What to Do in Dawson in the Winter
Those who think that the Klondike is just a sleepy little place in winter between the tourists and the Yukon Quest would be mistaken.
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Didee & Didoo: Strong Poem
THEY’RE HAVING A STRONG MEETING. LIBERAL IS STRONG GOVERNMENT. AMERICAN SIDE MAKE STRONG LAW. SANTA CLAUS GIVE ME STRONG PRESENT. OLD CHIEF GOT STRONG NAME.
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Bringing Variety to the Rural School Experience
Students in rural schools can miss out on a number of things in terms of course offerings and opportunities. There are specialty programs in the
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Mrs. Gideon’s Ghost
They didn’t know the Caribou Hotel in Carcross was haunted when they bought it. “We’re pretty aware of it now, though,”
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Didee & Didoo: I Wish I Had Wings
I don’t have paws. I don’t have a tail. I don’t have horns. I don’t have hoofs. I don’t have feathers. I don’t have fins.
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Trying to keep the Sun Shining
I promised to tell a little bit of the story of the Klondike Sun’s near death experience if the editors here said it was okay.
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Didee & Didoo: POWER OUTAGE
YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR WHEELBARROW. YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR AXE. YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR HANDSAW. YOU CAN STILL SEE WITH YOUR CANDLE.
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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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Tastes of Home
Conquering exotic culinary worlds is exhilarating, but the dispiriting lack of some foods can make home feel very far away, indeed. For some people, a
Didee & Didoo: Good Samaritan
GOOD SAMARITANS ALWAYS CARE AND THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE. THEY WORK FOR GOD ABOVE GIVING IS HOW THEY SHOW THEIR LOVE. THEY’LL GIVE YOU
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Didee & Didoo: Thinking
I ALWAYS SIT AND THINK AND I WRITE IT IN INK. I ALWAYS THINK LOTS AN’ I WRITE DOWN MY THOTS. MY IDEAS GET BIGGER
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Bringing New Life into Old Buildings
I have written a number of columns about Dawson’s habit of recycling building for other purposes. The Old Territorial Courthouse, which has to be passed
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Didee & Didoo: I NEVER HAD A DIDEE
BUT I KNOW HOW TO TRAP BUT I KNOW HOW TO HUNT BUT I KNOW HOW TO FISH BUT I KNOW HOW TO PADDLE BUT
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Exploring Atlin and the nearby volcanic field
Atlin Mountain might have lost some of its white stripes, but Atlin itself is still as much fun as ever – all inhabitants 100 percent
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Didee & Didoo: My Gym
’When I mention my gym, it doesn’t have a basketball rim. My gym is the great outdoors, I share it with animals on all fours.
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Revisiting the Klondike Big Inch
Each year during the Riverside Arts Festival, the ODD Gallery sponsors a paired set of exhibitions called The Natural and the Manufactured, each dealing with
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Cave In
Sid van der Meer’s stories as dictated to his granddaughter Teresa. The tree leaves are rapidly changing and the temperature is beginning to drop. Autumn
Didee & Didoo: Mrs. Wrong
I ALWAYS SEEM TO FIND MRS. WRONG AND OUR LOVE DON’T LAST TOO LONG. THEY ALWAYS GIVE ME A SHOVE AND I CAN’T FIND TRUE
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The Paradise Beat
“Welcome to paradise,” Kevin Jack says. Thus begins my tour of a property that edges onto the swampy back of Marsh Lake. An old gold
E.T. Call P.C.
During my daily walks with the dogs in the woods between Porter Creek and the college, I can’t help noticing long straight corridors cut through
Didee & Didoo: WALKS
When I Go For My Walks I Wear Out My Socks. I Wear Out My Soles And My Shoes Has Holes. I Always Walk With
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A new park says Thanks to Klondike volunteers
Dawson City has a new park. Located between the Dawson Plaza (where the CIBC is) and the Husky Bus HQ (the former Hair We Are
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An old wooden mantelpiece helps tell the story of the Northwest Staging Route
The airport in Beaver Creek, Yukon is small and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, there’s a good chance you will miss it.
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Wild Cards
The 4th Dawson Daily News Print & Publishing Symposium, part of the annual Yukon Riverside Arts Festival, is taking a walk on the wild side.
Didee & Didoo: Left-Handed
DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED CUPS? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED HATS? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED PENCILS? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED PADDLES? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED AXES?
