Defcon 4: Conflict, Community, Creativity
Jayden Soroka and Louis-Phillipe Roy are the organizers of DEFCON 4, the largest board-game convention ever held in the Yukon
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Riddle Me This!
The timer starts as the door clicks shut behind you. Your palms start to sweat as your eyes dart around the room trying to take it all in.
DIY Carnival Masks
Every day can be Carnival Day! A fantastic time of the year for our little ones. A time to dress up, to be what and who they want…
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It’s The ‘Little Things’
The things that seem the most normal are always the most thought provoking, aren’t they? You know, I like to think that I’m good at…
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Let Your Creativity Shine All Year-Round
We’re nearing the end of the year and soon we’ll all be gathered with our friends and families, glasses of champagne in hand…
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LARP, or not LARP, how’s that a question?
LARPing in Whitehorse. Explore the distinctions between live action role-playing and medieval combat fighting with Company of the White Wolf.
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Bridge too far
It began innocently enough. At a gathering shortly after I stopped working, I overheard a friend mentioning that another friend had said she was going to learn bridge in order to have something to do in the nursing home.
In the realm of the globulars – Ancient companions of the Milky Way
Messier 13 (M13), the best and brightest globular cluster gracing our northern sky, resides in the Hercules constellation and is a most-intriguing class of star cluster, so very different from all the open star clusters of our Milky Way galaxy.
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Geek the Halls, a craft fair for the geeks-of-us
The second annual Geek the Halls craft fair is a different affair than the larger, more established craft fairs. But the vendors participating are a
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Drinking with Scissors
Do you like crafting, socializing with friends—perhaps with a beverage or two—in a casual, relaxed yet well-lit atmosphere, complete with pinball machines to take a break and try your game expertise? Then Drinking with Scissors is for you.
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A Vast and awesome Universe – Understanding cosmic distance through analogy
When a budding interest in astronomy is pursued with even a cursory investigation into the nature of our cosmos, one quickly comes to the realization
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Finding great finds
The Whitehorse Community Thrift Store Society will be looking to open a local community-minded thrift store to repurpose your stuff!
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Embrace your inner geek!
This year, the Yukon Comic Culture Society will be scaling back Yukomicon, and in lieu of hosting a full-blown Con, they will hold the Get Your Geek On! craft fair on August 25 at the Gold Rush Inn Town Hall.
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Dancing with the stars
The 2nd annual Yukon Star Party will take place from Friday, August 24 to Saturday, August 25.
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Fortnite drops at Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Titan Gaming and Collectibles is adding Fortnite to its menu of gaming options, and they’re marking the occasion with a kickoff tournament on July 14.
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Full metal and padded jacket
Many Yukoners will have seen members of the Company of the White Wolf at events around the territory. It’s hard to miss grown men and women dressed in full medieval combat armour, striking each other with swords and axes.
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Calling all players who are LFG
The Whitehorse Dice Knights are providing a haven for roleplaying gamers who are “LFG” – or looking for group – in the Yukon’s capital.
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Art is in the eyes of the beholder
Some 30 years ago, as a way of managing his writer’s block, Murray decided to go out to the garage, turn his scroll saw on and put the scroll blade to work to carve away.
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eSports: Gamers reach superstar status
On November 4, small groups of Yukoners will gather in living rooms and basements for viewing parties to watch the League of Legends World Championship final.
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This party is cosmic
At the end of October, the Takhini Hot Springs, a short 30-minute drive north of downtown Whitehorse, will be turned into a hub for astronomy
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Any Given Saturday…
Editor’s Note: Heck no! We won’t go! Heck no! We won’t go back to our basements, comics, and computer screens. Yukon geeks are a strong, diverse
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Helping to Warm Whitehorse Feet
Knitters work to warm others. Whitehorse knitters are aiming to craft 150 pairs of socks to contribute to the city’s Outreach Van.
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Get your Geek On!
