Beese Entertainment Publishing was born from the idea that Northerners need one place to go to learn of fun activities and events before they happen. And how can they make the most of these opportunities? And who are the people making these fun things happen?
What's Up Yukon, the realization of Publisher Tammy Beese's dream, hit the streets in February of 2005 with the promise of “All Northern. All Fun.”
The paper was edited by Darrell Hookey, an award-winning freelance writer who had jumped at the chance of exploring his love for all things Yukon, story telling and a regular paycheque.
The writers he found and developed quickly became the most important ingredient as Northerners were thrilled to see that it was their talented neighbours who were contributing 100 per cent of the stories. Store managers, YTG employees, teachers, artists, 12-year-old boys and senior citizens all wrote from their field of expertise.
In that first paper, there were 12 writers who covered their “beats” with passion and a sense of fun. It was a refreshing change that earned loyal and grateful readers. Indeed, circulation has increased by 250 percent from those first four months.
And, now, there are 75 writers between three publications. How's Business Yukon, a quarterly, was introduced to show Northerners the personal side behind business and to encourage those who are thinking about one day opening their own shop.
Beese Entertainment Publishing's newest semi-annual publication, How Ya Feeling Yukon, shows Northerners what is available to them in the “Caring Arts”. Allopathic and wholistic, nurses and patients, are all given respect and, more importantly, given a voice.
As readership grew, as the number of publications grew, so did Beese Entertainment Publishing. Advertising sales grew 95 per cent in its first three years.
Tammy's husband, Mark, quit his job to join her full time in May, 2007. And, instead of allowing three people to earn a living, Beese Entertainment Publishing now employs nine.
It is a success story that has not gone unnoticed: in 2007, the Business Development Bank of Canada named Tammy the Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Yukon. Also, in that year, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce awarded Tammy for her “Contribution to the Community”.
In May 2008, Châtelaine Magazine chose Tammy as one of 80 women to watch in Canada, from this she is one of 6 selected for the business category. Elaine Taylor Minister of Tourism and Culture offered Tammy and the team a tribute in the Yukon Legislature.
Today, Beese Entertainment Publishing is making the most of the wired world with a web of home-based employees and contractors from Riverdale to Montreal to Burlington to Germany and Australia. What's Up Yukon is now a weekly publication.
Also, a new partnership has been formed with the Manitoba Young Entrepreneur of the year Dan Belhausen and his company Modern Earth, to provide website services.
