News

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University students will be presenting their research topics and findings alongside business case studies at the university’s first student-led Student Symposium being held this week at Ayamdigut Campus.

Billed as a celebration of students’ work, presentations and research, the event takes place from Tuesday, March 28 and ends on Thursday, March 31. In addition to student presentations, there will be networking and social opportunities, and a panel discussion, titled Jobs for the Future with representatives from Northwestel, Northern Vision Development, Air North and Walker Home Construction taking part.

The Government of Canada is committed to keeping our supply chains resilient in the face of a changing climate. This will help make sure families from coast-to-coast-to-coast get the essential goods they need on time and create an economy that works for everyone.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced an investment of $3.4 million under the National Trade Corridors Fund for the Enhancing Yukon trade corridor resilience to northern geohazards project run by Yukon University.

WHITEHORSE, YT — Two Yukon University students have received prestigious, national bursaries administered by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).

Bill Hare, a Bachelor of Social Work student, was awarded one of four $2,500 Bird Construction/Paul and Gerri Charette Bursaries available across Canada. This bursary provides support to Indigenous students who face challenges or barriers to participating in and completing post-secondary education.

Emmanuel Yatta, a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Governance student, was awarded one of twenty $5,000 CICan Paul & Gerri Charette Bursaries available across Canada. This bursary is also focused on providing support to students who face challenges or barriers to participating in and completing post-secondary education.

WHITEHORSE, YT—Applications are now open for a pre-apprentice welding program aimed at women and those who identify as non-binary. The Women of Steel™: Forging Forward Program will be offered by Yukon University in partnership with the CWB Welding Foundation and Yukon Women in Trades and Technology (YWITT).

The program provides learning opportunities that foster education, personal growth, confidence, and experiential learning for students interested in exploring welding and other welding-related skilled trades careers. Successful applicants will have their tuition covered by the program, as well as various wraparound supports, including childcare, rent, food, and emergency subsidies, covered by YWITT.

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University has named Dr. Ken Coates as the new chair of the Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Governance program.

Born in Banff, Alberta, and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, Coates is a renowned and well-respected scholar, educator and commentator. He is passionate about the topics of Indigenous rights, northern development, northern Canadian history, science, technology and society.

Coates has taught and led at universities across Canada, including the University of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, University of Northern British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan. He also spent two years at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, an institution known globally for its work on Indigenous education.

WHITEHORSE, YT— Yukon University has chosen a design and bold energy model for its new science building, the construction of which is named the Polaris Project.

YukonU has launched a two-phase procurement process for construction of this newest academic building. The first phase is a Request For Qualification which will pre-qualify a list of construction contractor companies. In phase two these companies will be invited to bid on construction—anticipated to commence in spring 2023 for completion in 2025. 

#GivingTuesday donations to YukonU will support hungry students

WHITEHORSE, YT — Today is #GivingTuesday and Yukon University is inviting Yukoners to interact with the university’s social media posts about today, share their personal story of gratitude or donate directly to support YukonU students in need.

YukonU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lesley Brown has committed to donate $1.00 for every social media interaction, gratitude story or direct donation received today up to a total of $500.

All #GivingTuesday donations will go towards emergency grocery cards for students and replenishing the Ayamdigut campus student food bank.

#GivingTuesday was created in 2012 by CanadaHelps.org as a day that encourages people to do good. The idea caught on, and has grown around the world, inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Today, it manifests as a day of giving.

Communities across Northern Canada are witnessing first-hand the devastating impacts a changing climate is having across Arctic ecosystems. Livelihoods, Indigenous culture, social relations, food security, health, well-being      and a way of life, which have existed for generations are all being impacted.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, was joined by his colleagues in releasing the Northern Canada Chapter of the Canada in a Changing Climate: Regional Perspectives Report to help inform and support adaptation to climate change in Canada’s North.

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lesley Brown has announced several changes to the roles and structure of the senior team leading the Canada’s first university north of 60.

Dr. Shelagh Rowles has accepted a three-year appointment to the position of Provost and Vice-President Academic. Dr. Rowles holds an Interdisciplinary Ph.D from the University of Saskatchewan in the field of history, public policy, and innovation and has been with the university since 1991.

WHITEHORSE, YT— Following an extensive search within the territory, Gavin Gardiner has been selected as YukonU’s inaugural University Secretary and General Counsel.

Gardiner is a lawyer who joins Yukon University from Woodward & Company Lawyers LLP where he is a partner. He supports the governance of northern First Nations with a practice focused on modern treaty implementation, employment law, policy development and restorative justice.

“Gavin is an accomplished lawyer with a formidable background in negotiation, policy development and Yukon First Nations governance. He also brings executive leadership and post-secondary experience to this new role. The University Secretary supports the effective and efficient operation of our bicameral system of governance and is vital to our journey of fulfilling the promise of Yukon University,” said Dr. Lesley Brown, president and vice-chancellor, Yukon University.

WHITEHORSE, YT— An exhibit of paintings by Maegan Garrett celebrates the beauty of the written word.

“In our world of instant gratification and disposable culture, a writer’s ability to paint vivid pictures with words is something we need to hold onto. Playing with language is an underappreciated art form in a social climate of sound bites and memes. The exhibit, Wordscapes: Paintings Shaped in Books, is my way of celebrating great writing and the art of language”, said Garrett.

Maegan Garrett is a visually impaired Yukon artist and registered art psychotherapist who believes creativity can heal and transform. It wasn’t until her mid 30’s that a diagnosis of incurable, degenerative blindness spurred her to prioritize art in her own life. Maegan is largely self-taught, and her style is constantly fluctuating in response to her sight loss.

On September 1, the Every Child Matters flag was raised and will fly for the entire month. On September 30, the National Truth & Reconciliation Survivors flag will be raised and fly permanently in honour of Residential School survivors. The Survivors’ Flag - NCTR.

FNI invites you to share your reflections on what truth and reconciliation means to you or perhaps you may want to share resources (articles, books, groups, etc.) that foster healthy discussion and thought on Truth and Reconciliation, a personal commitment to reconciliation, or anything else that will encourage healthy thought and discussion. Share them here at First Nations Initiatives' Kudoboard