It’s the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament weekend

Good morning,

Thanks to everyone who shared their favourite campsites in last week’s newsletter. While it feels like we’re inching closer to the summer, there were still a few cold nights last week. The thing I really enjoy about the weather now though, is how quickly the temperature heats up in the day from the evening and early morning lows. Makes running outside much more enjoyable (at least until it gets slushy).

Today we’ve got a profile on the big hockey tournament this weekend. It may mean adjusting your parking just a bit.

Let’s get to it!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder

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The Yukon Weather Report

YUKON NUMBERS

❄️ 130%: The snowpack levels as of March 1 compared to normal averages for Lower Yukon and Dawson City. Unfortunately, it’s below average for the upper portion of the Yukon River, near Whitehorse and South Lakes. [Penticton Herald] 

🏢 3,195: The number of visits to the Jim Smith Building’s community warming space, since it was opened in November. [Yukon government]

EVENT

It’s the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament weekend

What’s going on: It’s one of the busiest weekends in Whitehorse with the 45th Annual Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament, happening from today until Sunday. Over 50 different Indigenous hockey teams from across Western and Northern Canada will participate. 

There are 55+ teams participating this year. Games start at 9:30 am today and go on all weekend long. You can find the full schedule here. Games go on until late into the evening. 

If you’re in town, expect more traffic and people driving around. There is parking set aside near Takhini Arena, Canada Games Centre and the Dog Trail Parking lot near Sumanik Dr., so be aware if you’re planning to visit those areas. Expect ByLaw to be out in force, so don’t go parking on Hamilton Blvd! 

• Zoom out: In 2023 the tournament added a women’s division for the first time, according to APTN.

A good news story: The official NHL site interviewed Harlan Kingfisher, from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan, who founded Smudge the Blades apparel. This has given him the resources to give back and advocate for Indigenous hockey in Canada. He will be a featured guest at this year’s tournament. 

“I’ve always watched the tournament from afar. As an Indigenous hockey player and playing in Indigenous tournaments, I’ve always wanted to play in this tournament, but it was always a little too far away. It was a long way to go to Whitehorse. This tournament has one of the biggest opening ceremonies; there is so much support, so much sense of community up there that I thought I would get there one day, and this year it all fell in place.”

• By the numbers: Last year the event served up some big food numbers, with around 1,800 orders of poutine and a metric ton of potatoes, according to CBC.

Why it matters: With many Indigenous Canadians travelling from smaller towns to participate, it’s a chance for people from far-flung places across the North to visit our city, with the sport of hockey acting as a way to bring everyone together, something that’s in short supply these days. It also has a huge economic impact on the Whitehorse region, with so many people visiting.

NEW JOBS

Discover a new job in the Yukon:

• Summer production worker, Yukon Brewing in Whitehorse

• Summer museum worker, McBride Museum in Whitehorse

• Tinglit immersion coordinator, Council of Yukon First Nations in Whitehorse

• Site coordinator, One Yukon in Haines Junction

• Mining equipment service person, M2 Gold Mines in Dawson City

HOME OF THE WEEK

How many square feet? I had to double-check this before writing, but yes, this home has 5,000 square feet of living space. 

Located just outside of Whitehorse, this home was meant for entertaining, with a massive living room and a kitchen designed for a chef. And when you’re ready to bring guests outside, you’ve got a lovely (and large) covered patio ready to host everyone. Heck, you could fit the whole neighbourhood on it.

If you guessed it was expensive based on the description, you are correct…

THE AGENDA

👮 Some sad news — David Godfrey, who was reported missing, has been found deceased. He was last seen on Sunday in Porter Creek. 

🧑‍🚒 The Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs is raising concerns that volunteer firefighting equipment in the territory, up to 80 per cent, has past its expiration date and needs to be replaced. This includes coast, pants and helmets, among other things. The Yukon government says around two-thirds of the new equipment will be arriving shortly. [CBC]

🚨 RCMP responded to a disturbance on Monday between a group of young adults and youths, involving weapons, on Main Street last Monday. If you have any information or video from the incident, contact the RCMP. 

