A canoe steeped in history finds a home- on display in Yukon College

Whitehorse –When a crew of riggers from Yukon College’s trades program hoists a huge canoe into place in the college cafeteria, its creator will be a satisfied man.

“I was looking for a good home for this canoe,” says Dawson City artist Halin de Repentigny. “I am happy it is going to be safe here at the college.”

The 28-foot birch-bark canoe will placed into position on Nov. 16, hanging in the stairwell of the college’s cafeteria. There, the artisanship will be on display for years to come.

This is no ordinary canoe. De Repentigny says it embodies much of the country’s history and culture. He drew up the canoe from 100-year-old designs by artist, journalist and traveler Tappan Adney, who literally wrote the book on North American canoe building. The frame comes from cedar from Ontario (de Repentigny picked and transported the wood here himself), the skin and its glue from bark from BC and Yukon. It is painted bright colours, in line with the traditions of the voyageurs.

“I wanted to make a statement, that this canoe has the best of the partnership of our founding races- the First Nations, Metis, and Europeans,” he says.

This is also serious work for the people who have to hoist it safely to the ceiling.

“I’d say it was a fairly big job,” says Randy Spinks, the facilities supervisor at Yukon College. “It’s a 28-foot, 400-pound object going across a fairly wide span.”

“It’s so big, we have to bring it through the cafeteria patio doors- it won’t fit down any of the hallways or around any corners.”

The riggers also had to figure the best way to display the canoe, cradling it in such a way as to ensure the intricate and beautiful artwork inside is visible to the public.

“It’s a great opportunity for the students,” Spinks says. “It allows them to do some hands-on work, rather than just learning in the classroom.”

De Repentigny says there are only a handful of canoes like this in the world. He drew on nearly 20 years experience in building canoes to create this work of art. He says it’s difficult to put a price on such a unique work.

But that’s not what’s important for de Repentigny. He wanted to find a good home for his work. After housing it at a local art gallery, he had the notion to donate it to the College when his wife started attending classes here.

“I said I would look good here at the College, it would educate people about Canadian history and culture. These canoes came up to the Yukon, were part of building this country.

“This was meant to stay here.”

-30-