This year’s cosplay contest will take place on August 26th as part of the third annual YukomiCon event, happening August 25th to 27th at the
Fishnets and Chainsaws
From antique carousel and ferris wheel rides, to wearable art and cake bake off contests, to beer and wine gardens, to beach wrestling and the
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How Times Have Changed
Times have changed since 1933. Monopoly was invented, Joan Collins; Joan Rivers; and Willie Nelson were born. So was this columns author.
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Who knit you?
In 2015 my husband, Roger, and I visited Newfoundland; we rented a vehicle and hit the road. The breathtaking western shore drive took us through
Fun and Games After School
According to Darwin Murray, after sitting in a desk all day, it is fun to get up and run, play games and meet new people
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Wool Gathering
The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre, located at 38 Lewes Boulevard, is a unique location in Whitehorse. Involvement of community members across generations is the
Braided rugs, just like Grandma used to make
There I was at the end of August looking through Salvation Army for wool coats. August. What was I thinking? I know it’s the Yukon,
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A Marathon of Creative Fun
On October 1, the Yukon Comic Culture Society will invite Yukoners of all ages and experience to leave their solitary art holes and create comics
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Summer Lessons in Hippo Munching
What a happy day it was when my four-year-old daughter Emily opened a gift from my wife and I revealing a classic game from our
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Power and Money
The ladies rule Dawson City this weekend. First up, the Dawson City League of Lady Wrestlers presents the North End Knockout on Saturday, August 6.
Here’s Your New Home, Bees
We saw the queen recently. She wasn’t wearing a crown. She was sporting a big blue dot on her thorax though. The Cheshire Beekeepers’ Association,
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How’s Retirement Working Out for You?
The other day, I overheard a couple of guys in a coffee shop talking about their impending retirement. One is about to pack it in
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A welcoming sewing circle
Have you got a beading project you’ve been trying to finish? Do you want to learn more about First Nations traditional sewing? Florence Moses hosts
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Say it with Snail Mail
When I was a teenager I had a lot of pen pals. I kept all the letters I received, bundled together with a ribbon. Some
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Building Intuition
“I don’t really believe in that stuff,” a coworker says, when I ask if he’s ever had his tarot read. A year ago I might
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YuKonstruct hacks its way to the top
YuKonstruct’s computer lab is electric with creativity and camaraderie. Okay, it usually is, but more so tonight. It is six days from the deadline of
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Folk Art in the Forest
From the northwest to the farthest eastern point, I have seen Canada. Last month, Roger and I travelled to Newfoundland. We left our cozy forest
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Hooked on Hand-Dyeing
Baby alpaca and baby camel grow some very nice wool that can be sheared off and spun into beautifully soft balls of yarn. Skeins of yarn,
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Tips and hints and other good things: Get ready to enjoy the Yukon night skies
If this is your first night outside, looking at the stars, there are a few things you can do make the experience much more enjoyable.
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Taking on the Winter Cold
It would seem that winter is here in full force, bringing icy cold temperatures that chill you to the bone, unless you are prepared for
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New Toys and a Lunar Eclipse
The hobby of astronomy has always been an art form of simplicity and function. Let’s face it, when starting out in astronomy, the task of
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Sidetracked by Saturn
The sky is clear and I do not have to work tomorrow. At about 6 p.m., I put my gear out and start to get
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Lights down and stars up
Every amateur astronomer’s dream is to have totally dark skies, right in their own backyard. No time spent loading all your telescopes, binoculars, tables and
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Farewell Dark Skies
For the last week I have been heading out to my rooftop to see the constellation Hercules and the bright globular cluster that resides there.
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Imaging the Cosmos … Is It For Me?
Welcome to the Yukon Winter Night Sky and all the cosmic treasures that are just waiting for you to discover and photograph them. The weather
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Cygnus And The Swans Of Fall
Cygnus, the flying swan, is a very important constellation to amateur astronomers that live in this magical northern land of ours. Also referred to as
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Making Wine Without Getting Your Feet Dirty
As a wine drinker and (wine) lover, I was spoiled by the years that I lived in the United States. To this day, my recollection
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The Mount Before Christmas
Every once in awhile, the universe and karma come together in some truly spectacular ways. So here is my story … so far. As most
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Calling all Yukon Amateur Astronomers!
