Yukon News Releases
Updated: 1 hour 9 min ago
First Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services hub officially opened
The Watson Lake hub for Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services officially opened today. The new hub will provide a variety of services to Watson Lake residents, as well as specialist services to the neighbouring communities of Teslin, Carcross and Tagish.
With the opening of the new hub, community members have one-door access to a wide range of services. These include mental wellness support for individuals who have experienced trauma, individual counselling, outreach services, community support and pre and post-care related to substance use.
Order of Yukon award established to honour outstanding achievement
The Order of Yukon Act has now officially come into force with Yukon’s new Commissioner, Ms. Angélique Bernard, assenting to the bill this afternoon. The Order of Yukon will be the territory’s highest honour, allowing Yukoners to formally recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of Yukon society.
American Sign Language program receives permanent funding
The Government of Yukon is providing permanent funding of $170,000 per year for the American Sign Language (ASL) program. The program was initiated as a pilot in 2012 for two years and extended for another three years.
ASL interpretation is used by Yukon’s deaf and hard of hearing community to access a range of services and programs – including medical services, legal services, employment opportunities, training and community and cultural events.
Ten new long-term care beds to open at Thomson Centre
The Government of Yukon is creating 10 new long-term care bedrooms at Thomson Centre in Whitehorse. Adding these much-needed beds will help reduce pressures at the Whitehorse General Hospital and at community hospitals across Yukon.
There are currently 75 individuals on a waiting list for placement in a continuing care facility, with nine occupying beds at the Whitehorse General Hospital. The new rooms will provide some of these patients with a home that better meets their needs, as most no longer require the high level of care provided by the hospital.
Child and Youth Advocate to undertake review of Government of Yukon group homes
The Government of Yukon is cooperating with the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate to conduct a systemic review of the Transitional Support Services (TSS) program.
The government approached the Child and Youth Advocate, who has agreed to conduct the independent and impartial systemic review of the TSS program for the three-year period dating from April 1, 2015, to April 1, 2018.
Team Yukon heads to Northwest Territories for 2018 Arctic Winter Games
Approximately 265 athletes and six cultural participants, as well as coaches, mission staff and officials, are en route to the South Slave region of Northwest Territories for the 2018 Arctic Winter Games.
Athletes will compete in a range of events, including Arctic sports, Dene games, cross country skiing and hockey. The culture contingent is composed of six dancers who will be showcasing their talents alongside the other jurisdictions during the games, culminating in a gala performance.
Upgrades to track and field facilities at F.H. Collins Secondary School to provide Whitehorse residents with improved recreational opportunities
Joint news release with the Government of Canada
Rural and northern communities have unique infrastructure needs. The governments of Canada and Yukon recognize that strategic investments in recreational infrastructure play a key role in supporting dynamic communities while creating good jobs and improving quality of life for those living and working in the North.
Remediation to get underway at Marwell Tar Pit
The Government of Yukon is preparing for the next phase of the remediation at the Marwell Tar Pit site in Whitehorse – which will begin this year.
The seasonally dependent work will include site preparation, excavation of contaminated soils, segregation of impacted soils and on-site treatment of contaminated soil.
This is the second of three phases of addressing contamination at the site. The whole project is expected to take more than a decade to complete with monitoring for years to come.
Sheldon Kennedy speaks at symposium focused on youth and sexualized violence
Sheldon Kennedy and partners from the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre were in Yukon to participate in Prevention, Awareness and Response: Conversations about Yukon youth and sexualized assault. The two-day symposium brought together more than 100 government and non-government officials to share insight on how to best support children, youth and families who are impacted by sexualized abuse.
Government of Yukon supports new Yukon Innovation Hub
The Governments of Canada and Yukon are providing over $3 million to support the YuKonstruct Makerspace Society in the creation of the Yukon Innovation Hub. The hub will support innovation and entrepreneurship through a shared space with business assistance, networking and mentorship opportunities.
New Whistle Bend lots to be available for 2018 building season
The Government of Yukon is releasing 80 lots in Whistle Bend, including townhouse, multi-family and residential lots, to builders and the public by lottery and public tender.
The land sale will take place on April 5, in time for the 2018 building season. Tender bids and lottery applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3.
This release of building lots continues the government’s efforts to increase land and housing availability to support healthy and vibrant communities.
Community Wellness Court receives permanent funding
The Government of Yukon will now provide the Community Wellness Court with permanent annual funding of $459,000, effective April 1. The innovative court provides sentencing alternatives for offenders with mental health, addictions problems and disabilities such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
New Commissioner appointed by federal government
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced the appointment of Angélique Bernard as Yukon’s new Commissioner and Adeline Webber as the territory’s new Administrator.
As the 26th Commissioner of Yukon, Angélique Bernard is the ceremonial head of the government. To allow the new Commissioner to immediately fulfil their duties, such as assenting to bills and signing Orders-in-Council, the new Commissioner will be sworn in during a private ceremony on Monday, March 12 10:30 a.m. at Taylor House.
Yukon shares mineral potential on a global stage
Minister Pillai and officials from the departments of Energy, Mines and Resources and Economic Development were in Ontario this week promoting Yukon as a world class destination for mining investment and exploration at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference. Held from March 4–7 in Toronto, the conference is considered the largest event of its kind in the world.
Trouble puppet show tours Whitehorse daycare centres
The Trouble puppet show will be visiting several Whitehorse daycares over March break this spring. This will be the third tour of the popular performance for young children. Trouble combines Yukon-based storytelling and a strong message of non-violence to help develop skills on how to express and manage feelings.
Government of Yukon tables Cannabis Control and Regulation Act
Today, the Government of Yukon tabled Bill No. 15, the Cannabis Control and Regulation Act. The Act governs the distribution, retail, consumption, personal cultivation and possession of non-medical cannabis in Yukon.
The proposed Act will provide for legal, controlled access to cannabis with the goal of displacing illegal activity. It puts a priority on health, safety and harm reduction with a focus on protecting youth from negative health effects.
Klondike Placer Miners’ Association funds metal shop expansion at Robert Service School
Joint news release with Klondike Placer Miners' Association
Premier Sandy Silver was in Dawson last week to join the Klondike Placer Miners’ Association as they donated $10,000 to Robert Service School to enhance the school’s metal shop program.
Robert Service School will use the funds to purchase materials and equipment for the metal shop, including safety gear, metal works tools and consumable materials such as welding rods, steel and wires.
Government of Yukon tables a new Technical Amendments Act
The Government of Yukon tabled Bill No. 16 today, which includes amendments to five different Acts for which the Minister of Justice is responsible: Condominium Act, 2015; Judicature Act; Lord’s Day Act; Motor Vehicles Act; and Supreme Court Act.
Government tables new Gender Diversity and Related Amendments Act
The Government of Yukon reinforced its commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, Two-Spirit plus (LGBTQ2S+) non-discrimination by introducing a new Gender Diversity and Related Amendments bill today.
The bill promotes more cultural, regional and gender diversity on four Government of Yukon boards and committees. These changes will support more inclusive decision-making in key areas – including child care, violence prevention, social assistance and provision of care.
New RCMP Historical Case Unit being created
The Government of Yukon is providing $442,000 per year for the next three years to the RCMP “M” Division for the creation of a Historical Case Unit. This funding will expand the RCMP’s capacity to investigate unsolved homicides and missing person investigations.
The resources will support three additional full-time RCMP officers who will investigate historic homicides and missing persons cases, and be available to support the Major Crimes Unit if needed when suspicious deaths occur.
