New seasons mean new rules

Good morning!

Welcome to the 165 new people who have joined since the last edition we sent out!

It seems like we’ve begun to transition into the next phase of the season, Swan Haven Spring. Looks like Yukon Highways and Public Works will need to update this image!

A favour to ask. My friend is looking for office space downtown. If you know of any places available, or someone who could help find some, please reply to this email.

Also, many of you have asked why I’m not listing news or events in certain towns. The answer? I’m one person trying to find everything! If you spot an event or have a local update (especially for smaller communities), please send me an email with the info, and I’ll happily include it.

We’ve got a newsletter full of both serious and not-so-serious news. Let’s get to it!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder

If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

The Yukon Weather Report

YUKON

New seasons mean new rules

Spring is in the air, icey water is piling up, and everyone is eagerly waiting for summer to begin. The changing season also means more announcements for the spring and summer months. We've broken out the most important ones, so you’re all set for when the sunny weather strikes.

New park rules: New regulations mean your time at parks may look a little different this year. Some of the key changes include quiet hours from 11 pm to 7  am, leashing of pets on campsites and park trails and regulating the use of drones. 

Hunting and fishing: Deer permits this year have increased to 20 from 12, with two more youth permits. Fish Lake and Mount Lorne Moose Management Units have more moose hunting permits, increasing from 7 to 15.

• The Braeburn elk hunt will be closed this year to support the recovery of the animals. Bison hunting season next year will be shortened by one week. You will also not be able to hunt grizzly bears within 100 metres of the Haines Road corridor from Gribbles Gulch to Unnamed Creek #1, on the east side of the road. 

Key dates for hunters: The Special Guide Licence (SGL) application period will run from April 1 to April 17, and the Permit Hunt Authorization lottery will be open from April 17 to May 15.

Camping: Backcountry camping at Tombstone has opened (we managed to snag some dates in July!). Front country campsite reservations open on April 9 at 9 am, and you can reserve dates from May 9 to September 9. It’s $18 per campsite per night for advanced payment. All additional info can be found here. 

Waste disposal changes: We’re cheating with this one since it’s not a seasonal thing, but a permanent change. But it’s one worth highlighting — the Yukon government has updated waste disposal fee charges for areas outside of Whitehorse. Bulky items will cost $15 per item, unsorted waste at $60 per cubic metre and sorted residential waste at $1.50 per 90 litre bag. The list of all different prices can be found here. There is no fee for disposing of organic waste. 

• Timeline: The new fee schedule begins on May 1 everywhere, with Destruction Bay, Pelly Crossing and Champagne having tipping fees for the first time. 

Get me to the market: One of my favourite parts of the summer is grabbing local produce and food at Fireweed Market. According to their website, the market opens on May 8 and goes until September 18.

YUKON NUMBERS

🎼 10: The number of years that the French programs at Yukon schools have held “Chante-la ta chanson” where children from elementary schools perform French songs. 

 🇯🇵 40: The number of years Ushinku, Japan has served as our sister city. The city is looking for families to host students and chaperons visiting from the city between July 4 to August 3. 

💰️ $40,850: The size of the jackpot as of Wednesday evening for the Yukon Hospital Foundation 2025 Spring 50/50 raffle. It ends on May 12.

NEW JOBS

Discover a new job in the Yukon:

• Personal shopper, Loblaw Companies in Whitehorse

• Principal environmental engineer, WSP in Whitehorse

• Bookkeeper, Instand Fold Refining in Dawson City

• Visitor information center coordinator, Village of Carmacks

• Accounting and executive assistant, Canyon City Construction in Whitehorse

• There are seven different jobs throughout the city of Watson Lake

APRIL FOOLS

A foolish day in the Yukon

What happened: Yukon residents are opposed to building an amphitheatre in the downtown area. Locals have expressed concerns about the potential noise, and many turned up at the recent council meeting to express their anger…

Kidding!: Of course, this story above is an April Fool’s joke (I know, we’re a few days late). But this one has a twist— this actually happened in Yukon, Oklahoma a few days ago.

