Local News

Changes to the city’s snow and ice control policy are outlined by director of operations Tracy Allen (left) and acting manager of bylaw services Kyle Morrison, during a technical briefing at Whitehorse City Hall on Oct. 25. (Stephanie Waddell/Yukon News)

City of Whitehorse updating snow and ice policy

The last meeting heard feedback on winter trail maintenance

Changes to the city’s snow and ice control policy are outlined by director of operations Tracy Allen (left) and acting manager of bylaw services Kyle Morrison, during a technical briefing at Whitehorse City Hall on Oct. 25. (Stephanie Waddell/Yukon News)
<address>David Kotchea’s preliminary hearing sparked protest in Whitehorse in February 2021. Kotchea was acquitted last week. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)</address>

‘This is not justice’: Court hears criticism after Watson Lake man acquitted

Case relied on words of alleged victims. Speakers say alleged victims’ situations were not considered

<address>David Kotchea’s preliminary hearing sparked protest in Whitehorse in February 2021. Kotchea was acquitted last week. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)</address>
Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee, seen providing a COVID-19 update on Sept. 15, 2022, said the vacancy rate for community nurses across the territory is more than 40 per cent. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)

UPDATE: Yukon sails to over 40% vacancy rate for community nurses

Health minister questioned by Yukon Party on community nursing shortages

Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee, seen providing a COVID-19 update on Sept. 15, 2022, said the vacancy rate for community nurses across the territory is more than 40 per cent. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)
Whitehorse City Hall (Yukon News file)

City news, briefly

A look at decisions made at Whitehorse city council’s Oct. 17 meeting.…

Whitehorse City Hall (Yukon News file)
The Yukon Territorial Court delivered a three-year sentence for a Yukon man who plead guilty to paying a young teen for sex. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News files)

Territorial court passes three-year sentence for man who paid minor for sex

Andrew Couch will serve three years and be subject to many conditions upon release

The Yukon Territorial Court delivered a three-year sentence for a Yukon man who plead guilty to paying a young teen for sex. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News files)
The results from the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations election were posted to Facebook on Oct. 21. (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations/Facebook)

CAFN elects new chief and council

Barb Joe moves from deputy chief to chief of First Nation

The results from the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations election were posted to Facebook on Oct. 21. (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations/Facebook)
Repeat violent offender Christoper Schafer is back behind bars at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre after having allegedly committed another assault while briefly released on bail. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News)

Christopher Schafer back behind bars after brief release, another assault alleged

Schafer was barred from flying to Old Crow; local government cited danger he posed

Repeat violent offender Christoper Schafer is back behind bars at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre after having allegedly committed another assault while briefly released on bail. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News)
There have been 17 substantiated complaints filed against doctors in the Yukon from 2015 to 2021. (Sasun Bughdaryan/Unsplash)

‘Clouded in secrecy’: Doctors’ discipline history not disclosed in the Yukon

17 substantiated complaints filed against physicians over previous seven years

There have been 17 substantiated complaints filed against doctors in the Yukon from 2015 to 2021. (Sasun Bughdaryan/Unsplash)
David Kotchea walked free on Oct. 20 after being found not guilty of two aggravated assaults. He faces a suspended sentence and probation for breaching release conditions and will have to remain 20 kilometres from Watson Lake for the next three years. (Joel Krahn/Yukon News file)

Watson Lake man acquitted of assault, barred from returning to community

Lawyer says David Kotchea found not guilty of assault due to inadequate investigation

David Kotchea walked free on Oct. 20 after being found not guilty of two aggravated assaults. He faces a suspended sentence and probation for breaching release conditions and will have to remain 20 kilometres from Watson Lake for the next three years. (Joel Krahn/Yukon News file)
The opening of the new Kashgêk’ building was celebrated last week. (Kwanlin Dün First Nation/Facebook)

