This is about the Yukon capital – city of sport.

Authors: Rebecca Rogers & Pavel Tkach – Arctic Youth Network

One of the major challenges faced by the Arctic region is the constant struggle against the migration of young people to warmer places or places with better opportunities for education, employment, and…fun. However, not many people realize that the Arctic and its cities are also promising and enjoyable places to live. The objective of the series called “Cities of the Arctic Youth” is to converse with the Mayors of Arctic cities to explore opportunities and to demonstrate to the public that cities in the Far North can be attractive places for young individuals. Today, we will discuss with Ms Laura Cabott, the Mayor of Whitehorse, and answer the question: Is Whitehorse a city of the Arctic youth?

General Information about Whitehorse

Whitehorse, the capital city of the Yukon, is the largest city in Northern Canada (north of the 60th parallel). With a population of over 33,000, the city sits along the Yukon River on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (CLICK) and the Ta’an Kwäch’än (CLICK). Renowned for its beautiful landscapes and access to pristine wilderness, Whitehorse offers a seamless blend of urban and natural environments.

Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Retrieved from https://www.kwanlindun.com/about-the-kwanlin-dun/

Whitehorse was said to have been named after the Miles Canyon’s rapids, which were reminiscent of the manes of white horses seen by gold seekers travelling through during the 1896 gold rush. Whitehorse was only accessible by river, air, or railway until the 1942 construction of the Alaska Highway, linking British Columbia to Alaska. Established as Yukon’s capital in 1953, Whitehorse remains a vibrant hub for nature enthusiasts. As the Mayor of Whitehorse, Laura Cabott, notes, “Our tagline is the Wilderness City, and many enjoy the wilderness in various ways”.  

Miles Canyons. Retrieved from https://outandacross.com/miles-canyon-hike-yukon/

There are fourteen First Nations in the Yukon and eight language groups. Whitehorse is located on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council are self-governing nations, which means that they have the authority to make decisions and laws on their Settlement Land for their Citizens. First Nations history and culture are felt and celebrated throughout Whitehorse, and First Nations governments are pivotal in local governance and advocacy. 

Due to its valley and proximity to the ocean, Whitehorse enjoys a relatively temperate climate compared to many other northern municipalities. The city attracts tourists from around the world in search of the northern lights, outdoor recreation opportunities, and the rich cultural history of the Yukon. Whitehorse serves as a gateway to the Yukon and Alaska and is the administrative centre of the territory. The city hosts governmental offices from the municipal to the federal level, alongside the Council of Yukon First Nations and First Nation governments. 

The Yukon’s mining legacy, dating back to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, persists to this day. Whitehorse itself experienced a brief copper rush in the early 1900s with the Whitehorse copper belt and had another stimulated silver, copper, and lead-zinc production in the 1950s with the support of a federal road construction and financial aid program aimed to increase mining in the territory. Mining continues to be a core industry in the Yukon, and Whitehorse acts as a central hub for the activity. While many in the industry live in the Yukon, Whitehorse also hosts many transient rotational workers; as Mayor Laura Cabott shares, “Many of the mines that operate here have to fly people from outside of the Yukon, whether it’s from British Columbia or all the way from Newfoundland, the other side of Canada, to come and work here.” 

Early city of Whitehorse. Retrieved from https://www.yukon-news.com/opinion/history-hunter-every-picture-tells-a-story-in-early-whitehorse-7002802

Whitehorse continues to grow as a city. While newcomers flock to the city from across Canada and beyond for career opportunities and access to nature, there is a noticeable trend of Whitehorse youth staying in the territory. Mayor Laura Cabott notes that “we’ve also seen a shift from what used to happen before. Youth would leave here after high school, go and get a university degree and not come back. But the shift is that more of those youth want to come back”. It’s a testament to Whitehorse’s magnetic pull.

Challenges of the city

While Whitehorse’s growth brings career opportunities and develops the urban centre, it also poses a challenge.

“Whitehorse is one of the fastest growing cities in all of Canada”, shared Mayor Laura Cabott.

City of Whitehorse. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitehorse

Whitehorse’s population has grown by 50% since 2003, and between 2022 to 2023, the population grew by roughly 1000 people (CLICK). Many are moving from metropolitan centres in Canada to be closer to nature and live in a more affordable city. There is also a large portion of people moving to Whitehorse from international locations. According to the Yukon Bureau of Statistics (CLICK), 13.6% of Yukon residents were immigrants, and 2.3% were nonpermanent residents in 2021. The continuous population increase puts a strain on Whitehorse’s housing supply and proves to be a key challenge facing the city. The improving labour market and population increases are increasing demands on housing, while the number of rental units is not significantly changing, and construction of housing cannot keep up with the demand. Mayor Laura Cabott highlighted how Whitehorse is working with the federal government to look at ways of increasing housing, which is generally for families, young professionals or people who are coming here to work in the mining industry or the service industry”. 

