SO, YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT WHITEHORSE YUKON…
Whitehorse, Yukon's capital and largest city, incorporated in 1950, located at kilometer 1476 on the Alaska Highway.
The city was named after the White Horse Rapids for their resemblance to the mane of a white horse, near Miles Canyon, before the river was dammed in 1958.
In the Athapaskan language, the word "Yukon" means "The Great River" or "Big River." It is 3,600 kilometres!
Yukon River is the fourth longest river in North America; the fifth largest in water flow and the last major river on the continent to be explored in the 1800s
Yukon is 483,450 square kilometres (186,661 sq. mi.) large. That is larger than the State of California and larger than Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands combined.
The whole territory has 185,000 caribou, 50,000 moose, 10,000 grizzly bears, and 25,000 mountain sheep.
The Dempster is the only public highway to cross the Arctic Circle.
There are so many outdoor things to do! And we are in close proximity to Alaska; bring on the camping, salmon fishing, whale watching etc!
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ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE Like most of Yukon, Whitehorse has a dry subarctic climate. Whitehorse experiences an annual temperature average with daily highs of 21 C (69.8 F) in July and average daily lows of −22 °C (−7.6 F) in January. Whitehorse has little precipitation with an average annual snowfall of 145 cm (57.09 in) and 163 mm (6.4 in) of rainfall. Because of the cities location in the Whitehorse valley, the climate is milder than other comparable northern communities. At this latitude winter days are shorter and summer days have 20 hours of daylight. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, Whitehorse has the distinction of being Canada's driest city, despite its relative cold, Whitehorse was ranked among Canadian cities with the most comfortable climate. POPULATION
Approx. 33,897 (2011 census) people live in Yukon, which equates to a population density of 0.1 person for every square kilometer
25% of people identified themselves as an Aboriginal person (2006 Census) and belong to one of the 14 Yukon First Nation’s.
YUKON COMMUNITIES Most people in Yukon live in Whitehorse, the capital city. But thriving communities lie throughout the territory. All communities have year-round road access and lie south of the Arctic Circle, except the fly-in community of Old Crow. Each community is independent and unique. Some have strong local economies, others are historical landmarks. Many investment opportunities exist in or near these communities and many ventures benefit through connections with local communities and local partners. For more information on specific Yukon communities, please visit: http://www.gov.yk.ca/aboutyukon/communities.html 2
COMMUNICATIONS We have 4G smart phone cell coverage in Watson Lake, Marsh Lake, Whitehorse, Haines Junction, and Dawson City. All other Yukon communities have CDMA-based (code division multiple access), and GSM-based phones will not work there. Check with your cell service provider to find out if your phone will work here. Satellite phone networks are accessible across the Yukon and satellite phones can be rented in Whitehorse. Yukon Local calling does not require dialing the area code, only 7 digits are needed. If texting you may need all 10 digits. TRAVEL Erik Neilson Whitehorse International Airport roughly supports 230,000 passengers annually. Air North, Air Canada and WestJet are major carriers flying daily to Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton. Air North, our local airline, also supports the smaller communities such as Dawson City, Inuvik, Old Crow and other charter services. During the high season (April – Sept), Condor flies directly to and from Frankfurt, Germany supporting adventure travelers exploring the territory. Unlike most cities, transportation within Whitehorse is dominated by private vehicles (87% of residents). Public transportation accounts for 4% and the remaining 9% travel as a passenger. Taxi service is always available and/or vehicle rentals located at the airport or local dealerships. AURORA BOREALIS The Northern Lights are caused by huge explosions on the surface of the sun that send out streams of charged particles that interact with the Earth's upper atmosphere. These reactions occur 96 to 128 kilometres (60 to 80 mi.) above the Earth's surface. In northern regions like the Yukon, the best time to view the aurora is from late August to mid-April. During the summer months the night skies are not dark enough to see the aurora borealis even at times when the solar wind activity is strong. LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN On June 21, summer solstice, the sun never sets in some parts of Yukon. All over Yukon you can read a book outdoors all night. The midnight sun makes for long summer days, and wondrous magenta skyscapes that last for hours.
