Whitehorse – Yukon College’s Yukon Research Centre of Excellence will be hosting a 10th anniversary for the Northern Climate Exchange (NCE) on Friday, October 1. The NCE celebrates with a presentation of its past, its present, and its future accomplishments followed by a birthday cake.

The presentation begins with speakers Aynslie Ogden and Bob VanDijken who were at the NCE’s inception. Next, John Streicker and Joy Waters will present the important role that NCE plays in our current circumstances. Finally, the institute’s future development will be explained by Chris Hawkins, the new Vice President of Research.

Whitehorse, Yukon – The St. Elias Icefield is one of the largest non-polar icefield in the world and is home to the Kaskawulsh Glacier, a 70 km long glacier located in Kluane National   Park. The study explores the seasonal variations in the surface velocity of the Kaskawulsh Glacier using a combination of surface ice motion measurements (dGPS) and new satellite image analysis techniques. Velocity variations have been linked to seasonal and daily changes in air temperature and melt-water inputs. Results from the remote sensing techniques will be validated by the surface measurements to an accuracy of a few centimeters, so that slight speed up events can be documented.

Whitehorse – Yukon College’s Continuing Education Department has just completed a strategic restructuring that will further build upon its success in delivering high quality training in the Yukon. The Fall 2010 CE Calendar was released in late August with many new courses being offered. The course subjects range from self-interest to professional development.

Whitehorse, Yukon – Students at Yukon College will have a tour around the city of Whitehorse thanks to the generous contribution of City of Whitehorse Transit. The City of Whitehorse Transit is providing a city bus and driver for the day for the City Tour component of the Yukon College Orientation Program. The activity is to introduce new students who are from rural and international areas to the city bus system as well as the popular spots in the city.

The City of Whitehorse Transit met with the Yukon College Student Union last year to collaboratively design a scheduled route that would attract more users to the transit system. The City Tour is another endeavor by the City to show it supports transit users.

Whitehorse – On Monday, September 13, Yukon College Students will officially open the bouldering wall in the Yukon College gymnasium. Since 2008, the Student Union, along with the collaborative support of Director Colleen Wirth and the Student Services department, has been working to build financial support for the wall design and installation. The inauguration will celebrate this accomplishment.

Whitehorse –Yukon College kicks off the Fall semester on Tuesday, September 7 with a day of activities that will orient students in the right direction towards academic success. Orientation Day is the start of the two week “Finding Your Way” Student Services campaign which informs new and returning students about programs and services available to college students. The activities are centered on informing and preparing students for the academic year ahead. 

Whitehorse, Yukon – The pilot Heritage and Culture Certificate Program will be initiated with a noon hour tea at Yukon College. Yukon College and partners Government of Yukon’s Department of Tourism and Culture, Vuntut Gwitchin Government, and Yukon First Nations Heritage Group will welcome program developers and students to the program launch and orientation.

The tea will take place at Yukon  College:   

Date: Thursday, September 02, 2010

Time: Noon  

Where: Samay Thia Harry Allen Centre (First Nations Lounge Room C1404). The lounge is located just past the main Front Lobby in the C wing to the right

The Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture School of Visual Arts (KIAC SOVA), located in Dawson  City, changed its name this week to the Yukon School of Visual Arts.

The change reflects the school’s growing territorial impact and differentiates the school from other arts groups in Dawson City.

“SOVA has transformed our community and enriched the territory,” said Karen Dubois, KIAC Executive Director and SOVA Governing Council Member. "Clearly the school is now larger than just the Klondike, and this name change reflects the significance this small school has for all Yukoners."

Whitehorse – Yukon College has invited motivational speaker Kevin Burns to inspire employees at their in-service during professional development day, August 25th.

Whitehorse – The Student Services group and First Nations Initiatives at Yukon College have been busy demonstrating to peer academic communities their new partnership model. Yukon College endeavors to use integration as a vehicle to bring the diverse student and staff population together. The integration model was presented to the academic community at Northwest Community College (NWCC) and at the national Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) conference in Edmonton in June.