A possible expansion will be studied for the Yukon Arts Centre, which is marking its 30th anniversary this year.

The arts centre corporation has received a $67,500 grant from the territorial Community Development Fund (CDF) to assess the feasibility of expanding the facilities to include a smaller studio theatre space. It would seat approximately 160 people.

“The support from the Community Development Fund is helping the Yukon Arts Centre cover crucial costs to determine the feasibility of a proposed expansion of our facility,” Casey Prescott, the centre’s CEO, said Monday.

“Programs like CDF are an invaluable resource to local organizations, supporting important projects that continue to elevate our community.”

The CDF has awarded a total of $1,107,960 for 21 community projects across the Yukon.

The Yukon Circus Society has been awarded $17,095 to hire a professional fly director to train members to install and safely operate aerial suspension equipment at the arts centre.

For the past 11 years, the society has been doing popular circus arts education in many communities throughout the Yukon.

It believes that improving the level of circus knowledge within the territory will improve overall performance and increase interest in shows.

“The Yukon Circus Society is very grateful to have the opportunity to provide aerial suspension and fly operator training to our members as part of our upcoming production of Dogtown: the Musical,” said Claire Ness, the society’s artistic director.

“This new skill development will help give us the capacity to offer more aerial suspension elements in our productions for years to come.”

The CDF has awarded $96,642 in Tier 1 funding for eight projects that provide social, cultural and economic benefits for Yukon communities. They are:

• Hillcrest Community Association – $10,281 – to install higher fencing at the Hillcrest rink in the active end zones and additional fencing outside the rink on the southwest side to protect nearby housing.

“This outdoor rink provides an opportunity for the Hillcrest community to be active close to home and stay connected with their neighborhood as well as other members of the public that use this space for recreational sporting events,” the Yukon government said.

“This space is free for anyone to use and is maintained by community volunteers.”

• Yukon Pickleball Association – $3,500 – to develop a multi-year strategic plan needed to become a sports governing body.

“Having a sport governing body would provide necessary tools to broaden the sport for, community, intra-community and intra-jurisdictional play,” the government said.

“The project will not only create short-term local spending and employment through the hiring of a local consultant but will also promote and grow pickleball as an accessible sport throughout Yukon.

• La Societé des Immeubles Franco Yukonnaise) – $16,222 – to provide a more modern atmosphere to the community hall by installing new flooring.

“Welcoming spaces give people somewhere to gather, create, collaborate and create a sense of place together,” the government said.

• St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Dawson City) – $20,000 – to perform energy conservation measures in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Constructed in 1902, the building is a unique landmark and a significant component of Dawson’s heritage.

The historic building serves as a place of worship, and is a tourist attraction with a large hall used for facilitating many community events.

• Teslin Historical and Museum Society – $11,945 – to replace the old oil tank and wall heaters with a safer and more efficient propane system.

• Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development Corp. – $17,599 – to provide hands-on reforestation and restoration training to youth in Pelly Crossing.

“The skills, knowledge, and experience gained from a course like this will provide immediate and future social, cultural, and economic benefits to the community,” the government said.

The CDF has also awarded $1,011,318 in Tier 2 funding for 16 projects that provide social, cultural and economic benefits for Yukon communities. They are:

• the Jewish Cultural Society of Yukon – $35,550 – to create a website and update the current booklet to respond to requests from Jewish organizations across the country.

The society has gained national attention for raising awareness of and documenting the history and impact of the Jewish community during and after the Gold Rush period.

The project will contribute to the continued development of accessible resources on Yukon Heritage as well as the education and engagement of both Yukoners and non-Yukoners in Yukon heritage.

• Village of Carmacks – $75,000 – to repair, improve and extend the existing riverfront boardwalk, including addressing flood damage incurred in 2021.

“This project will provide a safe, scenic and environmentally friendly route for residents and tourists,” the government said.

• Town of Faro – $75,000 – to replace two wooden ATV-accessible bridges and one smaller foot bridge on the Dene Cho Trail washed out by the high water event of 2021, as well as mechanical and hand brushing on both the Dena Cho and Swim Lake trails.

“The Dene Cho Trail refurbishment will add short-term employment and bolster tourism in the area, benefiting local businesses and ensuring a safer recreation area for local users,” the government said.

