No blues for this bootlegger
One afternoon, in the mid-70s in Inuvik, I was looking for some oddball thing for my vehicle. I looked almost everywhere and then I decided […]
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When life hands you lemons …
… have a drink of lemonade on August 7 [three_fourth] Two Yukon organizations are making lemonade centre stage this summer. Big Brothers Big Sisters of
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Four days full of food and family fun
Eating, cooking and learning about homegrown products The Yukon Culinary Festival will show that the territory has a lot to offer when it comes to
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Get out on the land
The Yukon Fish and Game Association’s Youth Outdoor Education Camp took place June 22 to 28 In an increasingly digital and wired world, the annual
Get out on the land Read More »
Nature versus hunting
How can I go out and shoot an animal? It might surprise you that many animals that go through meatpacking companies are actually shot with
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Camping: Timesaving tips
Foul weather can wreck more than your mood when you’re out camping and hunting moose. Simple tips and tricks.
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Celebrate Local Food – July 2019
This month’s Local Food Promotion winners are… Chris Potvin & Sara Nielsen The couple tried out Dennis Zimmerman’s recipe p.148 in The Boreal Gourmet, our
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Edmonton Eskimo fan-atic
My dad became a season ticket holder for the Edmonton Eskimos (EE) in 1959. I cannot say when he first became a loyal Eskimos fan,
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A Northwest Passage to the sea
(Ed. Note: The following article was first written for the Northwest Passage Project excursion to take place last summer from August 23 to September 13
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Can you get to Canyon from here?
Are you into history and/or walking? Maybe you prefer history and exploring beautiful places, but not walking? Either way, I’ve got you covered. If you’ve
Can you get to Canyon from here? Read More »
Driven to explore
A seven-hour drive north of Whitehorse, or one hour and 30 minutes north from Dawson City, the Tombstone Interpretive Centre sits as the gateway to
Spread the word: free peanuts on Park Street
They say the fastest land mammal of all is the cheetah, capable of running as fast as 120 km/h without breaking a sweat. But “they”
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Krank It Up
This month, Mt. McIntyre will host the new summer mountain bike festival, organized by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC). Klondike Krankfest replaces CMBC’s previous
Tattoo You – Lalithaa Krish
[box]Hello readers, Do you have a tattoo that is important to you? Is it inspired by something or someone in the Yukon? Please submit a
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Confessions of an exercise hater
Deborah needs to convince her “inner brat” to do more exercise than just light weights at home My inner brat just won’t listen. Some people
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Just keep paddling
Carmen Gustafson is gearing up for her fourth Yukon River Quest. For those who are fond of stats, that means that by this year’s Canada
Just keep paddling Read More »
What it takes to be Canadian
What does it take to be Canadian? I’ve been in this country two-and-a-half years. After 18 months of processing, I received my permanent residency on
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Citywide celebrations
National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, is right around the corner. There’s so much to celebrate during this nationwide statutory holiday. The Kwanlin Dün Cultural
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Hours of sunlight
Whitehorse Sunrise at 10:51 a.m. My wife and I were in Mazatlán, Mexico earlier this year. The timing of the sunrise and sunset got me
Bolstering sisterhood
The Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle has been supporting women for 16 years Well after many of her peers have settled into retirement, Adeline Webber continues
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Pike for supper
Pike are very common, not difficult to catch and are a delicious mild-flavoured fish. Their one big negative is that they have more bones than
Co-pilot for a day
One morning in the mid 1980s, a pilot named Fred came to my house. Since I had only met him on a few occasions at
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What a difference a year (or 40) makes
The 53-kilometre Chilkoot Trail starts in Dyea, Alaska, at sea level and in full rain forest. There is lush vegetation, dense, fragrant canopy, moss of
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Fifty years of Rotary in Whitehorse
The Rotary Club of Whitehorse has been serving the city for 50 years and it is time to celebrate and acknowledge its history and accomplishments. As
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Ink on ink
A tale of two tattoos Raven Mythology #4.5 “It’s not known which came first, the penny or the flag.” Cam Brewster’s World Famous Tattoo Studio
Who invited all these bugs?
