The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and Yukon University have formed a new partnership to improve the quality, quantity, and availability of training and education courses for the business community.

Together, the chamber and the university have developed a new training and education curriculum and have committed to a two-year partnership to implement it.

Oversight and input to the project were provided by an integrated group of stakeholders, representing business, First Nations, government and academia.

Five key areas of knowledge have been identified by the stakeholders and the chamber’s small and medium enterprise (SME) community: communication skills; leadership skills; Indigenous learning; business skills; and customer service skills.

“After one year of research, study and redevelopment of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce’s SME training programs, we are pleased to offer a new training and education curriculum that is robust, modern, meaningful, and a connected education experience to the Whitehorse business community,” Andrei Samson, the chamber’s executive director, said Friday.

“Thanks to funding from the Government of Yukon, Economic Development, Canadian Northern Economic Development and partnership with Yukon University, were able to provide flexible and affordable training opportunities to the SME community.”

“We are thrilled to empower the Whitehorse business community through this new education and training partnership with the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce,” said Dr. Lesley Brown, the university’s president and vice-chancellor.

“This curriculum connects our experienced and lively faculty with business owners for deeper learning and understanding across a variety of topics such as communications, leadership, emotional intelligence and First Nations governance, culture and history.”

The first full cohort of participants will experience the revamped education and training curriculum next month.