Ascending from the banks of the Yukon River, the city of Whitehorse holds its own against the surrounding wilderness. The mountains and forest around are the perfect setting for the many avid bikers, hunters and skiers who have fallen in love with the North. Here, fresh moose meat is a more popular than beef and bears are frequently seen visiting subdivisions. Unlike southern places, Whitehorse is ruled by the weather. The winter here is one of endless night and bitter cold with light for only five or so hours a day. The summer is brief but beautiful with constant excitement. For Yukoner’s, a two hour trip is equivalent to a twenty minute drive for someone ‘outside’. Where we might travel from Waterloo to Guelph in 30 minutes, the next closest town in the Yukon might be two or more hours away.
With a population around 25 000, Whitehorse is without a doubt the largest city in the Yukon. However, in many ways it still feels like the small town that was thrown together as hundreds of hopeful gold miners passed through on their way to fame and fortune or complete ruin. It was a town built on the bravado of young men out to make a name for themselves and the determination of risk takers with nothing to lose. Today the town is full of character and tradition.
Isolation and harsh environmental conditions present a challenge to those who choose to live in the North. With the terrible beauty comes terrible hardships and interesting challenges. Darkness can be longer than 19 hours during the winter, which doesn’t leave much time for everything to warm up. Temperatures commonly reach -40°C causing tires to become like solid blocks, making road salts useless and keeping engines from starting if they aren’t plugged in. Since car plug-ins can’t be provided on every street curb, trips in to town involve frequent trips back outside to restart the engine and let the car idle to keep the engine block warm. Luckily, the invention of fobs with the ability to start cars remotely decreases the need to re-enter the cold. After all, not every building can have an underground parking garage.
Often, taking the bus is simply the easiest solution for getting around. People of all walks of life rub shoulders every day, sharing the same problems. The sense of community in Whitehorse is strong. In the fall, around mid August, people gather wild cranberries. What they don’t eat or preserve they can sell to local bakeries for okay profits, the same goes for moose meat and other types of products that can be gained from the land. Things in Whitehorse are not terribly more expensive than in Waterloo as there is road access after all. But why ship everything when better quality can be found in your backyard?
I have only been on co-op in Whitehorse for two weeks so it’s with some doubt that I retell these stories. However, the spirit of this northern town is plain to see even as students like myself flood in for the summer months. Ontario might be the most populated province but I begin to wonder if it isn’t more than a little Americanized. To call yourself Canadian is not just to be an international traveler but also to be a good national traveller. Where better to start than where the stereotypes begin, in the great white North.
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