There were quite a few April Fool’s jokes on Tuesday right here in the Yukon, so we thought we’d pick and share our favourite (April Fool’s) jokes.

New Air North feature: Ever wished Air North had in-flight entertainment? Well, they launched a new experience called K-air-aoke, where people perform karaoke during the flight. Of course, the first song they featured in their video was Leaving on a Jet Plane.

No more (toe) meat: Meat not your thing? Dawson City announced a big change to the Sourtoe Cocktail, changing it from a human toe to a “VegToe” made from local root vegetables. No word on whether the vegan version is soaked in formaldehyde. 

Better climbing: Who are the best climbers? Mountain goats. Where are they located? The Yukon Wildlife Preserve. And that’s why the Preserve announced that mountain goats will now serve as climbing instructors! 

No turns: The city of Whitehorse announced that due to the success of the no right turn on red at Chilkoot Way and Two Mile Hill, they’re expanding it to no left turn on green. I’m sure everyone will follow that just as well as the no-right-turn rule…

A new brew: Yukon Brewing announced a brand new beer, Guac This Way, described as low on the guac flavour and high on tangy garlic and sour. Yum?

And finally, my personal favourite, and not associated with any organization, was this post made a few days before April Fools, about a lost “dog” in Haines Junction. I would not recommend petting it!

Happy (belated) April Fool’s!

HOME OF THE WEEK

We’re heading over to Atlin for today’s home of the week.

Now this is luxury living. This beautifully built home has a stunning view at Atlin Lake, a massive fireplace, 3,768 square feet of living space, heated tile flooring and a massive kitchen. You’ll also have all the privacy you need with 6.55 acres of space. 

Luckily the place may subdividable, and you’ll need it, because this place isn’t cheap.

THE AGENDA

🧑‍⚕️ The Yukon NDP tabled a bill to make the Yukon Medical Association (YMA) the sole bargaining agent for medical practitioners in the territory. Currently, some doctors bargain through the YMA, and some don’t, resulting in disparities in pay between similar professionals. [CBC]

👮 On Tuesday morning an RCMP SUV hit a cyclist, and the cyclist was taken to the hospital. The RCMP Traffic Services are investigating and asking any witnesses to come forward. [RCMP

🦟 Whitehorse announced the beginning of the annual mosquito and biting fly reduction larvicide program. It helps reduce the number of mosquitos and has no negative impact on the environment or animals. 

🗳️ The federal Green Party’s co-leader Jonathan Pedneault visited Whitehorse this week and was joined by their Yukon candidate Gabrielle Dupont to announce the party’s plan for a national civil defence corps of 120,000 people to better defend the country and strengthen local communities. [CKRW]

👷‍♀️ The Yukon Nominee Program will no longer be first-come, first-serve. Because of the federal government reductions in the territory’s annual allocation, the Yukon government will require employees to submit an application. Recently both opposition parties pointed to the auditor general’s concerns raised back in January around perceptions of unfairness with the program. [CBC]

❓️ The court-appointed receiver of the Victoria Gold mine cleanup Pricewaterhouse Coopers, has asked for an increase to its borrowing limit, up to $220 million from the current $105 million, which it expects to be exhausted by April, in order to continue remediation. [CKRW]

🧊 It’s that time of year again in Dawson. Residents are placing bets on the date and time the Yukon River will break up, an event that has been going on since the 1950s. People can purchase tickets at local businesses to guess the time. 

🔍️ The Chief Yukon Coroner Heather Jones says they are investigating the death of a person at the Whitehorse emergency shelter. No other details have been released, except that the person was visiting a tenant, and that it happened on Thursday. They’re the second person to die in a housing unit at the shelter. [CBC]

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

Refer a friend, get a prize!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This is Tortilla, a pup at the Humane Society. He’s a cross between a lab and a shepherd, and he’s four months old. All his brothers and sisters have been adopted. Anyone interested in adopting him should contact the Humane Society.