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When local voices made a difference
In 1976 I was a young teacher just starting out in Beaver Creek, fresh from Nova Scotia and learning about the North. Regular stories about
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Saturday at the Front Street Markets
Front Street is lined with vehicles and shoppers from late morning to midafternoon each Saturday during the summer, even on days when there’s a smoky
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Didee & Didoo: SMARTEST ANIMAL
DOGS KNOW WHEN YOU’RE HURT AN’ THEY KNOW HOW TO COMFORT. DOGGIES ARE SO SMART AN’ THEY’LL HEAL YOUR HEART. THEY CAN READ YOUR MIND
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General Store
Sid van der Meer’s Bordertown Garage & Museum is composed up of numerous themed rooms. One room is themed as an old general store and
Rambling North for the Dawson City Music Festival
The Slocan Ramblers often get asked how it happens that four lads who live in Toronto came to be interested in bluegrass music. Bass player
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Moving Day on Eighth Avenue
“Someone should make a list of all the houses that have been moved around in Dawson, showing where they used to be and where they
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Didee & Didoo: Depression
HARD TIMES ARE COMING AND THERE WILL BE BUMMING. TIMES WILL BE TOUGH AND THERE WON’T BE ENOUGH. ON THE LAND WE HAVE TO SURVIVE
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Two Tones
Today, Sid sits outside the Beaver Creek Visitor Information Centre basking in the warm summer sun. As he waits for visitors to arrive, he admires
Didee & Didoo: HARD LUCK STORIES
I’VE HEARD THEM ALL SOME ARE PRETTY TALL. SOME ARE AS TALL AS A GIRAFFE AND THEY’LL MAKE YOU LAUGH. THEIR STORIES ARE SO FUNNY
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Carcross: Hiking, biking and … Kiteboarding
Carcross has always been known for hiking. Lately, with Montana Mountain right next door, it has become a favoured destination for biking, too. Now, word
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Twice A Day the Whistle Blows
It’s 5:00 and I’m sitting at the table in my summer office which, whenever possible, is our veranda. Seven blocks west and about two north
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Didee & Didoo: Surviving Spring
WHEN I SEE A SWAN I KNOW WINTER IS GONE. WHEN I SEE A BEAR I KNOW SPING IS HERE. THERE IS NO MORE SNOW
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The Fire Siren is Good News
On any Wednesday evening, at any time during the year, most residents in the core historic zone of Dawson City can hear the sound of
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Faro Calling
I call Faro the Pleasantville of the Yukon. Unusual thermals (cranes swirl miles above town) & rock formations to make geologists drool.
The Mayo Marathon is our British Empire
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Mayo Midnight Marathon, hosted by the town’s Fly-by-Night Running Club. And potentially, it’s the end of the
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When your Fingers Stumble Through the Pages
On the whole, there are two positive things about this year’s edition of NorthwesTel’s Northern British Columbia and Yukon Directory. The first is that the
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Didee & Didoo: Peter Norberg
THEY DIDN’T EXPECT HIM TO WIN FIRST PRIZE BUT THEY WERE IN FOR A SURPRISE. HE CAME FOR THE BIG DOG RACE HE WASN’T EXPECTED
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Henry Ford’s Lady
Parked in front of Sid’s museum in Beaver Creek, Yukon sits a 1928 Ford Model A. “I bought it at a swap meet in Lethbridge
Didee & Didoo: Caribou Days
WINTER IS FINALLY GONE IT’S GREAT TO SEE A SWAN. IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN WE’LL SEE A BEAR. IT’S NICE TO SEE
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When the Darkness Bleeds Daylight
June 17 – 21 2015: Dawson City Midnight Sun Camera Obscura Festival. This is the follow up to last year’s Dawson City Solstice Symposium
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Didee & Didoo: QUIET PEOPLE
SOME PEOPLE ARE QUIET AN’ THEY WON’T CAUSE A RIOT. THEY JUST LIKE TO BE ALONE AN’ THEY DON’T LIKE A PHONE. QUIET PEOPLE ARE
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Explaining Travel Realities to People Outside
In just a few days we’ll be loading our little Toyota Yaris onto a freight truck and shipping it to Whitehorse to have a new
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Bus, stop!