KDFN celebrates the official opening of its Kashgêk’ building

Citizens’ input used to design First Nation’s new structure

The opening of the new Kashgêk’ building was celebrated last week. (Kwanlin Dün First Nation/Facebook)
Hidden Valley School. (John Tonin/Yukon News Files)

Lack of operational supervision to blame for botched Hidden Valley investigation: Yukon RCMP

The summary of a review conducted by an Outside RCMP detachment has been released

Hidden Valley School. (John Tonin/Yukon News Files)
Federal funding will assist returning controlled fire to Kluane National Park as a way of restoring its forest ecosystems and animal habitat. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News)

$2.5M in federal funding budgeted for restorative fires in Kluane National Park

Project steered by First Nations and Parks Canada wants fire back in the park by 2025

Federal funding will assist returning controlled fire to Kluane National Park as a way of restoring its forest ecosystems and animal habitat. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News)
This map shows where Phases 12 and 13 of Whistle Bend would be developed should the proposed rezoning go ahead. (City of Whitehorse/Screen shot)

New sections of Whistle Bend could provide 350 homes

Zoning proposed for Phases 12 and 13

This map shows where Phases 12 and 13 of Whistle Bend would be developed should the proposed rezoning go ahead. (City of Whitehorse/Screen shot)
City crews clear mounds of snow from a residential area in Copper Ridge in 2021. The City of Whitehorse is considering substantial changes to its snow and ice clearing policy given the city’s increased population, increasing snow fall and demographic changes in recent years. (Yukon News file)

Winter is coming; Whitehorse city council prepares

Policy changes could alter snow clearing in Whitehorse

City crews clear mounds of snow from a residential area in Copper Ridge in 2021. The City of Whitehorse is considering substantial changes to its snow and ice clearing policy given the city’s increased population, increasing snow fall and demographic changes in recent years. (Yukon News file)
Without a walk-in clinic, Yukoners without a family doctor are left with the option of going to the emergency room to see a physician. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)

Recruitment challenges halt plans for Whitehorse walk-in clinic

“Those doctors ultimately chose not to pursue that business model.”

Without a walk-in clinic, Yukoners without a family doctor are left with the option of going to the emergency room to see a physician. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)
A USB drive seen on Oct. 18. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)

Yukon Health minister apologizes for USB-drive privacy breach

Former employee removed Family and Child Services files without authorization

A USB drive seen on Oct. 18. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)
Ulrike Wohlfarth Levins speaks during the kickoff event for the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s Poverty and Homelessness Action Week on Monday, Oct. 17. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News)

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week discusses solutions to help those struggling with Yukon cost of living

Several events are planned in Whitehorse this week

Ulrike Wohlfarth Levins speaks during the kickoff event for the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s Poverty and Homelessness Action Week on Monday, Oct. 17. (Jim Elliot/Yukon News)
A health-care worker gets a swab ready at a temporary COVID-19 test clinic in 2020. The Yukon government has announced planned changes in the hours of operation for the COVID-19 testing centre in Whitehorse beginning Oct. 22. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

Yukon government announces change in COVID-19 testing hours

The Yukon government has announced the hours for the COVID-19 testing and…

A health-care worker gets a swab ready at a temporary COVID-19 test clinic in 2020. The Yukon government has announced planned changes in the hours of operation for the COVID-19 testing centre in Whitehorse beginning Oct. 22. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)
Rebecca Turpin, the Yukon government’s director of the climate change secretariat, has been named to the 2023 Clean50 Award for her work on the Our Clean Future strategy. The annual award recognizes leaders in climate change across the country. (Submitted/Yukon government)

Yukoner recognized for climate change efforts

Rebecca Turpin named to Clean50 Award

Rebecca Turpin, the Yukon government’s director of the climate change secretariat, has been named to the 2023 Clean50 Award for her work on the Our Clean Future strategy. The annual award recognizes leaders in climate change across the country. (Submitted/Yukon government)
Whitehorse City Hall (Yukon News file)

This week at city hall

A look at decisions made by Whitehorse city council at its Oct.…

Whitehorse City Hall (Yukon News file)