March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year, the theme is Voices for Action Against Racism.

Racial discrimination continues to exist in Canada, including here at Yukon University. This means that the daily existence of students and colleagues who are not white is negatively affected because of the color of their skin or their ethnic origin. In some cases, discrimination emerges as barriers that are inherent to our structures and systems of operation within and beyond our institution, but at other times discrimination is experienced as disgraces of harassment and unjust behaviors, including silence, imposed by others. This is unacceptable.

WHITEHORSE, YT—Fourth year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students are channeling their work, life and university experience into a free, online workshop series—Find your Inner Guru.

Across two weeks starting Tuesday, March 22, Kendall Pigeau, James Punongbayan, Christy Huey and Tasha-Lee Schwantz will inspire compassionate leadership skills in business, people, budding entrepreneurs, fellow students and the public.

The interactive workshops will cover discovering your own superhero, building influence and growing positive impact, giving and receiving constructive feedback and using inclusive language in the workplace.

The Russian Federation’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is deeply troubling. This assault on Ukraine and its people is an assault on the very democratic values that universities uphold by offering a safe space for free inquiry. 

Yukon University joins the many voices condemning the actions of President Putin and calling for an immediate end to this armed aggression. 

Yukon University stands with Ukraine, and we are heartened by the huge outpouring of solidarity with the Ukraine people, here in Yukon and around the world—including those in Russia risking everything to oppose their government.  

Yukon University supports the work by the Governments of Yukon and Canada to ensure refugees fleeing this war will be accepted into Canada.  

We recognize that many in the YukonU community may be affected directly and indirectly by the alarming news and images coming from Eastern Europe.  

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University is introducing two changes to the registration process for Youth Moving Mountains Summer Camps to ensure greater inclusion of Indigenous youth in Whitehorse.

The camps are popular and usually fill up rapidly once online registration opens, sometimes within minutes. Places are secured by immediate payment via credit card.

Going forward, registration will be a staggered process. Starting March 16, Indigenous families (including parents or caregivers) will be able to access advanced registration online or via phone. Camp staff will be available between 9am and 4pm each weekday to support those wishing to register youth in the camps. Then, on March 23, general online registration will proceed for the remaining available spots in each camp.

For all youth, payment will no longer be required at registration. Parents and caregivers will have until May 27 to seek and receive financial support for their child to attend camps.

Dear students, 

The flags that can be lowered at Ayamdigut campus will fly at half-mast for seven days from today until March 11 to recognize the discovery of 169 potential unmarked graves at the site of the former St. Bernard's Indian Residential School and nearby cemetery within the Kapawe'no First Nation, 370 kilometres north of Edmonton in Alberta.  

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University announced today that the requirement for all students, employees, contractors and visitors attending a YukonU campus in-person must be fully vaccinated, due to come into effect February 18, is delayed to April 30.  

This means that anyone currently not in compliance with the directive may continue to access YukonU campuses until April 30.  

Until then, students who are immuno-compromised or at greater risk from COVID are encouraged to speak with their instructor or chair to determine a safe, healthy path forward. Similarly, employees who are immuno-compromised or at greater risk from COVID are encouraged to speak with their supervisor about working from home.  

Yukonstruct and Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship have partnered with Spring Activator to deliver the first Yukon Investment Challenge. This program is designed to support and enhance local businesses and investors, whereby the latter will collectively award one startup with up to $50,000 in investment. The initiative is funded in partnership with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

WHITEHORSE, YT—The Selkirk College Board of Governors announced this morning they have named Dr. Maggie Matear as their next president.

Dr. Matear joined Yukon University in 2019 as vice president of university services. She led the university as interim president and vice chancellor from September 2020 to August 2021 as it navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic.

“Dr. Matear will be a wonderful addition to Selkirk College and their communities. She brings strong experience in community development and post-secondary leadership, as well as an informed understanding of the unique value that a multi-campus model brings to a region,” said Dr. Lesley Brown, president and vice chancellor, Yukon University.

Dear students,

In recognition of the news yesterday from Williams Lake First Nation in BC of confirmation of 93 potential burial sites at the location of the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, the four flags that can be lowered at Ayamdigut campus will be lowered for seven days from today, January 26, and raised again on February 2.

My message from December 16 provides more information on the decision to raise the flags on December 22 and actions we will take to ensure we remember and honour residential school survivors, the many children who did not return home and their loved ones.