Whitehorse –The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and Minister of Health today announced that the Yukon Research Centre will move forward with four cold climate research projects that have potential to stimulate economic development.

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting a strong and diversified northern economy,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “The commercialization of these Yukon projects has tremendous potential to create new business and export opportunities for innovative Yukon businesses.”

“Support for these projects will enable Cold Climate Innovation to work with local businesses to commercialize their innovative ideas,” said Yukon Member of Parliament Ryan Leef. “This investment in research will create opportunities for economic diversification of the territorial economy while building its scientific capacity.”

Whitehorse – First Nations youth across Yukon are being encouraged to consider their own governments when thinking about their career options. Pathways to Success is a poster campaign being launched this week by Yukon College.

Each poster showcases an individual, their current job at a Yukon First Nation, and the educational path they took to get there. Erika Tizya-Tramm from Old Crow is one of seven individuals featured in the campaign.

“When considering your career there are so many different pathways to research and navigate. It can be very difficult to make a decision,” said Tizya-Tramm. “I didn’t have this kind of help when I was at high school and I think it could have made a difference.”

Whitehorse - The Friday May 25 deadline is fast approaching for Yukoners wishing to explore a career in policing and justice. This brand new two-week orientation program will run from June 4-15 at Yukon College.

It will feature a comprehensive overview of a range of careers beyond front-line policing, including site visits, job shadowing, and employment preparedness activities.

The program will be instructed by Pete Thompson, a professor at the Police and Public Safety Institute at Algonquin College, Ontario. Thompson developed the course with staff at Yukon College.

“There are over 200 different jobs available in law enforcement,” said Thompson. “It’s not all about riding in the patrol car and responding to emergencies. There are civilian jobs, radio dispatchers, crime analysts too.”

Whitehorse – Yukon Government has appointed Mike Burke to the Board of Governors of Yukon College for a three-year term. Burke is chief geologist with Golden Predator and, previous to this, was head of Mineral Services for the Yukon Geological Survey.

Since 2011, he has been active at Yukon College, as both a member of the Advisory Committee for the Mineral Resources program, and a member of the working group for the Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining.

“I am passionate about education,” said Mike Burke. “My father and grandmother were both schoolteachers. They instilled in me a respect for the powerful impact a solid education can have on a person’s life and opportunities.”

“Mike Burke brings a wealth of experience from his 29-year career as a geologist in both the private and public sectors,” said Paul Flaherty, chair, Yukon College Board of Governors.

Whitehorse – Staff at Yukon College work hard each year to encourage more graduates and their families to attend the graduation ceremony. This year they unexpectedly hit the jackpot, with tickets selling out two weeks in advance.

“There has been an unprecedented level of interest from grads in attending the ceremony,” says director, Student Services, Colleen Wirth. “This has taken us by surprise. Last year we could not fill the Yukon Arts Centre and this year we have people calling, wanting to know how they can get in.”

Wirth says the graduation committee has to work with a lot of unknowns. “Confirmation of successful course completion by our students has only just happened. During the planning we do not know exactly how many graduates we will have and even now we do not know exactly how many graduates will actually attend the ceremony.”

Whitehorse, YT – Students attending college in Canada’s three northern territories will soon have greater opportunities to further their studies at other universities. That’s because of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today in Yellowknife, NWT between Yukon, Aurora and Nunavut Arctic Colleges and Dalhousie University, University of Laval, University of Alberta and University of Ottawa.

The five-year agreement also opens the door at four of Canada’s leading universities – founding members of the CALDO consortium - to increased opportunity to transfer to programs in the three territories. There are also plans to promote exchange programs and take part in joint research ventures in the North.

Whitehorse - Science Adventures in partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon are pleased to welcome everyone to the 19th Annual Bridge Building Contest this Saturday, April 14, at Porter Creek Secondary School in the gym.

Bridge viewing happens between 12:00 and 1:00 pm followed by bridge strength testing. This year 8 schools participated in building just over 80 different bridges. Join us to witness the loads these bridges can endure before they break.

“We are really excited to see this program in its 19th year, “said Heather Dundas, Coordinator of Science Adventures at the Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College. “So much passion goes into this event. The youth and families that compete are learning engineering principles, design concepts, building skills, and teamwork, and having a great time. It’s really a spectacular show.”

Whitehorse – The Yukon College Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Bill Dushenko as vice-president Academic.

Dushenko comes to Yukon College from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton where he spent six years as a dean, most recently for the School of Sustainable Building and Environmental Management.

Dushenko starts his new position this week and is eager to get to work. He says his first priority is “increasing accessibility for students”.

“I believe that greater flexibility, such as providing more co-op opportunities for our students, increasing our ability to deliver core programs via distance-ed, as well as developing new programs is our path to this.”

Whitehorse –The chair of Yukon College’s Board of Governors is inviting the public to get involved in imagining the future of the College.

“Yukon is evolving,” says Paul Flaherty. “We have a growing population and an expanding economy. Yukon College must also evolve to ensure we are providing students with the right tools to meet the challenges and opportunities in the future.”

Kristina Craig, a Whitehorse-based facilitator, will hold a series of public meetings across the territory on behalf of the Board of Governors throughout April and May.

The Board will use this feedback to assist in creating a fresh strategic plan for 2013-2018. Flaherty says the last strategic plan was important for accomplishing the College’s goals.

 WHITEHORSE – Yukon College announced today it will not be accepting new students for the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program for the 2012-13 academic year.

“The College will suspend new intake for this September,” says Dr. Deborah Bartlette, the Dean of Applied Arts at the College.

“We’re doing this in order to be able to fully implement the recommendations expected from a review of the program now underway.”

The College launched a review of the 24-year-old program in December 2011. Dr. Thomas Fleming, a professor emeritus of Education at the University of Victoria, is now conducting the review. He’s expected to deliver his report to College administrators in June 2012.