Another key challenge in Whitehorse is the lack of access to social and entertainment spaces for youth, corresponding with a common for the majority of the Arctic cities’ challenge of lacking “third space”.

Mayor Laura Cabott notes, One of the things that is missing and that we hear from youth is that we don’t have places to hang out. We’re a small urban centre, so we don’t have a shopping mall, lots of cinemas, or places again for youth just to hang out. And that’s something that, as a city, we’ve turned our mind to and see how we can do that in the winter, but also in the summer.”

Youth have limited urban spaces to socialize with their friends, which proves to be a challenge, especially in the cold winter months. 

Winter city of Whitehorse. Retrieved from https://www.yukon-news.com/news/keeping-homes-safe-through-the-winter-7000509

Similar to many northern cities, Whitehorse also faces accelerated impacts of climate change. Mayor Laura Cabott underscores the impact of climate change on youth and youth advocacyin particular the youth from the North or in the Arctic because we’re seeing it at a pace that really is fast forward. So they’re concerned. They’re anxious. They’re afraid. But they’re also very assertive in posing the questions of ‘what are you, as a decision maker or a leader in your city, doing about that?’”. Whitehorse often faces the threat of flooding during freshet due to snow levels and proximity to the Yukon River. Flooding can block access to other areas in the territory and threaten businesses and houses on low plains. Landslides also threaten road access in the region. Mayor Laura Cabott notes, “We’ve had some landslides which have cut off one of two routes in and out of the city for up to six-seven weeks, which creates more than just inconvenience, but safety concerns for our citizens”

Lastly, the risk of wildfires is a central concern of the Whitehorse municipality.

“Whitehorse is surrounded by forest, which has been managed so well that it is old, it is dry, and it’s fire fuel that is waiting to be ignited. And if that happens, we are very vulnerable for our city to be taken out”, shares Mayor Laura Cabott.

Access in and out of Whitehorse poses a challenge when environmental disasters occur. The inability to use roadways has a direct impact on food security. Mayor Cabott highlights, “You can fly into this community, but we have a highway from down south. But if there’s a forest fire and you’re cut off from the south within three days, there will be no food.”

Attractiveness of the city

The city of Whitehorse is renowned for its picturesque mountainous terrain and pristine plant and animal life. Situated a brief distance from downtown Whitehorse, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve is home to a diverse range of northern species, including wood bison, muskoxen, elk, caribou, thinhorn sheep, moose, mountain goats, Arctic foxes, and Canada lynx. Encompassing over 700 acres, the preserve provides natural habitats for the animals, allowing them to engage in their daily activities within their native environments (CLICK).

 

The city of Whitehorse is a prominent tourist destination, welcoming upwards of 300,000 visitors annually. Notably, it has emerged as a sought-after location for German-speaking European travellers, leading to the establishment of direct air routes between Frankfurt and Whitehorse in the mid-2010s.

One highly notable aspect contributing to the appeal of Whitehorse and the Yukon Territory is its notably low unemployment rate. As of 2024, Yukon exhibits the lowest unemployment rate among all territories and provinces of Canada, standing at 3.9%. Additionally, it boasts the highest participation rate at 73.7% and an employment rate of 70.5%. These figures surpass the national average employment and unemployment rates in Canada. Notably, in February 2024, the unemployment rate for Yukon’s youth (aged 15-24 years) was 8.7%, lower than in any other Canadian province or territory. These statistics indicate that Yukon’s labour force is expanding at a more rapid pace than the number of available jobs, albeit way slower than in Canada as a whole (CLICK).

Mayor Cabott succinctly emphasizes, “The unemployment rate here is so low. If you want a job, you can get a job. You know, but if you’re an engineer or if you’re a server or you’re, you know, running heavy equipment, there’s lots of opportunities in this town and this territory.”

