahead. Everyone Welcome

Sun Jan 26 Singing Bowl Sundays (evenings) 7:00 PM 95 Lewes Blvd (previously Peak Fitness) A unique and meditative sound experience.

Elder and Counselor available

Emotional and Spiritual support, free to Indigenous women, girls, 2 spirited in Yukon, Northern BC: Phone, video appointments or in person. Call Toll Free 866 667 6162 or visit www.yawc.ca for info.

Monthly

1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month The Prenatal Lunch Network 12:00 PM NVD Place (Old Canadian Tire Building) A free prenatal lunch network. Each week will feature a different activity. Call 332-5054 or 332-6476 for more info.

1st Wednesday QYS 2SLGBTQIA+

Parent & Guardian Peer Support

Nights 6:00 PM Queer Yukon Society

The Cache We want to provide a space where parents and guardians of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth can find connection and support from their peers.

2nd Wednesday Blood Collection and Lab Work 9:00 AM Queer Yukon

Society The Cache Blood Work and Lab Collection Clinic! We will provide regular clinics for blood collection & lab requisitions

1st Thursday of every month Men’s

Gathering 5:00 PM A safe place for men to connect with each other and learn traditional teachings. For more info contact Rob at 332-5708 or Rob.

McLean@kdfn.net

Every other Tuesday Sharing Circle 12:00 PM Old Justice Building KDFN

Every other Tuesday for recovery focused sharing circles. Connect, share challenges and gains, and access support and wisdom. Snacks and refreshments served. whatsupyukon. events/4en

Last Monday Blood Collection and Lab Work 9:00 AM Queer Yukon

Society The Cache Blood Work and Lab Collection Clinic! We will provide regular clinics for blood collection & lab requisitions

Last Sunday Spoonie Support Circle 2:30 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache A low-key community hangs, engaging in peer support in facilitated conversations on topics brought forth by participants, and meet other spoonies! For details and to register islairhysrathlin@gmail.com

Mondays

Sally and Sisters 11:30 AM Yukon

Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00

PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House

AA Life Ahead (O, A) 7:00 PM 509 Hanson St. Held in person or by zoom –ID 251-363-5766, call 778-907-2701 for more info.

AA New Beginnings Group (O, A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral (Hellaby Hall)

AA New Beginnings Group (OM, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral

Tuesdays

Sally and Sisters 11:30 AM Yukon

Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00

PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House

TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 6:00

PM 100 25 Firth Rd Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Join us! Every Wednesday morning. Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details

ARKA Brotherhood Men’s Circle: Porcupine Squad 6:30 PM Whitehorse A confidential, structured space that empowers men to transform themselves into self-aware, self-disciplined, empowered and trustworthy leaders. Email mjvernon@gmail.com for more info. http://www.arkabrotherhood.com

AA UglyDuckling Group (C/M, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral New

members always welcome, this is a non smoking group.

Ugly Ducklings Group (O,A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral Held in person or by zoom – ID 251-363-5766, call 778907-2701 for more info.

Wednesdays

TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 8:00

AM Closeleigh Manor Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details

Community Kitchen 11:30 AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00

PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin

House

Al-Anon 12:00 PM Sport Yukon

Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Cancelled Dec 25/Jan 1.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 7:00

PM Inclusion Yukon

AA No Puffin Big Book Study (C, A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral (Hellaby Hall)

Porter Creek Step Meeting (C) 8:00

PM Our Lady of Victory

Thursdays

Sally and Sisters 11:30 AM Yukon

Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00

PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin

House

Polar Group (O, A) 7:30 PM 311 Elliott St. & 4th Ave. Held in person or on zoom, Zoom ID 251-363-5766, call 778907-2701 for more info.

Fridays

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00

PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin

House

AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:30 PM Online Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 call 778-907-2971 for more info.

VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria

Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! DropIn. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower.

Community Kitchen 5:00 PM Victoria

Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 7:00

PM Yukon Employees Union

Al-Anon 7:00 PM Trinity Lutheran

Church Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

AA Whitehorse Group (C, A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral

Saturdays

AA Detox Meeting (O, A) 1:00 PM 609

Steele St.1:00 PM

AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:00 PM Online Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 call 778-907-2971 for more info.

VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! DropIn. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower.

Community Kitchen 5:00 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.

AA Hospital Meeting 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212

Sundays

AA Detox Meeting (O, A)1:00 PM 609 Steele St.

AA Yukon Unity Group 1:00 PM Online By zoom – Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 For more info call 778-907-2971

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 7:00

PM Inclusion Yukon

AAHospital Meeting (O, A) 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212

ISAVOURY IRISH LAMB STEW

Nothing beats a hearty Irish stew when it’s the middle of winter in the Yukon

have to admit, I did indulge in, perhaps, a few more recipes and a few more beverages than I should have over the holiday season. I’m not going to lie, either: I didn’t take a picture of a single one of them to share with you folks.

