On Sept. 4, the non-profit YuKonstruct Society opened the doors of NorthLight Innovation after several months of renovation to the old Food Fair/Super Valu grocery store on Second Avenue.

The grand opening ceremony for the first community innovation hub North of 60 will take place early this evening.

The 24,000-square-foot facility is now the rallying point for all of their members. The move has consolidated their organization and services under one roof, along with facility partners Yukon College and the Yukon Development Corp.

Services include:

• makespace, the community workshop. Incorporating elements of machine shops, workshops and studios – where the maker community comes together to share resources and knowledge to build and create.

• cospace, the shared workspace. Downtown Whitehorse, the hub for the Yukon’s entrepreneurial community to work, collaborate and build a strong community of visionaries;

• launchspace, a new collective initiative to foster business development and innovation in the North, including conferences, programs and business services through the Canada Business Network that help early-stage entrepreneurs in the Yukon take their ideas to the next level; and

• NorthLight Innovation houses 40 hot desks, 16 dedicated desks, 12 private offices, eight studios, one event space, two classrooms, one boardroom, two meeting rooms, two lounge spaces, two woodshops, one metal shop, one digital fabrication lab, one sewing loft and one hackerspace.

“As the first community innovation hub North of 60, Northlight Innovation gathers partners and key players of the innovation-based entrepreneurial ecosystem with approximately 200 members and tenants,” said Jaret Slipp, YuKonstruct’s executive director.

“YuKonstruct shares the space with Yukon College’s Cold Climate Innovation, Yukon Development Corporation, Startup Whitehorse, Canada Yukon Business Network Services, Yukon Women in Trades and Technology (YWITT) and other tenants from both private and public sectors.”

Yukoners can access the space and the different services offered through different levels of membership.

“We are excited to work with our partners at NorthLight Innovation to support entrepreneurs and diversify the Yukon economy,” said Shelagh Rowles, the executive director of community, innovation and development at Yukon College.

This vision came to light via major contributions from the Yukon government and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the funding partners of NorthLight Innovation.

“NorthLight Innovation is an opportunity for Yukon innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals to collaborate, share their knowledge and skills, and foster innovation and growth,” said Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai.

“The Yukon government is proud to support this dynamic new space, which will support the small business community, grow our knowledge-based industries and diversify our economy.”

Local, national, and international sponsors are also engaged in the project and more are on their way.

“We are beyond thrilled and grateful to these sponsors for their investment in our vision and taking innovation and entrepreneurship to new heights with us,” said Lauren Manekin Beille, YuKonstruct’s director of community development.

“These players include Northern Vision Development, Cisco, Home Hardware, NorthwesTel, Air North Yukon’s Airline, Marg and Rolf Hougen, Yukon Brewing, Whitehorse Motors, I.G. – Davy Joly, Ajax Steel Limited, What’s Up Yukon, and Yukon Built.”

Events around this evening’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 5:00, with registration and networking. The grand opening ceremony will take place from 5:30 to 6:15, when the ribbon will be snipped.

The keynote speakers will be Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, representing the federal government, Premier Sandy Silver, Pillai, Rich Tompson of Northern Vision Development, Rowles and Slipp.

“The north light is the light coming from the North, in the Northern Hemisphere,” YuKonstruct said.

“It consists of natural light which comes from the blue sky rather than directly from the sun, considered ideal by architects and artists.

“This new hub will light up our economic ecosystem and inspire our next generation of northern makers and entrepreneurs.”

YuKonstruct has been based in downtown Whitehorse since 2014.

Its mission is to empower Yukoners to bring their ideas to life in a creative, innovative community by providing access to collaborative space, resources and support.