City of Whitehorse. Retrieved from https://www.travelyukon.com/en/see-and-do/itineraries/must-do-road-trips-whitehorse

Whitehorse is widely recognized as a major Canadian sports hub, renowned for fostering a healthy and active lifestyle. Positioned in close proximity to the wilderness and mountains, the city offers its residents abundant opportunities for engaging in various outdoor activities. Notably, Whitehorse boasts an extensive trail network encompassing segments of the Trans Canada Trail. In addition to its natural attributes, the city has made significant investments in sports infrastructure, comprising numerous sports and recreation fields, ball diamonds, as well as the Canada Games Centre Multiplex. This sports facility features pools, an ice rink, a fieldhouse, and a fitness centre, as well as walking and running tracks, alongside dedicated spaces for physiotherapy. Furthermore, the Takhini Arena and Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre cater to winter sports enthusiasts. The comprehensive sports infrastructure has positioned Whitehorse as a distinguished host for numerous national and international sports events, including the 2007 Canada Winter Games, Arctic Winter Games, and Softball World Championships. This robust sports culture and the diverse array of sporting amenities have remarkably spurred an upsurge in local youth participation in sports.

Mayor Laura Cabott concluded – “Our city is heavily supportive of sport. So many people are in sport from a young age. And notwithstanding, we have a population of about 33,000, every few years create or develop a high number of top athletes, making it to the national team, international competitions, and representing us even at the Olympic Games (note from authors: e.g. Dahria Beatty – cross-country skier completed for Canada 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics). So sport is very important both to the city and to the Yukon generally.”

Yukon University is an alluring prospect for the Arctic youth as it stands as Canada’s first and only university located North of 60°. To date, the university has seen a total of 135000 graduates who have assumed esteemed positions across the globe. Presently, Yukon University accommodates 6794 students, with 4215 enrolled in full-time programs and 2579 pursuing part-time courses. The current enrollment of international students stands at 2761. The university is home to 235 teaching faculties and 116 non-teaching faculties (CLICK).

Yukon University facilities. Retrieved from https://www.yukonu.ca/about-us/facilities-services

Within the Arctic, Yukon University holds particular significance as a hub for Indigenous and Native studies, making it a premier choice for individuals aspiring to engage with matters pertaining to Indigenous and Native communities. Additionally, the city of Whitehorse hosts the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, a venue that honours the culture and traditions of the Kwanlin Dün First Nations people. At this centre, both residents and visitors alike have the opportunity to explore exhibits, take part in festivals, interact with Artists-in-Residence, and engage in guided tours of the culturally enriching centre.

Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. Retrieved from https://kwanlindunculturalcentre.com/

With the exception of that, Yukon University serves as a pivotal centre for engaging with young individuals through a variety of support programs tailored for the youth populace of Whitehorse. Ms Mayor remarked that Yukon University organizes summer camps, afterschool programs, and STEM programs—opportunities for youth to dip their feet into areas of trade and technology.

The University is also providing support for young entrepreneurs. Additionally, the city boasts an appealing business environment, and Mayor Cabott noted that the city is ranked as one of the highest in the country for business opportunities or growth opportunities for entrepreneurship.

“We have a large business and innovation facility. It’s supported by the Government, Yukon University, and businesses. And it’s called Northlight Innovation. It’s and it used to be a big, huge grocery store and was taken over. And now it’s created into this hub for innovators and entrepreneurs. It’s got a section there where it’s the more of the trades entrepreneurs or making widgets or new inventions, that sort of thing. And then it’s got small meeting places, desks, and opportunities for people to work, and you know, they hold events on a regular basis where you can come and learn what our, our local entrepreneurs, are doing. And it’s a variety of ages, but the majority are, you know, are you know, people that are men and women that are under 30 years old.” – Mayor Laura Cabott.

Northlight Innovation Whitehorse. Retrieved from https://www.northernfront.ca/northlight-innovation

Whitehorse and adaptation to its local life

Whitehorse, a city known for its multicultural environment, is home to a diverse population, with 15% comprising individuals of foreign backgrounds. Notable countries of origin for immigrants include the Philippines (31.6%), United Kingdom (9.4%), United States of America (8.7%), India (8.0%), Germany (5.5%), China (4.2%), France (2.3%), Netherlands (1.7%), South Korea (1.5%), and Japan (1.4%). The primary method of integrating newcomers involves active participation in events, particularly in sports and cultural activities. The city administration is committed to fostering cultural diversity and providing avenues for new residents to present and preserve their cultural heritage within the city rather than mandating assimilation into the prevailing local culture.