There was the traditional turkey dinner with all of the ﬁxings, a few charcuterie boards, some perogies and cabbage rolls, a nice steak and caesar, some wonderful salmon, of course the usual turkey leftovers, including soup, plus many mandarin oranges and pieces of chocolate.

As I’m writing this, we are in the middle of the (recent) cold snap and I’m looking at going back to work and hoping that my favourite jeans still ﬁt me after two weeks of sweat pants and ‘I wonder what day it is’!

For our New Year’s dinner I made an amazing rack of lamb that we purchased from one of our local farms. I did that up with brussels sprouts and baked potato but, alas, again I totally missed the opportunity to take pictures to share with you. I’ll redo all of these to share in the future.

I’m using the leftover lamb for this stew. It’s one of the only stews that I don’t start with a mirepoix. If you are using uncooked lamb, you’ll need to brown and sear it ﬁrst. The best way to do that is to cook some bacon in a frying pan and then after cubing your lamb, sear and brown it in the bacon drippings. Alternatively you could sear and brown it in olive oil with some salt and pepper.

INGREDIENTS: Lamb

• Potatoes

• Carrots

• Frozen peas

• Onions

• Beef or lamb broth

• Salt • Pepper

• Rosemary

• Beef Bisto gravy mix

• Flour

• Beer

• Red wine

METHOD:

1. Start by cubing your lamb and either cook it as mentioned above or if already cooked, place it in a bowl.

2. Peel and slice your carrots, onions and potatoes. Keep the peels unless you are using beef broth from the store.

3. I created my lamb broth by boiling the bones and potato, onion and carrot peels rapidly for about 20 minutes. Strain out the bones and peels using a colander and return the broth to your stew pot. Add about as much water and beer/wine as you have broth to the pot. I use 50-50 water and beer with about a 1/2 cup of red wine. Guinness is highly recommended, but you can use whatever you have available, or just use water. I used a Yukon Brewing Lead Dog Ale for this one. If you are using store bought broth, use 50-50 broth and water/beer/wine mixture.

4. Bring your base up to a medium boil and add in your carrots, onions, potatoes and cooked lamb. Leave it at a medium boil until potatoes and carrots are cooked through then reduce to a low boil. Add water as necessary to maintain enough liquid for the stew.

5. Put in about a cup of frozen peas and stir well. Season generously with rosemary and add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Whisk about 1 1/2 tablespoons each of Bisto and ﬂour into about 2 cups of water then add to the stew.

7. Stirring the stew constantly, let it thicken until you’ve achieved your desired consistency. For me, on these cold winter evenings, I like stew to be thick and ‘stick to your ribs’ texture, so I might add a wee bit more Bisto and ﬂour. A dollop of sour cream and some grated cheese sprinkled on top is a nice garnish. Serve with fresh dinner rolls for dipping and either a beer or a glass of nice red wine.

As the Irish are fond of saying “Do dheagh Sláinte” (to your very good health). n

Cooking the stew

Making my own broth

By Jackie Olson

ATLIN

Fri Jan 17-Sun Jan 19 55th Gold Nugget

Bonspiel Weekend Atlin Recreation Centre

Call Jody 250-651-2488 for more info.

Fri Jan 17 Beach Party! Atlin Recreation Centre Wear your best beach attire and enjoy some summer cocktails, snacks, and fun vibes!

Sat Jan 18 Winter Bazaar & Flea Market

11:00 AM Atlin Recreation Centre To book a table call Lynn 250-651-7663

Sundays

St. Martins Anglican Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM St. Martins Anglican Church 10:00 AM Everyone is welcome. Atlin Christian Assembly 11:00 AM St. Atlin Christian Centre 10:00 AM Everyone is welcome.

Mondays Caregiver & Tot Drop-in 10:00 AM Atlin Recreation Centre This is an unstructured hour for You and your Littles to get social and run wild. This IS NOT a drop off, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Call or email 993-4102 atlinarc. coordinator@gmail.com for more info.

Yukon Communities:

Wednesdays AA Yukon Unity (OM) 3:00

PM Online Yukon Health Centers, Live Video Meeting Beaver Creek, Carcross, Carmacks, Dawson City, Destruction Bay, Faro, Haines Junction, Mayo, Old Crow, Pelly Crossing, Ross River, Teslin, Watson Lake. Online users’ sign in info: yukonbcdistrict52@gmail.com

CARCROSS

Second Sunday of Every Month St. Saviour’s Church Services 2:00 pm St. Saviour Church 867-668-3129

First Friday of the month Mother Goose Group 11:00 AM Haa Shagóon Hídi

(Our Ancestors House) Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre Learn stories, songs, and rhymes, lunch provided. Suitable for babies and children 5 and under. Please bring along a water bottle and blanket to sit on. To register, call 332-2389. https:// whatsupyukon.events/jwf

Wednesdays Yoga with Richard Mueller 12:00 PM Carcross Firehall Free for everyone some fitness required.

