Whitehorse – 222 bridge builders have registered for the 22nd Annual Bridge Building contest to be held this Saturday April 11, at the Porter Creek Secondary School gym.

The event, organised by Science Adventures at Yukon College and the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon, will feature a total of 121 bridges created by students from 11 Yukon schools, home educators, plus adults in the All-Can category.

Robert Service School in Dawson City is leading the way with a total of 22 bridges submitted. Each bridge is made only from wooden coffee stir sticks, white glue and dental floss.  The challenge is to build the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight. The excitement is seeing how big a load these bridges can endure before they break.

Yukon College statistics students have gone beyond their textbooks by applying their skills to a simulated climate change-related research project in the territory. Math 105 Introduction to Statistics students have used real-life weather data from a collaborative research project between the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) and Yukon Energy Corporation that could prove beneficial to the hydro security of the Yukon River.

Math 105 students have analyzed weather data from remote meteorological (met) stations situated on the Llewellyn and Fantail glaciers, the headwaters of the Yukon River. The information from these met stations will help understand how the Whitehorse dam is affected by a changing climate. Students worked in groups to simulate research on various aspects of the weather data, including: temperature, atmospheric pressure, rain and snow, wind direction and speed and solar radiation. 

WHITEHORSE – The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon (FASSY) is launching an innovative Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) prevention initiative which will place pregnancy test kit dispensers in two women’s washrooms in Whitehorse. Dawson City’s Healthy Families Healthy Babies project sponsored by CPNP (Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program) will also be doing the same soon in Dawson. The initiative has also connected with a University of Alaska Anchorage study being conducted to assess effective FASD prevention strategies.

“Having pregnancy test kits more accessible can empower women to make responsible choices in the earliest stage of fetal development. We encourage women to ‘Think before you drink’ – to consider whether they could be pregnant when making the decision to consume alcohol,” said Wenda Bradley, FASSY Executive Director.

Whitehorse – Northern greenhouse experts across the country are gathering in Whitehorse to attend the 4th annual Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (RIC) Workshop on March 24th and 25th. The theme of this year’s event is Innovation in Cold Climate Greenhouses and is hosted by Cold Climate Innovation of the Yukon Research Centre.

Yukoners are invited to spend two days focusing on what is integral to Northern food security: the development of year-round food production. The event will include a series of keynote speakers and panel discussions on the latest design, technology and practical innovations in cold climate greenhouses.

Whitehorse – Zucchini, beans and other vegetables have been growing in the dead of winter at Yukon College. Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) of the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) has partnered with AgriArctic Yukon Inc., to explore affordable technologies for growing food year round.

The vegetables are housed in a small spaceship-like dome lined with Mylar; a shiny silver material that reflects the energy efficient lighting. The vegetables lay within an aeroponics unit where their roots are exposed to the air.  No soil is used in this system and the vegetables receive nutrients through a fine nutrient-rich mist or spray which is applied directly to their roots.  One of the major benefits of using this system is the reduction in the amount of water usage compared to traditional farming techniques.  Also by arranging plants vertically, rather than horizontally, northern growers will optimize space and energy efficiency.

Whitehorse – Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) of the Yukon Research Centre is pleased to announce its first partner in innovation to be granted a US patent, with Canadian patent soon to follow. Boreal Compost Enterprises Ltd. has been granted a patent for the technology behind the Plastic Separator, a machine that removes plastic contaminants from compost and other recycled materials. This Yukon invention is set to have a significant impact on the global composting and recycling industry.

Over the last three years CCI has supported Garret Gillespie, president of Boreal Compost and developer of the Plastic Separator, in making his idea a reality. This machine began as a concept that led to financial support from CCI, enabling applied research and development, business mentoring, and intellectual property counsel. 

ROSS RIVER - Since the January 18th closure of the school building in Ross River, Yukon College’s Dene Cho Kê’endį campus has continued to provide programming at multiple locations in the community, including the College’s Mobile Trades Training Trailer.

“We are grateful to the community, students, and staff, for their patience and understanding as we handle the unexpected closure of our Ross River campus,” said Dr. Deb Bartlette, Vice President Academic and Student Services at Yukon College.

“Until we hear different from Yukon government, we are treating this as a temporary situation. Our focus is on ensuring the delivery of key ongoing programs, such as the Heavy Equipment Mechanic training. Due to this unique situation we must temporarily scale back all other programs and services.”

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon College Board of Governors has approved a 1.8% tuition fee increase to take effect for all credit courses beginning in September 2015.

The price of a course credit will go from $112 to $114. A full year of credit courses will increase by a maximum of $60 (for students taking 5 courses per semester).  Culinary Arts, Renewable Resource Management and Practical Nurse programs will see no tuition fee increase.

"Direction from the Board of Governors is that Yukon College tuition fees not exceed the lowest one third of comparable colleges in Western Canada, and this continues to be the case,” said Jennifer Moorlag, Registrar. “At the same time however, the fixed-costs of providing post-secondary education continue to rise."

Whitehorse – Yukon innovators have a chance to win up to $70,000 for their ideas through the Yukon Innovation Prize. Cold Climate Innovation at Yukon College’s Yukon Research Centre (YRC) and Government of Yukon’s Economic Development have teamed up to support Yukoners whose ideas have an environmental or economic benefit to the Yukon.

Innovators are invited to compete for one of four $10,000 prizes which they can then use to further develop their idea and provide evidence of its technical and economic viability. These four finalists will then submit their refined plans to compete for the grand prize of $60,000, to be used to bring their innovative idea towards commercialization.

WHITEHORSE - The Canadian Forces team is making a confident return to the 51st Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Community Challenge.

The team previously racked up an impressive series of golds year after year before sitting out the competition in 2013 and 2014, following a stunning defeat in 2012 at the hands of current reigning champs, The Beaver Cleavers from Shay-Per Esthetics. After acting as a ringer for the YG Cabinet team last year, Commander of the Joint Task Force (North) Brigadier-General Greg Loos says he will be fielding his best men and women in a bid to reclaim the top spot.