June 2021

WHITEHORSE, YT—The Yukon University Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lesley Brown as president and vice chancellor of Yukon University, Canada’s first university north of 60. Brown takes up her new role August 16.

Brown was most recently provost and vice president, Academic, at Mount Royal University (MRU) in Calgary. In this role, she oversaw all facets of educational programming and research at MRU, which evolved into a university in 2009. Under her leadership, Mount Royal University experienced significant growth in student enrolment, faculty research success, and academic programming, including the establishment of a long-anticipated Bachelor of Social Work program.

WHITEHORSE, YT— A Two-Eyed Seeing Research Program has been established in collaboration between the Government of Yukon, University of Alberta North, and Yukon University. This program honours different ways of knowing and doing, and aims to uphold Indigenous values and practices in research, training, and knowledge sharing throughout Yukon as it braids Indigenous and western knowledge throughout the program.

The Government of Yukon is generously contributing over $700,000 to this Yukon-focused Two-Eyed Seeing Research Program which includes establishing a Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge at Yukon University, and a series of research activities conducted jointly between YukonU and UAlberta North. This four-year commitment builds on previous collaboration between the three partners.

Five-year, $400,000 commitment will promote critical research and innovative solutions to address climate change challenges in Canada’s North

WHITEHORSE, YT, June 7, 2021— Yukon University has received a $400,000 donation from BMO Financial Group to support the establishment of a permafrost institute at the YukonU Research Centre (YRC). This five-year commitment enables continued innovation in YukonU’s permafrost research and contributes to the development of forward-thinking solutions to address the challenges permafrost thaw is bringing to Canada’s North.

WHITEHORSE, YT— Power Corporation of Canada has donated $100,000 to support the development of an Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination (IISD) at Yukon University.

This investment will support the design and development of a mentorship program aimed at building capacity of participants engaged in Human Resources, Lands or Finance within their First Nations government.

“The Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination at YukonU will support First Nations governments in their implementation of their self-government agreements through research and capacity development and will share the important stories of the struggle for and achievement of self-determination. This significant investment by Power Corporation of Canada will be used to design programs supporting the professional development of individuals serving their communities in Canada’s North,” said Chùsi Robin Bradasch, associate vice president Indigenous Engagement and Partnerships.