Larry has some tips for getting rid of those pesky mosquitoes I’ve often wondered what it would be like to go camping, fishing, hiking or
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Sing it loud, sing it proud
Some people are surprised it’s only been 50 years; others are surprised it’s already been 50 years. One of the biggest questions Marc-Andre
Sing it loud, sing it proud Read More »
As Granny said, mind your ascenders and descenders
“Kehheth” had some problems with his ascenders when learning to write as a child, leaving evidence on the wall. Anyone who has ever worked in
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Steiner aces the rut fluff to win
March 15, 1986 at the men’s downhill in Whistler, B.C. – The Inside Edge Memoirs #1 By the time the 1986 Molson’s World Cup men’s
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Telling a fish’s age
Once you cut a tree down, you can count the number of years it has stood by counting the annual rings around the stump. It
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Sport fishing and the future
Fish management is an ever-changing science. With climate change at hand, it will present many unanswered questions about the future of fishing.
Sport fishing and the future Read More »
Not just a beautiful aroma
How essential oils are becoming part of people’s lives Essential oils have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic practice, burial rituals, food preparations, the perfume
Not just a beautiful aroma Read More »
Asian Heritage Month
May is Asian Heritage Month. It’s a time for Yukoners to not only celebrate the culture and history of Asian people, but also to recognize
Asian Heritage Month Read More »
Fish actually have ears
Although fish have ears, they do not have eardrums like humans and other wildlife A number of years ago, while writing outdoor columns for some
Fish actually have ears Read More »
A long time ago, in a lake far away
I was 12 years old in 1955 when my oldest brother, Robin, went away to university. As siblings in a close-knit family, we had shared
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In pursuit of the perfect shot
The Porcupine Caribou Herd is thought to have the longest mammal migration on the planet. The image I wanted to capture is hard to describe, but while doing research on the caribou, I saw videos of them in winter, migrating in long lines of thousands. It reminded me of images of the Klondike Gold Rush a hundred years ago, where there was a line of 400 men following a trail straight up the mountain.
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Teaching teens about healthy relationships
Would you believe conversations around consent don’t need to be awkward? Shelby Maunder does and she’s sharing the message with youth. Maunder is the executive director
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Tinfoil and the barbeque
Tinfoil, as it’s commonly called, is actually aluminum foil. While it’s not essential, it is a boon to the fine art of barbequing. One of
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When in Faro… Portugal
Here are some of my tips on travel to Portugal as a curious 70-year-old with a “willing to try it at least once” philosophy. This
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The joys and dangers of taking a risk
A few weeks ago, a friend sent me an opinion piece from a recent edition of The Globe and Mail. It was about falls. Not
The joys and dangers of taking a risk Read More »
My road to redemption
I would not consider myself a runner, and yet, here I am at the start line of the Chena River to Ridge 25-mile race. For
My road to redemption Read More »
What do the letters “N-U-R-S-E” mean?
In the 86 years since I was born, I’ve been admitted to nine different hospitals from Fredericton to Vancouver and from Whitehorse to Toronto. The
What do the letters “N-U-R-S-E” mean? Read More »
Bicycle bison hunt
The Porter Creek Secondary School bison hunt changed from a snowmobile hunt to a bicycle hunt due to lack of snow in March. The planning
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The boys (and girls) of summer
This summer, the Boys and Girls Club of Yukon (BGCY) will celebrate its 20th year in the territory by expanding activities for kids, as part
The boys (and girls) of summer Read More »
Sparking conversations of consent
Wondering who the friendly people are at every festival handing out condoms, making cool buttons and sometimes dressing up like superheroes? If you’ve been to
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Food security in the North
Local food production and sourcing has become an important component of our food supply, like the potatoes harvested here at the Yukon Grain Farm in
Food security in the North Read More »
Homesick in Alberta
I was up in the Yukon last week working with Gwaandak Theatre on a series of radio plays based on legends from Old Crow. It
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It’s been weeks of geek
May 4 has long, long been, even in countries far, far away, celebrated in geek culture. “May the fourth be with you” has been an
It’s been weeks of geek Read More »
Forgotten meals
Here are some old and mostly forgotten meals that still linger on my taste buds and I, once again, long to dig into the good
Olympic dreams
Do you think you have what it takes to be an Olympian? So does Training Ground. Since 2016, nearly 6,000 athletes have been tested.
