Michael Gates

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In 1981, Parks Canada celebrated the royal wedding of Charles and Diana with an outhouse themed “The Royal Flush.” A life-size doll wearing a wedding dress was placed in the “throne room.” Its arm was suspended in the window so that it gave the royal wave when the outhouse was in motion. (Courtesy/Kathy Jones-Gates)

History Hunter: Klondike outhouse race had a 45-year run

The Klondike International Outhouse Race, I am told, has run its course.…

In 1981, Parks Canada celebrated the royal wedding of Charles and Diana with an outhouse themed “The Royal Flush.” A life-size doll wearing a wedding dress was placed in the “throne room.” Its arm was suspended in the window so that it gave the royal wave when the outhouse was in motion. (Courtesy/Kathy Jones-Gates)
We were able to squeeze in a meeting over breakfast with Peter and Diane van der Klok during a busy weekend in Dawson City. Peter fondly remembers the time he spent in Dawson during the late 1950s. (Michael Gates/Yukon News)

History Hunter: Dawson trip full of memories

It can take me 45 minutes to walk a block in Dawson…

We were able to squeeze in a meeting over breakfast with Peter and Diane van der Klok during a busy weekend in Dawson City. Peter fondly remembers the time he spent in Dawson during the late 1950s. (Michael Gates/Yukon News)
The home that J.B. Tyrrell lived and worked in can be found on Seventh Avenue in Dawson. It was originally located on Church Street where the cenotaph and Victory garden are located today.” (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Early geologist made his mark in the Klondike

When you stroll the park surrounding the historic Commissioner’s Residence in Dawson…

The home that J.B. Tyrrell lived and worked in can be found on Seventh Avenue in Dawson. It was originally located on Church Street where the cenotaph and Victory garden are located today.” (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
This float, labelled ‘No Boundary Line Here’ was pulled along the parade route by Yukon Pioneer Pete Huley on Discovery Day in 1939. Huley was a colourful character who had a short career in silent films before settling in Dawson City.” (Gates Collection)

History Hunter: Discovery Days was a Pioneer affair

While the rest of the country take a civic holiday at the…

This float, labelled ‘No Boundary Line Here’ was pulled along the parade route by Yukon Pioneer Pete Huley on Discovery Day in 1939. Huley was a colourful character who had a short career in silent films before settling in Dawson City.” (Gates Collection)
Ben Warnsby and Mike Stutter operated the river freight boat Brainstorm without incident from 1960 until 1974. Neither of them or any crew member was ever formally certified by the government to operate the vessel. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Ben Warnsby was a Yukon Pioneer

I was saddened to learn that Ben Warnsby had passed away recently…

Ben Warnsby and Mike Stutter operated the river freight boat Brainstorm without incident from 1960 until 1974. Neither of them or any crew member was ever formally certified by the government to operate the vessel. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
The Anglican church in Mayo, not long after its construction in September of 1922. A time capsule was buried in the foundation, but few remember the details. Does anyone know what happened to the time capsule? (Lyn Bleiler/Mayo Historical Society)

History Hunter: Time capsules: a blast from the past, or a look to the future?

What has been left for us? And what might we leave for future Yukoners to unearth?

The Anglican church in Mayo, not long after its construction in September of 1922. A time capsule was buried in the foundation, but few remember the details. Does anyone know what happened to the time capsule? (Lyn Bleiler/Mayo Historical Society)
Jeremy White operates the backhoe-powered jackhammer, while Merle Stevenson monitors the progress. (Michael Gates/Yukon News)

50-year-old time capsule recovered from former vocational school

Conservator has been tasked with retrieving the documents inside

Jeremy White operates the backhoe-powered jackhammer, while Merle Stevenson monitors the progress. (Michael Gates/Yukon News)
The Old Territorial Administration Building in Dawson City, was not completed until three years after the Yukon Act came into effect. Over the next 50years, it served at various times as as the legislature, the post office, the courthouse and the mining recorder’s office. The building was abandoned when the seat of government was moved to Whitehorse in 1953 and later became the Dawson City Museum. The legislature returned to this building on June 13 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Yukon Act. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Yukon Act