💉 The RCMP released a report looking at the impacts of criminal networks in the territory. Crime networks from places like BC and Alberta are expanding into the territory, with five crime networks identified. The RCMP have also seized larger numbers of drugs in the territory in recent years.

🗳️ Former Conservative MP Ryan Leaf is officially the candidate for the Conservative Party in the next election after being selected over former Yukon Party MLA Patrick Rouble last weekend. He’ll face off against NDP candidate Lisa Vollans-Leduc and current Liberal MP Brendan Hanley at an election at some point in the (near) future. [Yukon News]

Outside The Yukon

📻️ The Canadian government is partnering with Australia to build an early warning detection system in the Arctic, spending $6 billion on a system that will detect hypersonic missiles. They also announced more funding for Indigenous communities in the Arctic to build more infrastructure. It’s a forceful move by the government to reinforce the country’s sovereignty over the North, as Trump makes noise about taking over Canada and Greenland. [NY Times]

👷 Similar to concerns here in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories is raising red flags around the reduction in the immigration stream, saying there could be a severe labour crisis with a reduction from 300 to 150 for the NWT Nominee Program/ [Cabin Radio]

Disclosure: In the interest of transparency, please note that my partner works for the Yukon government.

FOOD

Make some room for Island Eats on your next Dawson trip

On the last return leg of a trip to Tuktoyaktuk, there’s nothing better than turning off the Dempster Highway, knowing your vehicle has, mostly, survived the endless potholes and washboards.

The next best thing? Knowing a good meal is nearby.

We pulled into Dawson City last summer after seven days on the road, dropped the truck off at the Yukon River campground, and then returned to town to find a place to eat (after campground beers of course). It had been a long trip of camp food, far-too-old vegetables, salt and vinegar chips and poorly cooked hotdogs. It was time for a real meal.

For a town that’s even more remote than Whitehorse, Dawson has a disproportionately high share of very good restaurants. With stalwarts like Bonton & Company, and former pie slinger Joe’s Pizza, it has and does punch above its weight. Every year I visit a new place pops up.

Located at 978 Second Ave. in a former noodle spot, Island Eats was one of those new places that popped up between visits. Unassuming from the outside, with a black checkered floor, and dark red chairs, it almost feels like a steak house. 

Steak is quickly forgotten once you enter. The team running the restaurant were friendly and welcoming, exactly what you wanted after six days on the road cooped up with the same group of friends.

The food is Jamaican, which is a wonder by itself, given how far Dawson is from the Carribean. The menu features Island classics like curried goat, coco bread, plantains and the ubiquitous jerk chicken, a spicy-sweet concoction that includes allspice, pepper, scotch bonnets and sugar, charred to perfection.

Island Eats jerk chicken is not just good. It may be the best chicken anywhere north of the 60th parallel. Juicy, with a sweet and spiced kick, and a thick dark sauce on the outside, it’s a blast of flavour that you won’t forget. The accompaniments are a nice touch, with well-cooked rice and sweet and soft plantains pairing perfectly with the chicken. 

While they don’t have a liquor license, the Royal Jamaican, a ginger beer packing a sneeze-inducing wallop of ginger, will make you forget all about beer. At least until you visit The Pit nearby…

The prices are nothing to sneeze at, with the jerk chicken costing $33, and the curried goat $42, but it’s a small, or let’s say medium, price to pay for access to this type of food in in the North.

A saying in Jamaica is “small up yuhself” — at least, according to Google — which essentially means “make room.” Usually it’s meant for making space in a tight room. But the feeling could equally apply to visiting Island Eats — make room in your schedule, and your stomach, for a visit the next time you’re in town.

Editor’s note — I finished writing this story only to realize I didn’t take any photos. I’ll be sure to grab some on the next trip up there!