They come for a pee, a snack, and a knick-knack. After spending 45 minutes in the first Canadian community that many will ever experience, cruise
Didee & Didoo: I LOVE WHERE I WORK
I WORK AT THE OLD CROW AIRPORT AND I GIVE A WEATHER REPORT. I LOVE WHERE I WORK AN’ I TALK TO THE PILOT OF
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Off to Skagway to Explore Language
By the time you read this I’ll be “Exploring the Frontiers of Language” in Skagway, attending this year’s edition of the North Words Writers Symposium.
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A Northern Diary
About 11:00 p.m. I finally got a glimpse of McClure when our trail passed near the deep ravine the river made. I had been vainly
Biking Whitehorse to Haines Junction
Welcome to the first of four articles on beginner bike touring around the Yukon. I’ll share a rundown of trips and some tips, as well
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Didee & Didoo: Forgot the Grub
WE WENT IN THE BUSH TO FIRE FIGHT BUT THERE WAS NO FOOD TO BITE. BUNCH OF US WERE ON A FIRE CREW BUT WE
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The Break-Up Comedy Festival
Breaking up is no laughing matter. But the Break-Up Comedy Festival, taking place in Dawson City on May 16, definitely is. The idea for the
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Exploring the Bittersweet Beauty of the Juneau Ice Cave
The Zhange Danxia landform in Gansu, China; The Great Blue Hole in Belize; Tulip Fields in the Netherlands; Mount Roraima in Venezuela, Brazil, and Guana,
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Facebook Posse Finds Stolen Trailer
Klondikers pride ourselves on not needing to lock our doors every time we leave our houses. But sometimes we should, as events this week proved.
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Didee & Didoo: When I was a Kid
ALL THE LADIES WORE HANKERCHIEFS. EVERYONE HAD HIGH CACHES. ALL THE ELDERS SMOKED PIPES. EVERYONE USED DOGTEAMS. WE MADE OUR OWN TOYS. EVERYONE HAD BIBLE
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Ironing it Out
No matter how often you visit Sid van der Meer’s Bordertown Garage and Museum in Beaver Creek, there is always more to see. Many people
Dawson’s Community Dance
Tiss Clark, a local artist and music teacher, is the organizer of the Community Jigging Square Dance Project in Dawson City. She decided to start
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World Heritage Planning Gets a Big Boost
The Yukon Government (YG) finally decided to sign on in a substantive way to the push for UNESCO World Heritage Status for the site designated
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Didee & Didoo: Trading Post
YOU Moses can buy a gaslamp an’ everything for his camp. Neil can buy muskrat traps and old time caps. Eliza can buy pots an’
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Dawson Moves Into Puddletime
Dawson has entered that phase of spring I call Puddletime. City workers have been trying to keep up by opening storm drains. The rapidly accumulating
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Muskrat Trapping
The sun is back and the days are warmer, except in the late evenings. People of Old Crow used to be excited about going to Crow
The Ice Bridge Decay is a Sure Sign of Spring
In the April 8 edition of the Klondike Sun I put a little note inside the Sun graphic, in the banner. We always do this,
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Didee & Didoo: The Never Drank
Neil McDonald (Interpreter). Eliza Ben Kassi (Sharing). Rev. Joe Kay (God). Myra Kay (Sharing). Peter Charlie (Discipline). Mary Charlie (Discipline). Charlie P. Charlie (Music). Ellen
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Diner Lights
Sid van der Meer recently travelled from the gold rush fields of Arizona back to Canada’s most westerly community — Beaver Creek, Yukon. Sid has
Didee & Didoo: When I Was With Didoo
When I was with didoo she made me happy. When I was with didoo she made me wise. When I was with didoo she made
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Gerties is now a Municipal Heritage Site
Diamond Tooth Gerties is an iconic Dawson building. It’s the cash cow that finances most of the operations of the Klondike Visitors Association. As of
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You’re Still Gonna Die
Even if you’re famous. Even if you’re rich. Even if you’re healthy. Even if you’re educated. Even if you’re strong. Even if you’re lucky. Even
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Vuntut Gwinchins”
Gwichin lived a nomadic life using stone axe an’ bone knife. They lived in caribou skin tents an’ Gwichins made caribou fence. In winter they
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Didee & Didoo: Poem “I Almost Kicked the Pail”
I think I looked pale an’ I almost kicked the pail. I was feeling worse so I went to see the nurse. She hooked me
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Doesn’t Make Sense”
My tickle is broken! Draw your name! Look at the fish tracks! Are you going to Whitehorse yesterday? Push on the rope! My ski doo
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Dragon in the New Year, Chinese Style
Dawson City has a fondness for parades. Canada Day and Discovery Day are the annual events with the longest history, but there have been Pride