June 13 is a significant date in Yukon history. That was when…

The Old Territorial Administration Building in Dawson City, was not completed until three years after the Yukon Act came into effect. Over the next 50years, it served at various times as as the legislature, the post office, the courthouse and the mining recorder’s office. The building was abandoned when the seat of government was moved to Whitehorse in 1953 and later became the Dawson City Museum. The legislature returned to this building on June 13 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Yukon Act. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
A saloon in Forty Mile, taken before the gold rush. Though much quieter than the frenetic centres of gold rush entertainment, establishments like these were the social gathering places in the early days. (Courtesy/RCMP Museum)

History Hunter: Entertainment was at the heart of gold rush excitement

When the first gold seekers arrived in the Yukon River basin, the…

A saloon in Forty Mile, taken before the gold rush. Though much quieter than the frenetic centres of gold rush entertainment, establishments like these were the social gathering places in the early days. (Courtesy/RCMP Museum)
Donna Clayson points to where a time capsule is locked in cement in front of the former vocational school. In 1973, she worked there and was on hand to see art instructor Ted Harrison put it in place on July 15, 1973. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Time Capsule will reveal messages from 50 years ago

When human memory is gone, much of our history goes with it.…

Donna Clayson points to where a time capsule is locked in cement in front of the former vocational school. In 1973, she worked there and was on hand to see art instructor Ted Harrison put it in place on July 15, 1973. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
The Dawson hockey team that flew to Fairbanks in March 1936 to compete with Alaskan teams included Helmer Samuelson (far left), Joe Redmond (front centre in white hockey shorts), and Roy Butterworth (behind Redmond, wearing goalie pads). The man at the far right in the fur coat is coach James K. “Jimmy” Johnston. John Dines (back row, far right) also accompanied the team to Fairbanks. Other members of the team were Captain “Sox” Troberg, Reg Wynes (defence), Ralph Zaccarelli, Jack Cunningham, Norman Reid and Ken Owen. (Submitted)

History Hunter: Old hockey photo recalls memories from the 1930s

My wife Kathy recently acquired an interesting photograph from the Alaskan collection…

The Dawson hockey team that flew to Fairbanks in March 1936 to compete with Alaskan teams included Helmer Samuelson (far left), Joe Redmond (front centre in white hockey shorts), and Roy Butterworth (behind Redmond, wearing goalie pads). The man at the far right in the fur coat is coach James K. “Jimmy” Johnston. John Dines (back row, far right) also accompanied the team to Fairbanks. Other members of the team were Captain “Sox” Troberg, Reg Wynes (defence), Ralph Zaccarelli, Jack Cunningham, Norman Reid and Ken Owen. (Submitted)
Martha Black was the Yukon’s first female Member of Parliament, and only the second to sit in the House of Commons. She had campaigned with her husband for three decades before being called upon to run in his place in the 1935 federal election. The Blacks represented the Yukon in Ottawa for three decades, and it was often said there were two political parties in the Yukon - “The Liberals and the Blacks.” (Courtesy/Library and Archives Canada)

History Hunter: Martha Black – Yukon lady parliamentarian

George Black had been the Yukon’s Member of Parliament for nearly 15…

Martha Black was the Yukon’s first female Member of Parliament, and only the second to sit in the House of Commons. She had campaigned with her husband for three decades before being called upon to run in his place in the 1935 federal election. The Blacks represented the Yukon in Ottawa for three decades, and it was often said there were two political parties in the Yukon - “The Liberals and the Blacks.” (Courtesy/Library and Archives Canada)
The outhouse at the summit of the Chilkoot pass is well maintained by Parks Canada and has a spectacular view. What facilities did they have here during the gold rush? (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Where did they poop in the gold rush?