Other food stories

• In our first Yukon Burger Ranking review, we check out Dirty Northern

• ​​Mamayo’s Cuisine is a melting pot of flavour from a small island nation you may not have heard of

READER SURVEY

We asked Lookout readers what their favourite summer campsites were. Here’s how you all responded.

Here are some responses from people

“I like Marsh Lake campground the best because it is open and airy which helps keep mosquitoes away. Proximity to Whitehorse is good for appointments too.”

“Twin Lakes for a lovely paddle.”

Other responses included Frances Lake and Twin Lakes.

EVENTS

Whitehorse

Nature’s Touch: Art by Isaac and Isabel | ATCO Electric Yukon Youth Gallery | Now until May 23 | Local youths showcase their nature art

45th Annual Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament | Throughout Whitehorse | Mar. 20-23 | A weekend full of hockey! | Learn more

EDI Hut to Hut | Nordic Centre | Mar. 23, 11 am-3:30 pm | Family-friendly ski, snowshoe or fat bike trails, with hot beverages and snacks | Day or season pass required

Foxtail Market | 33 Olive Way | Mar. 29, 10 am-4 pm | Come see and support local artisans

2025 Paddling Film Festival World Tour | Yukon Beringo Interpretive Centre | Apr. 3, 6 pm | The best in paddling films | Tickets $20

Tom Cochrane Live | Takhini Arena | Apr. 5, 6:30 pm | Klondike Chev and Yukon Nissan present the one and only Tom Cochrane, with Bria Rose N the Thorns and Cows Go Moo, in support of Ride for Dad | Tickets $106

King of the Fools Party | Yukon Transportation Museum | Apr. 5, 7 pm | 19+ event to embrace your inner goofball, costume contest, presented by Yukon Circus Society | Tickets $40

Yukon Fish & Game Association Wild Game Banquet & Fundraiser | Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre | Apr. 19, 5:30 pm | Live music with Justin Sutton & North of 49, along with local celebrity chef Chris Irving | Tickets $160

Yukon Brewing Ball Hockey Tournament | Takhini Broomball Area | May 10, 9 am | 3×3 plus goalie games, coed tournament with many games! | $250 for team

Dawson City

Skye Wallace: Celebrating 20 Years of DCMF’s Songwriter-in-Residence Program | Dënäkär Zho / KIAC Ballroom | Mar. 12, 7:30 pm | Performances from artists from over 20 years of the Dawson City Music Festival | Tickets $12

Haines Junction

Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival | St. Elias Convention Centre | June 6-8 | Come enjoy bluegrass music all weekend long | Tickets $195

Carcross

Chilkoot Trail Non-Motorized Weekend | April 4-6 | A weekend for people to visit the area with no motorized vehicles present

Compass 2025: TIA Yukon’s Tourism Spring Conference | Haa Shagóon Hídi | Apr. 24-25 | Workshops and events on sustainable tourism practices | Tickets $350+

Have an event or a community announcement? Submit it here.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Yukon Wildlife Cams caught this big creature stomping through the forest. At the 11-second mark, it turns to the camera, and it’s face is a real sight to behold.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Beaver Creek social media influencer ​​Hilary Messer-Barrow, who goes by the name North Phase on Instagram, was featured in Business Insider sharing her story of moving to the North.

• Speaking of Instagram influencers, well-known Yukon influencer Pavolina Sudrich needs your help to report a fake account that’s impersonating her. 

• NDP MLA Lane Tredger is the first MLA to bring their baby to the legislature. And they even had matching overalls! [CBC]

• Congrats to Yukoner Darby McIntyre who won a gold as part of Team Canada’s four-person cross country ski relay team at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games. [MSN]

• The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce has a video series out called You Can in the Yukon, highlightling local businesses. 

THE YUKON WORDLE

Think you can guess this week’s Wordle? Play it here.