News

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

WHITEHORSE, YT—This year, Yukon University students have access to over $53,000 in financial support thanks to the generosity of donors across the Yukon and Canada. The application deadline for $31,000 in student awards is October 3, with a further $22,000 available in the winter semester with an application deadline of January 31. 

WHITEHORSE, YT—Close to 500 rock and mineral samples collected from across Yukon and the western United States by the late George Gilbert, a respected Yukon geologist and placer inspector, has been donated to the Earth Sciences program at Yukon University by Gilbert’s children, Mark Gilbert and Dolly Robertson.

Gilbert lived in Whitehorse for 41 years, moving here in 1967 having been appointed Newmont Mining’s resident geologist for the Yukon. He later transferred to the federal government’s mining section and retired in 1989 as chief placer inspector. He passed away in February 2008.

Dear students and colleagues, 

Queen Elizabeth II, Canada’s Head of State, passed away today at the age of 96. Accordingly, the flags at Ayamdigut campus that can be lowered will fly at half-mast until the day following the Queen’s memorial service in Canada (date to be determined). Her eldest son, King Charles III is Canada’s new Head of State. 

WHITEHORSE, YTThree students and one faculty member from Yukon University have spent several months in Norway and Sweden this year thanks to the north2north mobility program through the University of the Arctic