I first began working at the Star in March of 2023 for a month internship as a requirement of my college degree.

Later that same year, I continued my employment again in the summer from July to the first week of September for a total of 2 1/2 months employed at the historic newspaper in 2023.

After hearing news of the Star’s closure I was deeply saddened for the Yukon community. The Star owners and staff leave behind a great piece of Canadian media history and a long legacy of news coverage.

Like myself, many new reporters have gotten their start at small, close-knit papers such as the Star, and I am extremely grateful for the knowledge, experiences, and great people I met during my time in Yukon employed at the paper.

When I first arrived that year, I was met with warm welcomes from the experienced and dedicated staff. I knew going into the job I would be expected to cover hard news topics that I lacked familiarity with as I had mostly written feature stories for college assignments and my school’s online paper.

During both internship periods, I covered a variety of stories; some including the legislature, city council, First Nation stories, territorial government updates, court, an environmental protest, conservation, UCAY stories, and other features.

The job was filled with excitement every day, coming in unsure of what new and pressing issue I’d be researching and writing about.

As a young, born-and-raised Albertan, I felt a lack of education and unfamiliarity regarding the Canadian territories. Prior to my employment, I had little knowledge on the northern regions except for the well-known fact that the territories are very cold!

So, before arriving in Yukon, I did moderate background informational research and studied the history of the area so I was well versed in the topics I would be covering in a region of the country I had previously never visited.

Despite my preliminary research, I often found myself sifting through old news stories and documents throughout my internship searching for additional background information due to the historical depth and cultural significance of the area.

I was informed in advance of my arrival in March that I would be covering the Legislature, and as a second-year college student I was intimidated!

In the beginning, I felt the pressure of my new role, but I quickly tackled the deeply complex history of the Yukon through research and most significantly with help from the well-versed and incredibly knowledgeable Star staff.

On my first day of employment last year, I was taken aback by the rustic and antique appearance of the Star’s office. From what we were taught in school and what I’ve seen in the media, I had preconceived notions of a newsroom’s appearance.

In my mind, the newsroom looked monochromatic, well organized, and bland. I was surprisingly, yet pleasantly shocked to see the visible years of detail and character in every inch of the office from the art on the walls to the preserved article clippings plastered around to the vintage furnishings, paint, and slight disorganization of paper and books stacked around.

I recall proofing work in the open room on the second floor and looking down at the table through the glass cover and seeing a browned newspaper from the 1970s close to the year my parents were born.

To me, the small yet insignificant detail of the preserved 50-something-year-old article in the glass cover displays the care, and uniqueness of one of Canada’s few remaining independent newspapers.

The old-fashioned character look of the building ties in perfectly with the history, Yukon culture, and devotion of the Star’s loyal staff (some who have been there for years!), and the drive of a small 124-year-old newspaper.

In the duration of my internship, I made genuine connections and friendships with Yukon media personnel from a variety of stations and outlets, and I carry so much respect and gratitude for the extensive assistance, guidance, and advice I was provided with during my first professional experience as a reporter.

While I lived in the Yukon, I stayed with family members who kindly invited me in, supported me, and showed me what local life and culture is like in the area.

And throughout my employment I was consistently refreshed to see how helpful, encouraging, and supportive my co-workers and colleagues were and how respectful the small Whitehorse community is. Overall, I am grateful for all the opportunities the Star and the staff provided me with. The Yukon community and Canada’s media will suffer a great loss from the Whitehorse Star’s closure.

Thank you to everyone who assisted and encouraged me with my first professional job as a reporter and goodbye to the historic Whitehorse Star newspaper, and best of luck to everyone.

By CASSIDY BRONSON