Self-care as a daily practice
Living in today’s world can mean being bombarded by awful news about sexualized assault, microaggressions and violence in many forms. All this negative news can
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Mother’s Day running, biking and walking
Breast cancer is one of the top three diagnosed cancers in the Yukon. One out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. These are the staggering realities of breast cancer.
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Fire – RIGHT NOW!
Many situations need a fire, right now! An emergency or something you come upon. May not even be an emergency or survival situation, yet.
A real Canadian pancake breakfast
First of all, let’s return to the 1930s and make our pancakes in a real heavy iron pan. The pan is ready for the mixture
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Watching the River Thaw
Members of the Yukon Order of Pioneers (YOOP) have placed the Ice Pool Tripod on the ice of the Yukon River and the tickets for
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A Contrast in character—meet our neighbour, and maybe even a distant relative
What the constellation Cancer lacks in bright stars, it makes up for with its special deep sky resident, the Beehive open star cluster, or M44
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Ziplocs and vacuum-sealing
Great for camping, canoeing and hunting, ziplocs are watertight. It can rain for days and the items in your Ziploc bags will still be dry.
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Earth Day reflections
The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 as a series of peaceful demonstrations against growing air and water pollution. Almost 50 years
Earth Day reflections Read More »
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.
LARP, or not LARP, how’s that a question? Read More »
A good time for death cleaning
Seventy years of accumulation of stuff—that’s what I have in addition to my husband’s “resource,” as he so fondly calls his stuff. Somehow the amount
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Button up those denims
Every little bit helps. That’s the philosophy behind Yukon Denim Day and the support that Yukoners Cancer Care Fund provides to individuals affected by cancer.
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Paw-t smoking
Dogs under the influence of pot may simply lie asleep at irregular hours Lily is an energetic dog. At three months old, it was abnormal
Celebrating 25 years of the Yukon Bird Club
Celebrating 25 years of the Yukon Bird Club
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Get a quick and easy fire going
I put wood in the stove, set the Hurlburt fire starter under it and struck a match. Within seconds there was a six-inch flame. After a minute, the wood ignited.
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Ice-fishing with kids
If you don’t make it fun, they won’t like it. Going out again will be unlikely. In that respect, it’s like summer fishing, only it’s
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Fish for dinner
Now that we’ve caught the fish, what do we do? Throw away the fish chain, remove the fish to a waterbox to keep the fish alive and replace it with an ice box.
Twenty defined techniques of violence
The laissez-faire technique is well articulated by the three monkeys. I see nothing. I hear nothing. I say nothing Violence 101 – Part six of
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Atlin coffee is burning up the market
Having a wood-fired coffee roaster is more than just a gimmick—it’s good business sense for Philippe and Leandra Brient, co-owners of Atlin Mountain Coffee Roasters.
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Everyone’s heading to shred town
With April right around the corner, Yukoners are getting some spring into their step. For many, it means the bittersweet transition from winter to summer
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Raise your glass
Since launching Yukon Brewing, Alan Hansen and Bob Baxter have proven that they know their beer. With the success of Two Brewers whisky over the
Hop out to the Wildlife Preserve this spring
[two_third] Springtime at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve is just one more thing to look forward to as the days get longer and the weather gets
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M31, The Andromeda Galaxy—a hungry “island universe” with its sights on us
Andromeda is the big daddy of galaxies amongst our Local Group of about 50 galaxies. At over 200,000 ly in diameter, Andromeda is more than twice the diameter of our Milky Way.
M31, The Andromeda Galaxy—a hungry “island universe” with its sights on us Read More »
A raven conspiracy?
Back in Inuvik, when the powers that be were trying to figure out why they could not keep ravens from shorting out and blowing power transformers in the winter.