Whitehorse Immigration forum. Retrieved from https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/immigration-forum-attracts-biggest-crowd-yet

Ms Mayor explains: “We have a very diverse community. Just yesterday, during the city hall meeting, I read a declaration as the Mayor on behalf of the council, and it was celebrating Mother Tongue Day. So there are a lot of people in this community that speak Cantonese, Mandarin, French, German, etc. So it’s a place here where it’s quite a diverse population, and we’re not a melting pot. We’re not assimilation. We embrace the cultural differences. So sports – one place. It’s a common place where you can, if you don’t speak the language, everybody knows, you know, where you’re supposed to kick the ball or pass the hockey puck. But we do have a lot of cultural events, music, food festivals and celebrate the diversity here. So people that are new feel very welcomed by not just people from the same country where they came from, but all the other diverse countries that are here. So sports, cultural events, music, any sort of, you know, we’re hosting events volunteering. Yeah. It’s quite welcoming and has many opportunities.

The city houses the Multicultural Centre of the Yukon, an establishment dedicated to offering settlement services to newly arrived individuals. The Centre’s extensive range of services is intended to facilitate the integration of immigrants and refugees into the social, economic, cultural, and political fabric of the community. These services encompass settlement support, language training, employment assistance, and community networking. Moreover, the Centre extends its aid to include guidance on appointments and residency legalization, catering to the needs of newcomers unfamiliar with visa and residency permit processes. Notably, all services are provided without charge (CLICK). 

Whitehorse and its work with local youth

The city of Whitehorse is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles among its young residents by enhancing and diversifying infrastructure and providing early sports engagement opportunities. 

Acknowledging the absence of a “third space” for young people, a prevalent issue in Arctic cities, the city administration has addressed this by organizing summer camps for young residents and their families. Mayor Cabott highlighted the significance of creating opportunities for youth, such as summer camps, campgrounds, and sporting activities, to engage with the wilderness. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth participate in subsistence harvesting with their families, particularly during the summer and fall seasons.

Furthermore, the city administration prioritizes the skills development of local youth by collaborating with Yukon University and Skills Canada to organize skill camps and fairs, aiming to guide young individuals toward careers of interest. Skills Canada in the Yukon focuses on encouraging, supporting, and promoting skilled trades and technologies among youth and their communities across the territory.

The city of Whitehorse lacks a municipal youth council but is home to several youth organizations supported by regional and local administrations. Among these, the BYTE-Empowering Youth Society stands out as a “by youth, for youth” organization dedicated to empowering and promoting youth throughout the Yukon and the Canadian North. The organization focuses on delivering innovative workshops and hosting events, with primary missions including supporting youth in seeking employment and societal leadership, as well as creating spaces and relationships where youth feel seen, validated, and connected. Recently, BYTE established the Territorial Youth Collective, which aims to collaboratively ensure that all Yukon youth experience a sense of belonging within the Territory, empowering them to have a positive sense of self and future, fostering mutually caring and fulfilling relationships, and feeling connected to and supported by their family, community, and land. The priority areas of the BYTE Territorial Youth Collective include housing security, community safety, harm reduction, and mental well-being, all of which are challenging issues in the city of Whitehorse. Notable campaigns coordinated by the organization include #YukonYouthWant, which seeks to collect ideas from young people in the Yukon – who comprised 40% of the electorate in the last federal election – on improvements needed in the region and the city, such as more free schools and concrete climate actions. In essence, the BYTE Empowering Youth Society serves as a primary youth organization in Whitehorse and Yukon, advocating for and working with the region’s young residents through awareness-raising efforts on topics such as mental health, leadership, and social well-being. Furthermore, the organization extends its services to include events management and the implementation of idea collection campaigns (Click to read more about BYTE). Follow the work of the BYTE-Empowering Youth Society on Instagram (CLICK).

The regional and local administrations put their emphasis on the empowerment of foster care youth. In 2019, a youth transition home was established in Whitehorse with the specific purpose of facilitating the progress of young individuals transitioning out of foster care towards greater self-sufficiency. The facility comprises supportive housing with four bedrooms and round-the-clock staffing, catering primarily to youths aged 15 to 17. Additionally, it features four semi-independent suites, fully furnished with kitchens and dining rooms, designed for older youths aged 17 to 19. These suites aim to provide increased autonomy while ensuring access to necessary support and services. The overarching objective of these integration houses is to guide youths in acquiring self-sufficiency skills such as cooking, cleaning, and maintenance. Furthermore, the residents are provided with assistance in career planning and are supported in establishing connections with their families’ cultural heritage and community (CLICK). To conclude, the primary focus areas for engaging with youths at local and regional levels encompass promoting healthy lifestyles, cultivating vocational and self-care skills, and facilitating youth leadership.