Welcome to 2009, the International Year of Astronomy. This event celebrates Galileo’s first look at the night sky with a telescope, over 400 years ago.
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A Little Persistence and A Patch of Clear Sky
So how was the Yukon Night Skies Star Party, you ask? The plan was to go Friday and Saturday evening, if the weather co-operated –
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Star Party, Yukon Style (Formal Attire Optional)
The month of March and the Yukon Night Skies Star Party at Grey Mountain: these are exciting events that reminds us that spring is on
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Cosmic Invaders and Leo the Lion
The constellation of Leo the Lion definitely seems to be where all the Yukon Night Sky action is. Starting with Ceres, the smallest dwarf planet
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Misadventures & the Quirky Pair
Sometimes, night-time excursions do not always go the way one envisions them. Case in point, the other evening the Moon and Venus were supposed to
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The Best of the Yukon Night Skies
Springtime night skies offer an endless bounty of galaxies, nebula and star clusters, waiting to be explored. Whether you prefer binoculars or a telescope, there
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Grey Mountain Adventures
The second Yukon Night Skies Star Party was fun and eventful. The skies cleared for a short time to give us some good viewing. As
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Three Easy Planets and Comet Cardinal
Springtime is finally here and, along with it, unstable weather. Our last outing to Grey Mountain was a washout due to clouds and strong wind.
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The Return of the Big ‘Dob’
I was suffering from aperture fever and was craving bigger and better views … fortunately, my 14-inch Celestron Dobsonian telescope finally arrived. These telescopes offer
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Springtime Star Party: The Clock is Ticking
The month of May is a time of furious activity for Northern amateur astronomers. We are closing in on the time when the night sky
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A Diamond in the Rough
In astronomy, there are good nights and there are bad nights. A good night is a cosmic gift: cloud-free skies and transparent atmosphere are basic
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Comet of the Century
While we were waiting for Comet PanSTARRS to arrive in our skies, we had a chance to get up to the Grey Mountain lookout point.
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U-Brew Basics
Not long after I met my partner I bought him a beer kit. This was in the mid-1990s, when microbreweries were starting to come into
Lunar satellite collision
The month of May is over, and so is observing deep-sky objects such as nebulas and galaxies. The only stellar objects in the sky that
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Those Magical Yukon Night Skies
For Yukon amateur astronomers, time for viewing those amazing night skies will soon vanish, temporarily that is. At this time of year, as soon as
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Summertime Observing Blues? I Don’t Think So!
We are closing in on that time when visual astronomy is about over for the season. That does not mean there is nothing to do;
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February Highlights & Astrophotography
Lets hope for some greatly improved weather in February, as the January selection was atrocious. Here’s what February has in store for us. Starting off
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The Martians Are Coming
As the month of October closes and frosty November begins, the window of opportunity for observing Mars begins. This little red planet has captured everyone’s
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Yukon Planetary Cavalcade
The dominant planet in the evening sky is fascinating Jupiter. Located in the early-evening southern sky, it is easily recognizable because it is simply the
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Big View, Small Budget
While the rest of the country is obsessed with the H1N1 virus and cure, Yukon amateur astronomers seem to be looking for a cure of
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Stellar Views, Quick and Easy
This time of year I am frequently asked the same question: “What is the best gift for someone who wants to get into astronomy and
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Grey Mountain Adventures
As December begins, we reflect on the “High Lights” of November. Unsettled weather, with cloudy nights, high winds and snow flurries, offered few good opportunities
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Snapshot in Time
Another year is coming to a close and it is time to reflect on the great cosmic events we have seen, and all the fabulous
The largest planet, the closest galaxy, and Comet Hartley 2
October is an amazing month for amateur astronomers. Summer constellations like Cygnus, Lyra, Hercules are slowly sinking into the horizon, and winter constellations like Andromeda,
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Disappearing Skies and Planetary Photons
The clock is ticking, soon the Yukon Night Skies will disappear, and sunlight will dominate. It seems like only yesterday that you had to rush
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View From the Hill
With all this wonderful warm weather, there is a price to pay for amateur astronomers in the Yukon. As a springtime rule, warm weather brings
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January’s Bountiful Star Clusters
Welcome to nightlife in the Yukon night skies. For starters, let’s get acquainted with the night sky as we see it: directly overhead we find
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Mystery in the April Night Skies
It is Friday night, and everyone is waiting for a great northern light show. The night skies are clear, and we are ready. After several
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The Hunt for Little Green Fuzzes is On!
