Whitehorse Daily Star

October 19, 2021

• Dawson ferry to cease operations Wednesday night The George Black ferry will make its last run of the season at 11 p.m. Wednesday, and be pulled from the water the next morning.
• Pedestrian struck by vehicle Whitehorse RCMP are investigating after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle last Saturday evening.
• Pair arrested following property crimes Two suspects have been arrested in relation to investigations into rising property crimes, Whitehorse RCMP said Monday.
• Latest report cites 24 new COVID-19 cases Dr. Catherine Elliott, the Yukon’s acting chief medical officer of health, reports 24 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from noon last Friday to noon Monday.
• Public asked to be aware of Ibex Valley bear, cub Residents and motorists travelling through the Ibex Valley area are asked to remain cautious and be on the lookout for a grizzly bear following a human- wildlife conflict on Monday.
• Fire at Chilkoot Inn sends guest to hospital Members of the Whitehorse Fire Department doused a blaze in a second-floor room at the Chilkoot Inn late Monday morning.
• Vaccinations announcement a diversion from school scandal: Dixon After an attack during Monday’s question period by Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon, Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee tried to defend the decision to require all Yukon government employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 30.

October 18, 2021

• Mayoral candidates debated issues in Dawson The 2021 Dawson Mayoral Forum took place in the ballroom at Dënäkär Zho/KIAC last Tuesday.
• Making Their Point More than 100 people attended a protest Saturday at the corner of Ogilvie Street and Second Avenue.
• Community safety stressed Eileen Melnychuk, a candidate for city council in Thursday’s election, is proposing neighborhood-specific solutions to improve community safety and reduce crime.
• Addressing Vital Issues Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, with the theme ‘Honouring Our Human Rights’, kicked off Saturday (World Food Day) at Shipyards Park with a chili dinner.
• COVID-19 cases reported, exposure alerts issued The Yukon’s rising number of COVID-19 cases kept officials busy over the weekend.
• Firefighters group backs Laking Whitehorse Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 2217 has publicly endorsed Ted Laking for Whitehorse city council in Thursday’s election.
• Premier welcomes reopened border Premier Sandy Silver says he’s glad to see the American border set to reopen Nov. 8, but added there’s much work to be done.
• Plastic bags ban sparked spirited debate The three political parties in the Yukon legislature argued last Wednesday about the new government ban on single-use plastics.
• Unions, groups assess mandatory vaccines Reactions varied Friday afternoon after the Yukon government announced it’s making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all civil servants and associated organizations and businesses under the government umbrella.

October 15, 2021

• Ombudsman marked significant day Thursday The Yukon’s Ombudsman, Diane McLeod-McKay, joined her colleagues across Canada and internationally Thursday to mark Ombuds Day.
• Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in honour late chief The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (TH) have renamed their Health and Wellness Centre (often called the Support Centre) after Chief John Jonas, who served as chief from 1936 to 1940 and in the late ’50s.
• Hartland: mayor must be a consensus builder For mayoral candidate Samson Hartland, there are three major issues facing the city.
• Cabott: housing shortage would be a key priority Mayoral candidate Laura Cabott says she’ll hit the ground running if elected as mayor next Thursday.
• Balsillie: ‘I’ve been a builder my whole life’ Ed. note: here, in alphabetical order, the Star profiles the three mayoral candidates for next Thursday’s election.
• Pair’s trek to Tuk raised $21,000 for vet care Paul Hayes and his dog, Cinder, arrived in Dawson on Aug. 10, 23 days after they began their trek to Tuktoyaktuk in Victoria on July 16.
• Minister reminded of flood crisis woes Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn provided a summary Tuesday in the legislature of how the government dealt with record flooding this past summer, but he wasn’t given an easy ride from the opposition.
• Thrift store sews up threads of campaign The Whitehorse Community Thrift Store is launching an education campaign called The Cost of Clothing, on Oct. 19, during Textile Day, which is part of National Waste Reduction Week.
• Premier isn’t supporting his minister, opposition says Premier Sandy Silver’s leadership is under attack by the opposition parties over the Hidden Valley School scandal.
• Would-be mayors stake positions at forum The three mayoral candidates for the Oct. 21 municipal election faced 10 questions at Wednesday evening’s forum hosted by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.
• New COVID rules are ‘pivotal’ The Yukon government is following in the footsteps of other Canadian jurisdictions in implementing stringent new COVID-19 controls on its public service and associated agencies.