Whitehorse Daily Star

February 14, 2011

• NDP leader tables bill addressing the intoxicated New Democratic Party Leader Liz Hanson wants to "de-stigmatize” public intoxication and has tabled a private member's bill that would nullify existing rules – territorial or municipal – prohibiting a person from being drunk in a public place.
• Bushed Broadcaster Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean
• Labour Market Strategy addresses ‘five pillars' The Education department released its 10-year Labour Market Strategy on Friday addressing "the five pillars of the labour market: training and skills development, immigration, recruitment, employee retention and information on the labour market to guide the direction of labour market development.”
• Stars On Ice The official puck drop for Saturday's Western Hockey League game at the Takhini Arena
• Contract awarded for new hospital The Yukon Hospital Corp. has awarded a $17,194,000 contract to the Whitehorse branch of Dowland Contracting Ltd.
• An Eye On The Legends Tim, top, and Owen Hogan were photographing their favourite hockey personalities at last Thursday afternoon's shinny game at the Canada Games Centre.
• YHC changes seniors' housing policies There are changes ahead for Yukon seniors who are part of, or on the waiting list for, the Yukon Housing Corp.'s rental program.
• Signing Stars There was a huge line-up where former National Hockey League stars
• Gatt scratches following harrowing ordeal with overflow A wicked patch of overflow is taking its toll on the Yukon Quest racers and has spelled the end of the race for Whitehorse musher Hans Gatt.
• City staffers took part in food drive The Whitehorse Food Bank can expect more donations this month after the city hosted an internal food drive for its staff last week.
• Day unveils money to steer at-risk girls down the right route Stockwell Day, the president of the Treasury Board and former Public Safety minister, visited Whitehorse Friday
• Territories to be promoted in southern Canada Close to $3.5 million in federal funds will be spent over the next four years on getting southern Canadians to visit the northern territories.
• Musher feels the highest and lowest of emotions Just two days after rescuing one of his Yukon Quest competitors on American Summit, Eureka, Alaska musher Brent Sass experienced one of the harshest realities of sled dog racing.

February 11, 2011

• More on the dangers of the West Nile virus When in doubt, "seek out the best professional advice.”
• Yukoner among a new generation of musicians The iconic singer-songwriter has long held a special place within the Canadian music scene.
• Looking for clues to the creative mind ( Bookends ) In the introduction to one of his short story collections, Stephen King pondered the often-asked question about why he writes "that kind of stuff.”
• The origin of that special day for flowers Ed. note: Respected northern gardening and greenhouse expert Ingrid Wilcox will bring her wisdom to the Star's pages every second Wednesday. Her first column was published this past Wednesday.
• When the proof is in the pudding ( Uffish Thoughts ) It's budget time again, and sure as God made little green apples we're going to hear (or read) the various political parties using each other as whetstones to put an edge on their rhetoric for the coming election campaign.
• RCMP ‘M' Division hosts senior officers from the North, West The RCMP's Deputy Commissioner Canada West and the commanding officers from the three territories have wrapped up a two-day meeting on northern policing issues in Whitehorse.
• Leach's cameo stole the hockey show Stolen From A Hockey Card is the cultural component of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada.
• Governor General finds warm welcome in Dawson Governor General David Johnston, his wife, Sharon, and his entourage, including Commissioner Doug Phillips, arrived here Thursday and were greeted by members of the town and First Nation councils in an informal gathering at the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre.
• Lab confirms flu has arrived in territory The Yukon has its first two lab-confirmed cases of influenza, Dr. Brendan Hanley, the territory's chief medical officer of health, said Thursday.
• Handlers take the limelight in Dawson City The Yukon Quest's Dawson City checkpoint, with its mandatory 36-hour layover, groceries, hotels, and beer, is the racers' time to rest and the handlers' time to shine.
• MLA's Disclosure Protection Act aimed at helping whistle-blowers A select committee has had more than enough time to recommend whether the government should forge ahead with whistle-blower legislation, says Liberal MLA Don Inverarity.
• Quest a popular draw for first-time racers This year's Yukon Quest is unique for the number of rookies who are running the 1,600-kilometre race.
• Neff continuing on his merry way in the lead of the Yukon Quest The weather conditions have become the main element in the 2011 Yukon Quest, as the remaining mushers try to get their teams over American Summit and into the fly-in community of Eagle.
• You're the future: Governor General to students Governor General David Johnston struck a chord with Yukon College students and staff Thursday morning in Whitehorse.
• Habitat for Humanity plans Ingram triplex With its triplex on downtown's Wheeler Street set to be finished this spring, Habitat for Humanity Yukon is already getting to work on plans for its next project.
• City core can take more residents, council told There's a lot of useable space in the city's downtown area, and local resident Kirk Cameron wants to see it used.
• Convicted ex-mayor had sought $59,000 Dawson City has dropped its lawsuit against former mayor Glen Everitt.

February 10, 2011

• Huddling With The Host Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean
• Visiting journalists speaking to Yukon students at college Yukon College has invited a panel of national and regional journalists to speak with students from both Yukon College and the local high schools today and tomorrow.
• Chow Time Yukon Quest musher Hans Gatt's handler, Fabian Schmidz,
• B.C. Lions Club's Easter Seals House welcoming more locals Demand for lodgings by Yukoners at the B.C. Lions Club's Easter Seals House in Vancouver is on the rise,
• Please Sign Here The Ottawa Senators Alumni team
• Town administration ‘handcuffed' by Municipal Act About a dozen people were present at the town council's Jan. 26 meeting,
• Inspiring Play Young hockey players watch the Ottawa Senators and Dawson Nuggets Wednesday evening
• Girls to explore careers in science, technology Organizers of the upcoming Discover Your Future Conference are helping young women from across Yukon discover firsthand how careers in science and math can be their ticket to an illustrious future.
• Getting Acquainted Governor General David Johnston (right), his wife, Sharon, and Premier Dennis Fentie meet Grand Chief Ruth Massie
• Financial statements accepted by council Two years after the year ended, the city is ready to sign off on its 2009 financial statements.
• Quest frontrunner enjoys a musical send-off Yukon Quest frontrunner Hugh Neff set off from the Dawson checkpoint with a song this morning.
• Yukon is an inspiration to Canada: governor general Governor General David Johnston made Yukon history Wednesday by addressing members of the legislative assembly – the first time a governor general has spoken inside the chamber.
• First Nation files suit against Yukon gov't over mineral claims The Ross River Dena Council is suing the Yukon government for issuing mineral claims on its traditional Kaska territory without consulting the Dena council.