• Yukon Transportation Museum – $75,000 – to create three digital experiences to expand the territory’s ability to establish itself as an innovator and leader in XR applications for heritage, culture and creative industries.

The experiences created by the project are designed to allow Yukoners and visitors alike to learn about sites and artifacts that could not be experienced otherwise, expanding the sharing of Yukon heritage.

• Whitehorse United Church – $75,000 – to upgrade and modernize the HVAC system to make it more energy-efficient, ensure good air quality and reduce heat losses, displace oil consumptions with a heat pump and lower costs.

It’s expected the reduced operating costs from lower oil consumption will enable the Whitehorse United Church to continue to provide its many users with affordable or free rental rates.

• Sacred Heart Parish – $75,000 – to upgrade the insulation in the basement of Sacred Heart Cathedral.

The project will create short-term employment for local contractors as well as general local spending through the purchase of materials and the rental of equipment.

• Council of Yukon First Nations – $75,000 – to hold a week of community gatherings, celebrating the Yukon’s rich First Nation culture and heritage in the spirit of potlach to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Together Today for our Children Tomorrow.

The project will generate local spending, develop skills, knowledge and experience through the various workshops being proposed and through performances and exhibits.

• Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition $45,900 – to deliver advanced self-leadership training for Voices Influencing Change members to enhance their leadership.

“This program will increase the resiliency of participants and allow them to support the health and well-being of themselves, their peers and their community,” the government said.

“The program also acts as a tool to show how an organization can respond to the needs as directly identified by community members.”

• Yukon River Marathon Paddling Association Yukon River Quest – $75,000 – to develop and implement a comprehensive business plan.

The development and implementation of a business plan will enable the Quest’s board to develop the tools and resources required to sustainably support the organizations continued success into the future.

• The Nelson Project – $27,754 – to support research and planning that would include a gap analysis; business plan; a financing strategy and sustainability plan; governance and organizational structure; partnership identification, and operation and program delivery.

• Selkirk First Nation – $75,000 – to build a community boardwalk with interpretive signs from Big Johnathan House to the Community Park that is accessible to everyone, including elders and individuals with mobility issues.

“Creating a boardwalk with interpretive signs will provide extra incentive for tourists to visit Pelly Crossing and help promote healthy living within the community,” the government said.

• Dawson Society for Children and Families – $75,000 – to hire a consulting company to develop a design for a childcare hub including construction-level drawings and a cost estimate for the construction of the hub.

The expansion/construction of a new building is expected to create employment opportunities, build needed infrastructure and strengthen social and community networks.

• Kluane Community Development Limited Partnership – $22,313 – to complete the structural engineering, civil design and architectural drafting and build an addition to the community grocery store.

“The ability to build an addition will allow the community of Burwash Landing to be more resilient and better prepared in cases of emergency,” the government said.

• Yukon Historical and Museums Association – $75,000 – to host a three-day hybrid conference focusing on Yukon heritage as shared, studied, interpreted and conserved by Yukoners and Yukon heritage practice.

“The conference will be the first opportunity since pre-pandemic to bring people together across all communities and cultures throughout the Yukon to highlight heritage projects that may otherwise be unknown to many people,” the government said.

• Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation – $63,801 – to purchase two 50-foot planta greenhouses to help with season extension, cold-sensitive crops and maintenance of the market gardens.

The greenhouse structures will let Tr’ondek Hwech’in expand its production.

As well, the process will serve as a means of teaching and transferring knowledge to youth workers while bolstering food security within a rural community.

The CDF provides funding for projects, events and initiatives that offer long-term, sustainable, cultural, social and economic benefits for Yukon communities.

Funding is divided into three tiers with the following application deadlines:

Tier 1: Applications of $20,000 or less on Jan. 15, May 15, July 15 and Oct. 15.

Tier 2: Applications between $20,001 and $75,000 on April 15 and Sept.15.

Tier 3: Applications over $75,000 on Jan. 15.

“The Community Development Fund provides an opportunity for local organizations to expand, offer new services and experiences and create jobs for Yukoners,” said Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai.

“I look forward to seeing how these projects enhance our community, and I encourage local organizations to apply for funding and help the Yukon continue to grow.”