Yukon Territories

MY CANADA, December 2007, by Jen Serdetchnaia

Yukon
Territories

Do you think Yukoners live in igloos? They don’t.

Amber, a high school student from the Yukon, says that when people ask her that her usual response is, “yes, I do, with a pet dog and a flat-screen television”.

Other common confusions include thinking the Yukon is part of the United States or is a province instead of a territory.

Many of us seem to have the wrong idea about the Yukon Territory. How do you envision it? Can you describe its climate and topography? What do you think girls in the Yukon are doing today? Read on to see how accurate your mental image is!

Beautiful Land
Expansive wilderness is a trademark of the Yukon Territory. Yukon resident Melanie cites the lakes and mountains as her favourite parts of her territory. Did you know that Canada’s tallest mountain is found in the Yukon? It’s called Mount Logan, is part of the Saint Elias mountain range and is 5,959 meters above sea level.

Julie, another Yukon high school student, also warns that with the great deal of wilderness, you can expect to see a few bears!

Brrrrr, chilly winters!
Likewise, you may be surprised to learn that Yukon’s longest day in the summer lasts for twenty-three hours with daylight. Although sun-tanning until eleven in the evening is a definite summertime possibility, the winter may bring only about six hours of daylight. This means that it would be dark as you leave for school and dark as you return. Yukon winters are also marked with heavy snowfalls and cold temperatures.

Melanie claims that one winter the temperature dropped to MINUS 62oC with the wind chill and her cell phone cracked!

Yukon residents appreciate the territory’s fresh air and clean tap water. In comparison to the rest of Canada, the Yukon’s environment is in good condition, with the most important issues being continued wildlife conservation and waste management.

Yukon Industry
Mining has diminished over the years but is still one of the most prominent industries. Tourism is another main industry, as is work in the government sector. In fact, approximately one in five Yukon workers is employed by the government.

The Yukon government is not only a prevalent power in the workforce, it is also a primary source of aid for students. They offer grants $5,000 per year to each student who completes at least two years of high school in the Yukon and retains his or her residency there. Many students return to the Yukon after completing their post-secondary degrees elsewhere in Canada.

Attractions and Activities
There are several attractions that keep the students returning to their home territory and that draw the tourists. For example, Yukon winter nights are the perfect setting to observe the silent, natural fireworks known as the Northern Lights. Other natural activities include camping, swimming and bonfires in the summer, and skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling in the winter.

Culture
The Yukon has changed over the years but was settled mostly by Athapascan First Nations groups. That culture is still practiced through singing, dancing and story-telling.

A period of great development for the territory was the Klondike Gold Rush that started in 1897 and attracted opportunists from all over the world.

So, how is life in the Yukon different from life in the rest of Canada? Carolyn, born and raised in there says, “We have everything the rest of Canada has except for the pollution, traffic congestion and massive shopping malls.”

Capital: Whitehorse
Flower: fireweed
Population: 31,573
Culture: varied, First Nations
Languages: English, Athapascan
Industry: government jobs, tourism
Climate: sub-arctic continental
Geography: mountainous

~ Jen

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