Yukon Premier, Grand Chief and President Barnes to showcase Yukon University in Ottawa

Raising our voice yukon university poster

WHITEHORSE—Conversations about the strengths of Canada’s first university north of 60 will be front and centre in Ottawa next week. Investing in Northern Potential, a roundtable luncheon on Yukon University, will take place as part of this year’s Yukon Days.

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and Yukon College President Dr. Karen Barnes will host the luncheon. Special guests include President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation Reeta Roy, historian and Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation Ken Coates, co-founder of the Arctic Inspiration Prize Arnold Witzeg and Gold Corp mine executives.

“With the support of the Yukon government and Yukon First Nations, we are on track to launch Yukon University in 2020,” said Dr. Barnes. “We want to ensure that our friends in Ottawa are fully aware of the opportunities and potential a truly northern university will bring to Canada.”

The Premier and Grand Chief will provide opening remarks and President Barnes will speak about the vision for Yukon University and its value to Yukon and the North. Mastercard Foundation’s Reeta Roy will speak about the investment the Mastercard Foundation and Rideau Hall Foundation have made in Indigenous students through the Learning Partnership with Yukon College and Vancouver Island University.

Guests will then hear short presentations and have the opportunity to ask questions on the three pillars of Yukon University. These are indigenous self-determination and governance, climate change – society and environment, and sustainable resource development and innovation.

Yukon College (YC) is evolving into Yukon University to better meet the needs of Yukon students. 52 per cent of YC students are enrolled in degree or university programming. YC students have expressed a desire for their post-secondary education to be relevant to the North and would prefer to complete their credential without having to leave the North.

Yukon University will be a hybrid university. A flexible, Northern-focused post-secondary institution that will include a range of options for students from upgrading, trades and vocational training to bachelor degrees and post-grad opportunities as well as applied research.

The roundtable luncheon will take place Tuesday, February 6 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.