Youth in Governance: past, present, future

The city of Whitehorse lacks an independent youth council, with youth organizations such as BYTE serving as representatives for the youth community. However, the city administration remains engaged in meaningful dialogues with its young residents. Mayor Cabott emphasized the prevailing concerns among the youth, primarily focusing on climate change impacts and food security. She noted that youth, especially those from northern or Arctic regions, are particularly affected by the rapidly accelerating pace of climate change, expressing both anxiety and assertiveness in seeking actionable measures from city decision-makers. Conversations also encompass strategies to enhance public transit, aiming to mitigate the city’s heavy reliance on personal vehicles, particularly due to its extensive 40km length. Furthermore, attention is directed towards addressing food security issues through the progressive amplification of meat and dairy production within the local region, a development supported by the youth and evolving into a flourishing industry in the North.

If we consider the #YukonYouthWant campaign conducted by BYTE, it becomes apparent that the primary concerns voiced by young people centre around the need for more affordable housing, enhanced climate action, a lower voting age, and increased awareness of mental health issues. At the same time it is worth reminding that the campaign gathered ideas from youth without solely targeting the young residents of Whitehorse and includes the youth from across the Yukon. 

#YukonYouthWant. Retrieved from https://www.yukonyouth.com/vote/

The absence of a youth council necessitates that young individuals can solely convey their opinions and apprehensions to policymakers through participation in dialogue platforms, such as town hall meetings, and by exercising their voting rights to elect the most suitable candidates.

The acknowledged absence of integration opportunities for young people, as highlighted by Ms Mayor, underscores the necessity to engage them more effectively. Notably, the lack of a legal obligation to establish youth councils within the municipal administration structure in Canadian cities, in contrast to countries such as Iceland, contributes to the identified issue. 

Evidently, in the past, specific topics spurred high youth engagement, such as discussions on climate emergency declarations and safety improvements for cyclists. However, there is recognized room for improvement in engaging young individuals more effectively in decision-making processes.

Envisioning the future of youth engagement in local policymaking, the Mayor underscores the active involvement of young residents in the city of Whitehorse in sharing their concerns and ideas. Consequently, the administration’s foremost objective for the future is the establishment of ideas-sharing mechanisms. Furthermore, the Mayor aims to ensure that the shared ideas are thoughtfully considered and translated into actionable measures. To accomplish this, it is imperative to develop additional executive mechanisms.

So, if you create the opportunity, they’re still very keen to share their views. But they want to see change, and they don’t want to feel like they’re wasting their time. We need to figure out how to capitalize on that. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be holding two town hall meetings. And we asked the youth, how do you guys want to do this? How do we engage with you? Do you want to do it on Zoom? No, we want to do it in person. So we’re going to two high schools. It’ll be over the lunch hour and then through some class times. We’re also, and then one of the suggestions from the youth was to do a survey – if you really want to know how to engage youth, you really want to know how to improve your programming, your activities, your skill development – do a survey. We’re about to embark on a survey and give away a computer or iPad or what have you for those youth taking the time. If people have other ideas on how to engage, like, seriously engage youth and consultation in planning and transit and development, all that sort of stuff that we’re very keen to learn.” – Mayor Laura Cabott.

Conclusion

While Whitehorse continues to grow and evolve as a city, it faces challenges related to housing, access to youth entertainment, and climate change. The city is also filled with opportunities, ranging from job possibilities to increasing educational pathways for youth. Yukon University is growing and offering unique educational opportunities, and various innovative entrepreneurial possibilities are present. Furthermore, the diverse population of Whitehorse offers plenty of cultural activities and community-strengthening initiatives. The City of Whitehorse emphasizes youth involvement in local government and prioritizes hearing from Whitehorse youth; however, there is still room to grow and establish new pathways for youth involvement in local policy-making. 

Whitehorse faces the usual Arctic challenges, such as the lack of youth opportunities and educational pathways. The city is actively addressing these concerns by expanding educational opportunities, encouraging youth involvement in local government, and directly addressing the issues that local youth raise. Whitehorse continues to take steps forward to truly make it a city where youth can thrive and pursue their interests while also deepening their roots in the community. 

Whitehorse, Yukon. Retrieved from https://www.ablissfulwanderer.com/whitehorse-yukon/

About the Author: Arctic Youth Network

The Arctic Youth Network is a youth-founded and youth-led non-profit organization supporting a global network of youth through international cooperation and capacity-building.

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