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Didee & Didoo: Poem “Test”
They’ll hand you a paper An’ a pencil with a taper. If you mark the wrong place You’re allowed to erase. If you really think
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Didee & Didoo: Poem “Flu Season”
WHEN YOU START TO COUGH YOU’LL TAKE THE DAY OFF. YOU WILL FEEL SORE AN’ YOU WILL LOOK POOR. YOU’LL HAVE A SORE CHEST AN’
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Getting Around in Dawson
I recently listened to a court debate concerning the streets connected to 2nd Avenue in the north end of town, and which turn you would
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Cannibals”
They don’t care how we feel cannibals just want a free meal. They like our delicious flesh an’ cannibals like us fresh. They don’t care
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Court Comes to the OTAB
The Yukon Supreme Court returned to the Old Territorial Administration Building (OTAB in local slang) late in January. It will continue to occupy space there
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “I Have to Push On”
Even if I’m sore I’ll still push on. When I feel poor I always push on. When I’m lonely I just push on. If I
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Didee & Didoo: No Store
We don’t have a store so we’re really poor. We can’t even shop ‘cause they came to a stop. We could even die because we can’t
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St. Paul’s Tries To Get Warmer
November and most of December were mild in the Klondike this winter. Wondrously, it only took two-and-a-half days to warm up St. Paul’s Anglican Church enough
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Love Triangle”
She still love me but then there’s three. She has a pair she likes to share. She can choose an’ one will lose. She’s not
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “I Have Everything”
I Have Everything The northern lights are my TV. An eagle is my kite. Calm water is my mirror. The North Star is my compass.
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Music for the community
I’ve been the opening act at the last two monthly coffee houses. We meet on the first Saturday of every month in the Odd Fellows
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Didee & Didoo: Poem: “Nomadic Life”
Didee & Didoo: Nomadic Life They followed the caribou herds an’ they hunted migratory birds. Gwichins moved all over the place or hunger they would
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “I think about Didoo”
I think about Didoo When I’m hungry I think about Didoo. When I’m alone I think about Didoo. When I’m broke I think about Didoo.
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Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival returns to the Junction
The summer of 2015 will see the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival, which went on temporary hiatus last year, returning to Haines Junction.
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When the cat came back
Clancy the Cat didn’t show a lot of interest when I dropped in to the Humane Society Dawson (HSD) shelter to visit him a couple
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “So Much To Do”
SO MUCH TO DO Little old ladies are sweet an’ they have little feet. They pretend to be mad but they’re always glad. Their English
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Turning Her Life Into Stories
As a former English teacher, long time library patron, book reviewer, informal Berton House liaison, and editor of The Klondike Sun, it often falls to
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Walks”
Walks When I go for my walks I wear out my socks. I wear out my soles and my shoes has holes. I always walk
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Fish on Porcupine River
Sitting at a fish hole in the dark on the Porcupine River, in the Yukon at Old Crow in the fall, is not unusual. Excitement
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Change is Always Challenging
I understand him getting nostalgic about the slides and equipment. He still has the cast after he broke his arm there in elementary school.
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “In Heaven”
In Heaven We will never die an’ we’ll never cry. We’ll never be sad an’ nobody gets mad. There is no grief an’ there is
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A Tale of Two Boxes
I had to do my first major snow clearance of the season on Hallowe’en. It wasn’t bad — took about half an hour. The snow
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Playing With Words”
Playing With Words My honey likes honey. That fly can’t fly. An ant bit my aunt. my son likes the sun. Don’t swallow that swallow.
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Listening to the Music
I’ve been listening to a lot of cassette tapes lately. You remember those things; they appeared between vinyl records (making a comeback) and CDs (fading
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Didee & Didoo: Poem “Improvise”
You are wise if you improvise. You have knowledge not learned in college. You make plans using your hands. You use tools not following rules.
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Nebraska Turtle
Sid van der Meer has lived in Beaver Creek, Yukon since 1997. He’s made a comfortable home for himself, and a charming museum for friends