Thursdays Yoga with Jess Ghùch

Tlâ Community School Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. Dropin, Free admission! For more info email yogajessyukon@gmail.com.

CARMACKS

Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:

• Sunshine Restaurant

• Carmacks Rec Centre •

Carmacks Minor Hockey Association 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre Pickleball 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Badminton 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Learn To Skate Ages 13-18 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre Public Skate 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec

Basketball 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Fridays After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre Public Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks Rec Cent Adult Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks Recreation

Centre

Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Teen Night 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Volleyball 6:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Adult Skate (19+) 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Cent

Ping Pong + Foosball Night Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Saturdays

Learn To Skate Ages 5-12 10:00 AM Carmacks Recreation Centre

Learn To Skate Ages 13-18 11:00 AM

Recreation Centre

Tiny Toes Tea Time 1:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Open Court 3:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Family Skate 5:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Shinny Night 14+ 7:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre

FARO

Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: Discovery Store Van Gorda

First and Third Tuesday of every month Faro Council Meeting 7:00 PM Town of Faro Tuesdays

& Tot

HAINES JUNCTION

Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: • Little Green Apple Sat Jan 18 & Sun Jan 19 27th

Jamboree Bill Brewster Arena

Second and fourth Wednesday of every month Village Council meetings 7:00 PM St. Elias Convention Centre Village Council meetings are also held the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. [Remote attendance only] Mondays Fun with Food 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Learn new skills, share recipes and take food home!

Drop-In Basketball 6:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym

Tuesdays

Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster Arena

Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/caregivers.

Tea & Bannock – Haines Junction 1:00 PM https://whatsupyukon.events/tea-bannock68ab07

Men’s and women’s sewing group 1:00 PM Mun kų

BGC Game Night 3:30 PM St. Elias

Community School Play, have fun, build skills and challenge your friends

Wednesdays

Water Wednesdays 1:30 PM Pine Lake Come Join us every Wednesday for an afternoon of paddling in the traditional cedar dugout canoe! Da Kų Cultural Centre.

Seniors and Elders Refreshments and Games 2:00 PM Haines Junction Seniors Residence

AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 3:00 PM

Haines Junction Health Centre

Girls Club 3:20 PM St. Elias Community

School Held in the art room, open to Girls and identifying as Girls from Grade 8 to 12.

BGC Rec in the Gym 3:30 PM St. Elias

Community School

Art Journaling Group 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Bring your own creative supplies that you like to use. This can be scraps of paper, magazines, glue, paint, pen, markers, stamps, ink etc. and a book or journal to create

Thursdays

Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster Arena Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/caregivers.

Seniors Activities 2:00 PM St. Elias Community Centre Floor curling, carpet bowling and indoor walking group.

Haines Junction Thrift Shop 2:00 PM

St. St. Christopher’s Thrift Shop is a great place to pick up items. Prices are low and numerous adult items are available for $2, and most items for children are $1.

Adult Volleyball 7:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym

Fridays

Stories and STEM Activities 10:00 AM

Haines Junction Library

AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 1:30 PM Haines Junction Health Centre

Saturdays

AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 1:00 PM Haines Junction Health Centre

Sundays Anglican Church Service 10:30 AM St. Christopher’s ChurchAnglican Church Service at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church in Haines Junction https://anglican. yukon.net/services.html

AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 1:00 PM Haines Junction Health Centre

MARSH LAKE

Last Wednesday of every month MLCS board meeting 7:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre

Tuesdays

Play Bridge 1:00 PM Marsh Lake

Community Centre

North of 60 Seniors Coffee and Chat 2:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre Yoga with Richard Mueller 5:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre Free for everyone some fitness required.

Wednesdays

South of 6 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre

Thursdays

Shuffleboard Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM

Fridays

Beginner Yoga Marsh Lake Community Centre 10:00 AM Youth Gym Drop-In Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM

Saturdays Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM

Sundays Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM

MAYO

Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:

MOUNT LORNE

welcome, little instruction is provided.

Wednesdays

St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning Prayer 9:00 AM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)

St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican

Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)

Welcome Wednesday Supper and Games 6:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church

QYS Drop-in 1:00 PM DCMF Office

Screen Printing Drop-in 6:00 PM

Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC

Classroom (enter via backdoor) Selfguided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with screen printing.

