Whitehorse Daily Star

March 18, 2020

• Family, baby fair won’t happen The coming spring’s Yukon Family and Baby Fair has been cancelled, the Community Midwifery Association of the Yukon (CMAY) said Tuesday.
• Yukon legislature still sitting – for now The Yukon government is not yet closing the legislative assembly, but that could change if the evolving procedures to combat COVID-19 force a recess.
• Annual Territorial Skills Competition is called off Next month’s annual Territorial Skills Competition has been cancelled, it was announced today.
• DeWolfe race succumbs to COVID-19 The Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race has been cancelled for this year, becoming yet another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Premier asks for patience on stimulus details A plan for businesses to access the $4-million aid package promised by the Yukon government is forthcoming.
• 2020 Yukon Trade Show is called off A popular spring event attended by several thousand people in Whitehorse is no more.
• Blaze guts an unoccupied home A unoccupied home undergoing renovations near the Carcross Corner was destroyed by fire Monday morning, says the chief of the Golden Horn Volunteer Fire Department.
• Court is adjusting to COVID-19 The Supreme Court of Yukon is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and has modified its operations.
• Don’t return to campus, college students told Following the request from the territory’s chief medical officer of health to limit gatherings and support working from home,
• Canada Games Centre to be shuttered today The Canada Games Centre will close at 5:30 p.m. today until further notice, says the city’s manager of communications.
• Schools to be shuttered until April 15 Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer, declared a public health emergency late this morning.
• Virus ices arts, entertainment events COVID-19 has prompted the cancellatons of several popular arts and culture events, some involving hundreds of performers or audience members.

March 17, 2020

• A Quiet Core There is much less traffic around the city
• Police searching for robbery suspect Whitehorse RCMP are asking for assistance in identifying an armed robbery suspect.
• Tests results may take two weeks Some Yukoners who have been tested for COVID-19 this week are expecting to wait between six and 14 days for results.
• Government releases details of stimulus package The Yukon government has released more details about the $4-million stimulous package Premier Silver announced Monday to support local workers and businesses impacted by COVID-19.
• Health line service is frustrating some Yukoners Some Whitehorse residents calling the 8-1-1 nurse’s hotline say they are unable to get through to the overburdened health line.
• Air North altering flight schedules Air North is making changes to flight schedules because of cancellations, but is trying to minimize the impact, says the company’s chief commercial officer.

March 16, 2020

• Council approves playground The donation from Canadian Tire of an accessible and inclusive playground for Shipyards Park with a value of $1 million was accepted last Monday by city council.
• Virus concerns melt Thaw di Gras party Most of the family-oriented events associated with the annual Thaw di Gras carnival here were abruptly cancelled with this sudden announcement on Friday afternoon.
• Skateboard park takes a step City council took the first step last Monday toward a brand-new skateboard park by passing first reading of the two bylaws required.
• Smith proposes ‘new lens at the leadership table’ Sean Smith is looking to leverage his six years of experience as a Kwanlin Dün councillor to run for chief on a platform of housing, employment, land management and sustainability.
• Kuster eyes returning power to the people Ian Kuster is running for Kwanlin Dün chief on a platform of housing, youth programming and increasing community engagement in council decisions.
• Kwanlin Dün chief is running again As of noon today, the Kwanlin Dün First Nation planned to proceed with Wednesday’s scheduled election for chief and council members.
• Internet charges relief sought The COVID-19 virus may mean a break on Internet rates for northerners.
• Yukon Comedy Festival is cancelled Due to concerns and unknowns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Yukon Comedy Collective Board has made the “difficult” decision to cancel the 2020 Yukon Comedy Festival, it said Friday.
• Yukon Arts Centre suspends operations The Yukon Arts Centre will be closed to the public effective immediately until after the Easter long weekend (April 10-12).
• Yukoners urged to cancel travel On the advice of the chief public health officer of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam, Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health, is advising all Yukoners to cancel or postpone all non-essential travel outside of Canada – including the United States.
• Virus sees major downtown hotel close Northern Vision Development has closed its Edgewater Hotel because of the downturn in business related to COVID-19, says the company’s chief executive officer.
• New measures unveiled to foil COVID-19 The Yukon’s chief medical officers are urging “solidarity in self-isolation,” and have made a number of recommendations to guard against COVID-19.