A raven conspiracy? Read More »
Snowmobile survival gear
A little planning and preparation can save your day in many situations. The winter bison hunts and Dempster Highway caribou hunts are true examples of
Snowmobile survival gear Read More »
Snowmobile ice travel
Larry Leigh has some tips to stay safe when venturing out onto ice on your snowmobile
Snowmobile ice travel Read More »
So long, smug Victoria. Welcome to Canada
The allure of even a well-crafted, lightweight shovel begins to pale after days upon numberless days of snow upon snow upon snow. There is wisdom
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One woman’s tale travelling solo in Iran
In 2016 I was living in the Republic of Georgia and travelled to the Islamic Republic of Iran for two months solo. Where and why
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The dreaded ‘P’ word
Yes, that’s right, I’m going to write it. The “P” word. That’s right. Period. (Not the little dot at the end of a sentence, but
The dreaded ‘P’ word Read More »
The technique of violence
Violence 101 – Part five of six In the last four articles … The last four articles have described the Cycle of Violence, including its
The technique of violence Read More »
The reluctant senior citizen
When I was first asked if I wanted to join the talented group of writers at What’s Up Yukon and contribute a column that would
The reluctant senior citizen Read More »
Endings and beginnings
It was the end of my first camino, the ancient pilgrimage route across Spain, and I never wanted to put those dang boots on again.
Endings and beginnings Read More »
Let loose your inner kid
In the midst of Sourdough Sams, tattoo competitions, and beard and leg hair-growing contests, Yukon kids need a place to call their own during Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous.
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The five foundations of violence
The five principles of violence which are far from complex. They always comes down to the simple concepts covered.
The five foundations of violence Read More »
The greatest living history in the North
I was walking through downtown Edmonton, the other day, when an old-timer in curled-up cowboy boots saddled up to me and bummed six bits off of me for a glass of draught. I was so happy to hear that particular vernacular that I almost gave him a hug.
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Long johns—the cure for the common cold
These days, long johns are referred to as a “base layer” and are usually made from some very scientific-sounding material and come with a big, obvious logo to satisfy status-seekers.
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Seed dreams are made of these
Here, as elsewhere, we’re on the January/February cusp. For all practical purposes, that means gardening season is still a few months off.
Seed dreams are made of these Read More »
Lichen what I see – But not always sure what to call it
If there is anybody out there who recognizes what is in these pictures, please step forward. Recently, I found myself looking more intensively at
Lichen what I see – But not always sure what to call it Read More »
Are you prepared for a forest fire?
First and foremost … I have the greatest respect for all firefighters when they fight a fire—be it a house fire or a forest fire.
Are you prepared for a forest fire? Read More »
Skagway Brewing Company expands
Whether you’re visiting Skagway by boat or by highway from Whitehorse, a visit isn’t complete unless you’ve tried the local beer. Healy was born and
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Algol the demon – The exoneration of an eclipsing binary star
In our northern sky is a prominent bright star that, with amazing precision, dramatically dims by a factor of more than three for about an hour, before returning to its normal brightness. A flirtatious cosmic wink from the distant realms of deep space perhaps?
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The escalation of violence
Part three of six In the last two articles of this series, I described the four phases of the Cycle of Violence (accumulation, explosion, honeymoon,
The escalation of violence Read More »
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.
A carpenter’s lesson in life
Each year, just as New Year’s rolls around, I place this on the front page of my new diary so when I open it and read each line, it will help me to make my way through the on coming days of another year.
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Sliding doors
I think many of us have reflected on the “sliding door” moments in our life, the what ifs? What might have been? How would my life be different now? I know I have.
Continuing to care
Yukon Cares, the local grassroots refugee re-settlement group, successfully supported the arrival of a family of two from Liberia in December.
Continuing to care Read More »
Tips for cold hands and feet
In cold weather, a head without a hat on it can lose up to 50 per cent of your body heat and some of that
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A mountain of possibilities
What’s the best part of winter in the Yukon? Why, it’s sleeping in and still being up at the crack of dawn to go on an adventure, of course.
A mountain of possibilities Read More »
Mother is coming
This is a phrase I have said, myself, as I rolled my eyes. We have all read stories and watched sitcoms where adult children
My first Christmas in the North: 1961
Donna found peace, happiness and calmness during her first simpler Christmas in the North.
My first Christmas in the North: 1961 Read More »
The last great road race
The 50th running of the Alcan 200 International Snow Machine Road Rally takes place on the third weekend in January, attracting snow-machine enthusiasts from Alaska, the Yukon and northern B.C.
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