Finding belonging in the North
While the mountains, lakes and crisp air are all part of what makes the Yukon so special, she says the heart of it all lies in the people
Kaley-lynn Hewitt-MacDougall
When you move somewhere new, you hope to find more than just a place to live; you hope to find home. For one woman and her family, the Yukon quickly became just that: a place not only of staggering beauty, but of purpose, connection and community.
“My husband Shawn, our dogs and I came up for a three-day trip when he was offered a job at Whitehorse Motors,” Kaley-lynn Hewitt-MacDougall shares. “We ended up falling head over heels in love with the territory. We just knew that if we said no to this opportunity, we’d always wonder what could’ve been. And when one option comes with regret, well, it’s not really a choice anymore, is it? So we said yes!”
That yes opened the door to a new life. What started as a leap into the unknown quickly turned into something extraordinary.
While the mountains, lakes and crisp air are all part of what makes the Yukon so special, she says the heart of it all lies in the people. And it was from this belief that Yukon Ladies Ask (YLA), a thriving Facebook group, was born.
“I started the group because I was new and working from home, running my own business. I had so many questions: where to go for a good date night, which vet to trust, even which winter boots wouldn’t leave my toes frozen,” she says, then laughs. “I needed a place to ask, and it turned out a lot of other women did too.”
What happened next was nothing short of magical. Over 1,000 members joined in the first 24 hours. Today, the group is closing in on 5,000 members—women from all walks of life, united by a desire to connect, support one another and build something meaningful.
“It started as Q and A, but it’s become so much more,” she explains. “We’ve hosted meetups, clothing swaps, fundraisers and collaborative community projects. And it’s all rooted in the same simple idea: women supporting women.”
One standout initiative that the YLA team revived was Once Upon a Prom (formerly known as the Cinderella Project), which helps provide formal wear for teens who might not otherwise be able to obtain it. Then there’s Paint It Furward, where Kaley and Jana, the owner of Fireweed Fine Finish, put together a group of women who rolled up their sleeves and refreshed the kennels at Humane Society Yukon. Clothing swaps have donated over 100 items to the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, and a unique speed-dating-style networking event helped connect local women entrepreneurs.
“It’s amazing what can grow from a single idea when you’re in a place like the Yukon,” Hewitt-MacDougall says. “Back in a bigger city, it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd. But here, if you have an idea and the heart to follow through on it, you can make real change. The Yukon makes space for your dreams.”
That dream is supported by two key women who have been instrumental since the beginning: Riley Denny and Kristie Sereda.
“Riley reached out to me my first week here. We had coffee, and she’s been by my side ever since. I call her ‘Fix-It Riley.’ She’s resourceful, kind and genuinely one of the most supportive people I’ve ever met.” Then there is Kristie: “She’s sunshine in human form,” she says with a smile. “Warm, funny, real … She lights up a room and brings so much heart to everything she does.”
Together, the trio has transformed YLA into more than just a Facebook group. It’s become a true community, with a powerful impact on local women-owned businesses. One of their key initiatives is the Yukon Women-Owned Business Registry, which now features over 100 businesses and continues to grow. This registry is part of what sets YLA apart from other Facebook groups. Hewitt-MacDougall is the owner of Briar Rose Photography and she envisioned YLA as a space to celebrate and support women in business, championing the message of community over competition. That vision now shines through in initiatives like the new Foxy Business Highlight series, which gives local women the spotlight they truly deserve.
She recalls stories that exemplify the group’s spirit: Recently, a woman gave away $900 in gift cards before they expired; and a time when she delivered a laptop to Edmonton for a fellow member, during a family crisis. “We’ve helped reunite lost pets. The group has been a place of support for women through postpartum depression, pediapause, divorce and chronic illness. In this space you don’t have to feel alone—even during the darkest times.”
It’s that strength—quiet, steady, deeply rooted—that defines what it means to be a Yukon woman.
“If Yukon strength were a superpower,” she says, “it would be the quiet kind of power that moves mountains, literally and figuratively. It’s the ability to dig deep, show up, and make a difference, not just for yourself but for others. It’s kindness, grit and unity rolled into one.”
So, what advice does she have for women moving to the territory?
“Yukon Ladies Ask!” she says and grins. “Seriously, join the group. Ask the questions, come to an event. Get involved. You’ll find your people, and maybe even your purpose.”
As for the women already living in the Yukon, she offers this message: “Keep showing up for one another. Keep dreaming, building and lifting each other up. The strength we have when we stand together? It’s unstoppable.”
For her, being a Yukon lady is about more than geography. It’s about living with intention, kindness and connection. And through Yukon Ladies Ask, she’s created a place where all of that, and more, can thrive. “This isn’t just where I live,” she says softly. “It’s where I belong.”