CFYT Trivia Night The Drunken Goat Fun filled night of Trivia. Every other Wednesday. A variety of trivia categories! Come with your team or join a team when you arrive!

Thursdays

CDC Toddler Program 10:00 AM

Klondike Institute of Arts & Culture KIAC

Free drop-In for kids 5 & under with parent/guardian Story time & free play!

Drop-in Volleyball 7:30 PM Robert Service School Ages 13+ - Free

Fridays

Cards & Conversation 1:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. whatsupyukon.events/dawson-legion8336c3

Open Studio Drop-in 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Enjoy KIAC’s bright, air-conditioned space to create and focus on your artistic practice. Even better- we’ve waived the drop-in fee this day.

Drop-in Bouldering 6:00 PM Robert Service School Free - drop-in - all ages

Saturdays Youth Parkour Tumbling 12:30 PM Robert Service School All Ages - Free –Drop-In. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Open Studio – Drop In 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC

Thursdays

Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM Tagish

Community Centre

Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish

Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s

TESLIN

Sat

LIFE’S STAGES

Two decades along Yukon’s crosscountry ski trails

Twenty years ago, I arrived in the Yukon on a sunny -40 degree day in February to make Whitehorse home. I committed that ﬁrst winter to enjoying cross-country (XC) ski and skijor with my two dogs.

Mid-Sunday Afternoon XC Ski

myself to two dogs and taught myself to XC ski and skijor at the same time. With a bit of practice and some conﬁdence built up, I moved our skijor trio to the Chadburn Lake trails.

Mostly at night when there were fewer trail users, I used my headlamp to discover the network of green, red and yellow ski trails. One magical evening, we stopped at the Miles Canyon Bridge and enjoyed a spectacular Northern lights show (which still ranks as one of my top nights in the Yukon).

Years later, we moved to Mount Lorne and began skiing the trails around the Community Centre and through the golf course. There was a variety of terrain to enjoy and wide open spaces that occasionally saw a small herd of caribou passing across the trails.

perature extremes.

On a trip to Skagway, I spent $100 on a used set of battered hybrid (classic/ touring) skis, poles and boots. At Duffy’s pet supply shop in Whitehorse, I bought a waist belt and quick release tow line and ﬁtted my two dogs with harnesses.

On my new backyard trails, I enjoyed some casual skijor races. Yukon races are a great place to dive in with beginner skills and let the race be a chance to build technique and skills.

On Schwatka Lake, free from obstacles, trees or turns, I donned my new-to-me skis and strapped

After jumping on the chance to buy a dry cabin in Marsh Lake and make it a home, I spent the next decade in Marsh Lake. On and near the lake and trails near our home, I raised two young kids. I worked at the Marsh Lake Community Centre (MLCC) where local volunteers groomed exceptional classic ski trails. My kids learned to ski on strap-on skis and later through the MLCC Bunnyrabbit program.

Four years ago, we moved back into Whitehorse to a new home close to the Mount McIntyre ski

trails (now the Whitehorse Nordic Centre), with an array of great grooming and dog-friendly trails. I took my ﬁrst formal ski lesson. Why on earth did I wait so long? I purchased my ﬁrst pair of new skis.

My too-short, too-wide rock skis got tucked into the back of the closet. WIth the purchase of a season’s pass and a short drive to the dog trails parking, I had ﬁnally returned to the zone of skiing regularly and more easily than ever. Until I started to overheat on the ski trails.

There I was, barely gliding along the easy and ﬂat Copper Trail, and I had to stop several times to shed layers of winter clothes.

Over the weeks that followed I learned what lingering hot ﬂushes were. And what it felt like to be soaked in sweat, trying not to freeze on the return to the parking lot. Soon enough, I had learned how to regulate the new reality of peri-menopausal tem-

Also that winter, I was reminded not to get stuck in my routine of Mount Mac machinegroomed magic. Over the past couple of winters, I have been trying to stretch my ski-clad legs to enjoy the amazing volunteergroomed trail systems outside of Whitehorse.

With co-workers, I have enjoyed the Mary Lake trails groomed by local residents that stretch from the subdivision through the forest to circle the lake. And the well maintained trails with their epic mountain landscapes of Haines Junction put in by the St. Elias Cross Country Ski Club and local residents. Still on my list is to make my way to Watson Lake to ski their multi-user trails that circle Wye Lake in town, and many others. And of course, to revisit some of my old backyards and enjoy the memories of two decades of life’s stages set on the ski trails across the southern Yukon. n

Ahead by a half century. Adventuring over 50 in the Yukon.

PHOTOS: Wendy Morrison

Polk travels with the new baby in Marsh Lake Cohen Learning to Ski the Marsh Lake trails

Local Skijor Racing