March is one of the most active months for Yukon amateur astronomers. And, this year, we have a visitor making our observing sessions all the
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Perfect Skies = Perfect Viewing
Where are the Northern Lights? The answer as far as I can tell is two-fold. First, we have been pummelled with atrocious weather and, second,
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Comet Hartley and Starfest
We are back from an astronomical holiday and raring to go. It is great to be back in such dark Yukon skies with no light
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Jupiter Takes Centre Stage Through December
Here comes the Yuletide observing season, so get ready to tilt your neck up. There are plenty of cosmic events happening in those amazing Yukon
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November’s Celestial Musings
The Yukon Night Skies are coming alive with winter constellations like Orion, Taurus, and Gemini. Using a pair of humble binoculars, star clusters, galaxies, and
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Is There Anything Up There?
As the end of May approaches, and June begins, we notice darkness at midnight. Living in the 60-degree latitude and above means that in the
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The Geminid Meteor Shower and a Lunar Eclipse
The month of December promises to be an action-packed month of celestial events for every amateur astronomer and nighttime photographer. As long as the weather
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Funky Hand Controllers
The biggest problems experienced by amateur astronomers, who live in the Yukon and the northern limits of civilization, is the cold. The cold is brutal
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Canyon Dreams
Warmer temperatures motivate and promote amateur astronomy in this marvellous northern land in which we live. For example, my favourite in-town observing site is the
Saturn and the Super Moon
Where were you on Saturday March 19, when the Super Moon occurred? Sounds kind of ominous doesn’t it? So, what is a super moon? As
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Temperatures, Too
With the oncoming of spring, the nights are shorter and temperatures are struggling to rise. The Yukon night skies are also in a state of
Return of the Cosmic Swan
Astronomy as a hobby can be challenging. You are always at the mercy of unpredictable weather, the local wildlife, and, especially, the bugs. Two weeks
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Star Clusters and Ringed Giants
The month of February offers long, clear, cold nights, and a chance to explore five of the finest star clusters in the Yukon Night Skies.
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Showers Forecast for November
It’s going to be a busy season in those amazing Yukon night skies, with the possibility of three more meteor showers taking place in November.
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December Total Lunar Eclipse
We are in for a rare astronomical treat this month. On December 10, early in the morning hours, we are going to experience a total
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So Many Stars, So Little Time
The month of May brings warm weather observing – parka not required – a pleasant change of pace. It still gets frosty, though. Last weekend
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Spring’s Rings and Things
This is the busiest time of the year for northern sky watchers. I like to refer to it as the changing of the guard. Winter
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November Night Skies
Winter has arrived and the weather is starting to stabilize. With clear skies and reasonably warm temperatures, it is time to grab your parka and
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The Pink Mountain Aurora Adventure
In the last few months you may have noticed an increase in Northern Lights action, with intense displays. I hope you had a chance to
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Aurora, a Solar Eclipse and a Venus Transit
Amazing weather has made the last couple of weeks an absolute dream for observing, with clear skies, warm temperatures and no pesky insects. The northern
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Cool Tools for Handy Dudes
Birthday, anniversary, Father’s Day. What do you give the guy who has everything? More tools, of course. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but tools
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A Partial Lunar Eclipse and Spectacular Saturn
With the partial solar eclipse taking place on May 20 it seems only fitting to back it up with a partial lunar eclipse. A little
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