When hiking the Chilkoot Trail, I had occasion to use the privy…

The outhouse at the summit of the Chilkoot pass is well maintained by Parks Canada and has a spectacular view. What facilities did they have here during the gold rush? (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
Bluefish Caves, located in the northern Yukon, is a controversial archaeological site that has evidence that people occupied the site 24,000 years ago. (Courtesy/Government of Yukon, Ruth Gotthardt)

History Hunter: Canada’s first settlers were in the Yukon

This year, we are celebrating the 125th anniversary of the passage of…

Bluefish Caves, located in the northern Yukon, is a controversial archaeological site that has evidence that people occupied the site 24,000 years ago. (Courtesy/Government of Yukon, Ruth Gotthardt)
Inspector Constantine and his men posed for a photo the winter of 1895/96 at their new outpost in the Yukon. The strict discipline and ordered layout of the Mounted Police Post constructed at Forty Mile in 1895 was in stark contrast to the disorder of the small mining camp a short distance away. (Courtesy/Yukon Archives)

History Hunter: The Mounties set the standard during the gold rush

During the era of 19th century European colonialism in the new world,…

Inspector Constantine and his men posed for a photo the winter of 1895/96 at their new outpost in the Yukon. The strict discipline and ordered layout of the Mounted Police Post constructed at Forty Mile in 1895 was in stark contrast to the disorder of the small mining camp a short distance away. (Courtesy/Yukon Archives)
The Northwest Mounted Police established a small post at the summit of the Chilkoot pass on Feb. 11, 1898, where they collected customs and ensured that gold seekers headed for the Klondike had enough supplies to last them for a year. Is it possible that George A. Pringle was captured in this photo? (Courtesy/Henry Joseph Woodside collection, Library and Archives Canada)

History Hunter: The Pringle Family Revisited

My column published in the print edition of the News on Jan.…

The Northwest Mounted Police established a small post at the summit of the Chilkoot pass on Feb. 11, 1898, where they collected customs and ensured that gold seekers headed for the Klondike had enough supplies to last them for a year. Is it possible that George A. Pringle was captured in this photo? (Courtesy/Henry Joseph Woodside collection, Library and Archives Canada)
This new book by Jon S. Dellandrea reveals the story of the greatest art fraud case in Canadian history. (Submitted)

History Hunter: Fakes, forgeries and frauds — collectors beware

Over this Christmas past, I had the pleasure of reading a book,…

This new book by Jon S. Dellandrea reveals the story of the greatest art fraud case in Canadian history. (Submitted)
Unlike his two brothers, Jack Pringle did not become a minister. After several years with the Mounted Police, he settled at Dalton Post, in the southwest Yukon, where he spent the remainder of his years, in a log cabin built by the Mounties during the gold rush. This photo was taken in July of 1944, almost exactly a year before his death. (C.H.D. Clarke/Gates collection)

History Hunter: The Pringle Family in the Yukon, a story revealed

I was recently directed to a YouTube link that connected me to…

Unlike his two brothers, Jack Pringle did not become a minister. After several years with the Mounted Police, he settled at Dalton Post, in the southwest Yukon, where he spent the remainder of his years, in a log cabin built by the Mounties during the gold rush. This photo was taken in July of 1944, almost exactly a year before his death. (C.H.D. Clarke/Gates collection)
Chief Isaac was the leader of the people who had lived at the mouth of the Klondike River for generations before the Klondike discovery. After the establishment of the gold rush boom town, he regularly reminded the newcomers to their traditional homeland of the impact they were having upon his people. What other individuals do you think were important to the development of the Yukon? (Credit/Library of Congress)

History Hunter: Looking back 125 years, who or what made Yukon history?

2023 marks a milestone in the history of the Yukon. On June…

Chief Isaac was the leader of the people who had lived at the mouth of the Klondike River for generations before the Klondike discovery. After the establishment of the gold rush boom town, he regularly reminded the newcomers to their traditional homeland of the impact they were having upon his people. What other individuals do you think were important to the development of the Yukon? (Credit/Library of Congress)
Garth Graham, who was instrumental in establishing the Yukon Archives, spoke at the 50th birthday celebration at the archives on Dec. 10. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Garth Graham, the anarchist who established the Yukon Archives

The Yukon Archives celebrated its 50th birthday on Dec. 10 in its…

Garth Graham, who was instrumental in establishing the Yukon Archives, spoke at the 50th birthday celebration at the archives on Dec. 10. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)