WHITEHORSE, YT—The Yukon University Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lesley Brown as president and vice chancellor of Yukon University, Canada’s first university north of 60. Brown takes up her new role August 16.

Brown was most recently provost and vice president, Academic, at Mount Royal University (MRU) in Calgary. In this role, she oversaw all facets of educational programming and research at MRU, which evolved into a university in 2009. Under her leadership, Mount Royal University experienced significant growth in student enrolment, faculty research success, and academic programming, including the establishment of a long-anticipated Bachelor of Social Work program.

WHITEHORSE, YT— A Two-Eyed Seeing Research Program has been established in collaboration between the Government of Yukon, University of Alberta North, and Yukon University. This program honours different ways of knowing and doing, and aims to uphold Indigenous values and practices in research, training, and knowledge sharing throughout Yukon as it braids Indigenous and western knowledge throughout the program.

The Government of Yukon is generously contributing over $700,000 to this Yukon-focused Two-Eyed Seeing Research Program which includes establishing a Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge at Yukon University, and a series of research activities conducted jointly between YukonU and UAlberta North. This four-year commitment builds on previous collaboration between the three partners.

Five-year, $400,000 commitment will promote critical research and innovative solutions to address climate change challenges in Canada’s North

WHITEHORSE, YT, June 7, 2021— Yukon University has received a $400,000 donation from BMO Financial Group to support the establishment of a permafrost institute at the YukonU Research Centre (YRC). This five-year commitment enables continued innovation in YukonU’s permafrost research and contributes to the development of forward-thinking solutions to address the challenges permafrost thaw is bringing to Canada’s North.

WHITEHORSE, YT— Power Corporation of Canada has donated $100,000 to support the development of an Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination (IISD) at Yukon University.

This investment will support the design and development of a mentorship program aimed at building capacity of participants engaged in Human Resources, Lands or Finance within their First Nations government.

“The Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination at YukonU will support First Nations governments in their implementation of their self-government agreements through research and capacity development and will share the important stories of the struggle for and achievement of self-determination. This significant investment by Power Corporation of Canada will be used to design programs supporting the professional development of individuals serving their communities in Canada’s North,” said Chùsi Robin Bradasch, associate vice president Indigenous Engagement and Partnerships.

DAWSON CITY, YT—The Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA) received a record 32 applications for the upcoming school year from across Canada and as far afield as Japan and Taiwan.  

Program director, Aubyn O’Grady has sent out 20 acceptance letters and is hopeful all 20 students sign up when registration opens on May 31. 

O’Grady credits several reasons for SOVA’s growing success, including more actively sharing aspects of Dawson City life on their social media platforms and their ability to hold in-person studios and classes within COVID-19 safety measures.  

In addition, a pilot project with Northern Vision Development and the Downtown Hotel is providing housing to students arriving at the end of the summer.  

WHITEHORSE, YT— Over 800 employees of Yukon College between 1988 and 2020 are being celebrated in a new display unveiled today at Yukon University’s Ayamdigut Campus.

The display was conceived and donated by President Emerita Dr. Karen Barnes and husband Dean MacKay, a faculty member from 2011 to 2016.

“It’s wonderful to stand before this and see the names of all the people who contributed to the success of Yukon College across 32 years,” said Dr. Barnes. “Having worked many years in post-secondary education in Yukon and Alberta, Dean and I know that each person recognized here had a part to play. Each one connected with a student. Each one left an imprint. We wanted to honour the legacies of each one and ensure their contributions are not forgotten.”

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University has partnered with NorthwesTel Community TV to celebrate degree, diploma and certificate graduates from 2020 and 2021 virtually this Friday.

A one-hour program will air at 5:30 p.m. via NorthwesTel cable channel 209 in Whitehorse and at yukonu.ca/grad for everywhere beyond Whitehorse.

“We’re thrilled to have NorthwesTel Community TV partner with us to produce a virtual celebration of the first two graduating classes of Yukon University,” said Dr. Maggie Matear, interim president and vice chancellor.

“These students have persevered against the incredible challenge of COVID-19 in their personal, work and school lives and shown amazing resilience earning their degrees, diplomas and certificates. We hope family, friends and loved ones can join us on Friday, from across Canada and around the world, in celebrating their graduate’s remarkable achievement,” added Dr. Matear.

WHITEHORSE, YT— The winners of the seventh annual Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP) have been chosen. YukonU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) is pleased to announce that Gúnta Business has won the grand prize of $30,000 for a virtual engagement service designed to meet the needs of northern communities.  

WHITEHORSE, YT— Yukon University anthropology instructor, Norman Easton, has recently published the first ethnohistory of the Yukon Alaska borderlands in partnership with the US National Park Service. An Ethnohistory of the Chisana River Basin documents the First Nations’ use of the upper Tanana River basin based on ethnographic, archival, and archaeological research.  
 

WHITEHORSE, YUKON—After a COVID-19 enforced break last year, high school, post-secondary students and apprentices will come together this Saturday to test their skills against one another. The 20 participants are competing for a spot to represent Team Yukon at the Skills Canada Virtual National Competition on June 15.

The one-day competition will once again be hosted primarily at Yukon University’s Ayamdigut campus, with a handful of contests also taking place at a Whitehorse school & Duncan’s Ltd. With strict COVID-19 protocols the event can run in -person for participants and judges however, the public, family and friends are unable to be present to cheer on competitors.