EVENTS

Whitehorse

Celebration of Swans | Swan Haven Interpretive Centre | Until Apr. 30, weekdays 5-8 pm, and weekends from 12-7 pm | Over 20 different free events | Learn more

Paddling Film Festival World Tour | Beringia Interpretive Centre | Apr. 3, 7:00 pm | The best 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

Opening Reception: Martha Richie — Drawn Together | The Yukon Arts Centre | Apr. 5, 11 am-1 pm | Mixed art show from the 2024 Celebration of Swans

National Canadian Film Day | Yukon Cinema | Apr. 10-17 | Discover Canadian films all week long | More info

Community Barn Dance | Church of the Northern Apostles | Apr. 12, 7:30 pm | Live music with fiddle, piano, banjo and base, with contra and square dancing

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

The Most Eggcellent Easter Eggstravaganza Scavenger Hunt | Yukon Wildlife Preserve | Apr. 19, 11 am-5 pm | All-day scavenger hunt, use the clues to find prizes | Learn more

An Evening of Geopolitics with Chris Kilford | Yukonstruct | Apr. 23, 5 pm-7 pm | Hear from expert Dr. Chris Kilford as he discusses international relations and security challenges | Tickets $17

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

2025 Indoor Community Garage Sale | Canada Games Centre | May 10, 11-4:30 | Come by and sell your goods or find some treasures

Marsh Lake Madness Triathlon | Jul. 1 | A normal triathlon, but with paddling instead of swimming! | Learn more

Dawson City

Supervolley | Robert Service School | Apr. 17, 6 pm | Come by and play volleyball, for anyone 13+

Haines Junction

Community Day at Kathleen Lake | Kathleen Lake Day Use Area | Apr. 5, 1 pm-5 pm | Ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and fun for the whole family

Easter Market | Convention Centre | Apr. 20, 2-4 pm | Reserve a table for $10, come and sell your products! | More info

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

Carcross

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

Augusto! Children’s Festival | Aug. 8-10 | Learn more

Atlin

Atlin Stews and Brews | Atlin Airport | Apr. 6, 11 am-2 pm | All ages cooking competition!

2025 Atlin Arts & Music Festival | Tarahne Provincial Park | July 11-13 | Come see over 30 bands, visual artists, films and more! | Tickets $186

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

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Bistro on Bennet in Carcross is back open on May 1, from 11:30 am to 7 pm every single day. I’ve never been and am looking forward to finally visiting this summer.

On Tuesday Dawson Parks and Recreation groomed Ninth Venue from Off Leash Dog Park to Mission St Stairs. Enjoy!

The Kopper King isn’t the only one with wings. The Discovery Saloon in Atlin also does wings, but on Wednesday.

Looking for some chocolate over Easter? Atlin Chocolate has some easter baskets and other chocolate treats. To get them, just reply to this comment on Facebook.

Congrats to Jenny Skelton of Watson Lake who was awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal for her years of ski teaching.

Mount Sumanik in Whitehorse could be getting a new wind farm, courtesy of the Chu Niikwa LP, the business arm of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation.

Ever been interested in packrafting? There are three courses offered by Yukon Canoe out of Whitehorse, starting at $199.

See a pothole? Whitehorse is our filling them up, so give them a call at 633-7669 if you spot one that’s outside a main area.

Need some money to travel? Athletics Yukon and Lotteries Yukon have a travel fund you can apply for, but you have to do it at least 25 days before a trip.

If you’re planning on skiing next year, Mt. Sima has a deal on April 12 and 13 where you can get early bird pricing and two free buddy tickets.

THE YUKON WORDLE

Think you can guess this week’s Yukon Wordle? It has something to do with the changing weather. Play it here.