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REAL ESTATE For those individuals or families relocating from other parts of Canada, there are a variety of areas to live within the Whitehorse area. Our residential subdivisions include: Urban: Downtown Riverdale Takhini North & Takhini East Valleyview Hillcrest Crestview
Porter Creek Granger Copper Ridge Ingram Logan
Country Residential: Hidden Valley (north of city limits) MacPherson (north of city limits) Wolf Creek (south of city limits) Mary Lake (south of city limits) Cowley Creek (south of city limits) Golden Horn (south of city limits)
Spruce Hill (south of city limits) Pine Ridge (south of city limits) Fox Haven (south of city limits) Mount Sima (south of city limits) Marsh Lake (south of city limits)
Agents and Resources: Remax Action Realty www.remax.actionyukon.com, Property Guys www.propertyguys.com/yt/whitehorse, Coldwell Banker www.coldwellbanker.ca, Dome Reality www.domerealty.ca SCHOOLS Whitehorse has several schools as part of a Yukon Government operated public school system. Yukon does not have school boards; each school has a council of elected positions for 2-year terms, consisting of (and elected by) parents and citizens residing in the assigned area. All teachers are employed directly by the Department of Education and there are no tuition fees to be paid. http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/ Grey Mountain Primary Selkirk Elementary Christ the King Elementary Takhini Elementary Elijah Smith Elementary Ecole Whitehorse Elementary Golden Horn Elementary Vanier Catholic Secondary Hidden Valley Elementary F.H. Collins Secondary Holy Family Elementary Porter Creek Secondary Jack Hulland Elementary Ecole Emilie-Tremblay (K-12 French) Wood St. School (high school program) Individual Learning Centre Yukon College (diploma’s & university degrees)
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AMENITIES There are many local restaurants as well as recognized food providing a wide range of cuisine including: Chinese, Japanese, East Indian, Mexican, Italian, Steakhouse, Pizzeria, Deli, Bakeries and Café’s. There are roughly 60 establishments to choose from. Downtown houses an eclectic array of souvenirs, apparel, jewellery, books, art gallery, banks, salon, cafés, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Canada Games Centre (multi-use community sport, recreation and wellness facility), http://www.whitehorse.ca/index.asp x?page=144 Wide range of summer and winter sports leagues for children, youth and adults http://sportyukon.com/ Multiple ice rinks Movie theatres
Walking trails and hiking Yukon College Museums Golf courses (x2) Cultural events & activities
Whitehorse is well equipped with amenities and facilities. These include:
Hotsprings, Mount Macintyre (extensive 85km walking, biking and skiing trails as well as a curling rink), Mount Sima (downhill ski hill),
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SOURDOUGHS AND CHEECHAKOS Sourdough (a fermenting mixture of flour, water, and a pinch of sugar and rice) hung in a kettle over the wood stove of many Yukoners. It was used as a starter to make delicious sourdough bread. "Sourdough" became the word used to describe a Yukon old-timer. A Cheechako, on the other hand, is a "greenhorn" - or newcomer to Yukon. There is only one way for a Cheechako to become a Sourdough: he or she must watch the river freeze in the fall and break into grinding pieces in the spring. The term "Sourdough" was immortalized in Robert Service's first collection of verse, "Songs of the Sourdough." SORRY, NO IGLOOS The igloo is an ancestral dwelling for Canada's Inuit peoples. Although the Inuvialuit have traditional territory in the northern Yukon, they do not live in igloos there. The skin tent was the ancestral shelter for Yukon First Nations peoples.
MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS The St. Elias Mountains in Kluane National Park near Haines Junction are the youngest mountains in Canada and also the highest. There are more than 20 summits over 4,200 meters, the largest accumulation on the continent. Towering above these lofty peaks is Mount Logan, Canada's highest mountain at 5,959 meters (19,551 ft.). Between the rock massifs of the St. Elias Mountains is one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world. Huge valley glaciers fill the gulfs between the peaks; the Hubbard Glacier is 112 kilometers long, the Lowell Glacier is 72 kilometers long and these glaciers are 1.6 kilometers thick in parts. These glaciers make their own weather, scour away tons of rock every day and can dam rivers and create lakes.
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NORTHERN ENTERNATINMENT & FESTIVALS Northern festivals are times of enthusiasm for Yukoners. Whitehorse's arts and entertainment schedule is non-stop throughout the year, not only with local events and celebrations but Whitehorse also plays host to several major festivals which attract artists from all over Canada and internationally. The following is a sample:
Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous – February - www.yukonrendezvous.com Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race – February - www.yukonquest.com Yukon International Storytelling Festival Arctic Winter Games (2012, 2000, 1992, 1986, 1980, 1972 host) Frostbite Music Festival – February - www.frostbitefest.ca Adaka Cultural Festival – June http://adakafestival.ca/ Dawson City Music Festival – July Dawson Discovery Days – August o In August 1896, three Yukon sourdoughs discovered gold in Bonanza Creek. Soon after came one of the world's greatest gold rush stampede nearly 100,000 people attempted to strike it rich in the Klondike gold fields. Atlin Music Festival – July www.atlinfestival.ca o Two hours south of Whitehorse, in the very northwest corner of BC, a historic gold-rush town swells from 400 people to 2,500 for three days, as the picturesque town of Atlin holds its annual arts and music festival.
The Yukon Arts Center is a 428 seat theatre which boasts outstanding acoustics and top-of-the line technical support to provide an exceptional experience for performers and audiences year round. The Art Lover's Series showcases some of the most rewarding performances from the national art scene. From hip-hop to dance, from cutting edge theatre to national and international headliners, each new season surpasses the previous one. www.yukonartscentre.com
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WILDLIFE Lastly, Yukon’s vast regions, varied ecosystems and small human population make Yukon a haven for some of North America’s most rare and impressive species. Viewing opportunities exist throughout Yukon, from in town sightings, wilderness parks to just driving along the highway! The following will give you an idea of the animals we share the territory with:
Bears - Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Polar Bear (only in the high arctic)
Canines – Arctic Fox, Red Fox, Coyote, Grey Wolf
Felines – Canadian Lynx, Cougar
Weasels – American Marten, Ermine, Fisher, Least Weasel, Lemming. American Mink, Lemming, North American River Otter, Wolverine
Ungulates – Barren-ground Caribou, Woodland Caribou, Dall’s Sheep, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, Muskox, Stone’s Sheep, Whitetailed Deer, Wood Bison
Rodents – American Beaver, Arctic Ground Squirrel, Muskrat, Marmot, Chipmunk, North American Porcupine, Northern Flying Squirrel, Woodchuck
Other Mammals – Bats, Snowshoe Hare, Beluga, Seals, Bowhead whale (these three live in the high arctic
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