What an absolute honour and privilege to be the new Editor of What’s Up Yukon! I’m going to use my inaugural editorial to let you know a little bit about me.
I moved to the Yukon in ’99 when my full-time road band was hired to re-open the 202 after its massive renovations. Two weeks into a month-long gig. I made the decision that the Yukon was where I wanted to be for the rest of my life.
Prior to that I had been a full-time professional road musician for over 20 years across Canada and the US. Since then I have been an avid supporter and promoter of ‘all things Yukon’. I don’t always tell people that I’m from Canada, but when I do, I tell them that I’m from The Yukon! I’m humbled and blessed to be able to promote and showcase ‘all things Yukon’ through What’s Up Yukon.
I’m also blessed to live where I do. When I lived up in Dawson City I thought at the time that I would never leave. It was such a comfortable lifestyle, even in the winter. The kind of place where even if you don’t know everybody you know something about everybody and you recognize them down the boardwalk by the colour of their parka and their gait.
Everything happens for a reason. My lovely wife Pam and I currently own about 10 acres in Mendenhall Subdivision and are reminded daily of the beauty of our home on CAFN traditional territory and the wonderful creatures and neighbours that we share it with. Being situated halfway between ‘town’ and ‘the Junction’ we get the best of both worlds and have wonderful friends in both.
Some folks ask us, “Why on earth would you live waaayyyy out there?” To which we always respond, “Have you ever had to commute in Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver?”
Driving the Alcan in either direction is different every single day. The mountains change with the seasons and we are very lucky to regularly see our ‘neighbours’: the wild horses, the ‘ladies’ (elk), occasionally bears and bison. We’ve been watching the horses for so long now that we’ve seen foals born into the herd that are now grand- and great-grandparents of the new foals this year and last. Probably about 12 now, with this year’s count.
So yes, Pam and I are very blessed. I am so excited to be your new Editor and promote my biggest passion in life–The Yukon and all of its amazing talent and culture, without whom this publication wouldn’t exist. Also to live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.I firmly intend to remember every day how lucky we are and to do everything in my power to support and promote ‘all things Yukon’.
Let’s Rock & Roll!!
