October 2021

Dear students and colleagues,

I am very saddened to share that today the RCMP has confirmed the death of two victims of the shooting in Faro yesterday, as well as a third victim being treated for critical injuries. The RCMP has not yet released their names.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the faculty and staff at the Faro Campus and the Ross River Campus. We are in touch to ensure they are supported.

The news yesterday and today, from receiving emergency texts and being unsure what was happening to today’s confirmation of fatalities, is unsettling for us all. I have learned that the Yukon is a small and highly connected community and many of you have connections to most, if not all communities, including Faro.

It is all right to feel shaken and it is all right to feel upset. It is also all right to grieve the two people who died and the safety we felt yesterday.

WATERLOO – Black spruce, an evergreen tree that dominates boreal North America, has historically demonstrated high resilience to fire, even depending on it for regeneration. However, a new study led by Wilfrid Laurier University’s Jennifer Baltzer and an international team of collaborators found that increasing fire activity due to climate change may lead to declines in this widespread and economically important boreal species.

Dear students,

YukonU is a caring community, and our collective mental health and wellbeing has been a topic of many conversations since I joined you two months ago.

I am excited to share with you that Yukon University is joining forces with Headversity to pilot their interactive, mobile app-based resilience skills building program with our students, faculty and staff this academic year.

Install the app on your mobile device, input your preferred email address and use the YukonU student code YKUSTU to register and begin your resilience journey. Our Connect Team is available to assist if you need help installing the app.

Two minutes after answering some questions, you will have your personal resilience score and suggested training to focus on.

WHITEHORSE, YT—Wykes’ Your Independent Grocer and Yukon University are teaming up to nourish YukonU students for Thanksgiving and into the holiday season.

Starting today, Wykes’ customers are invited to help alleviate student hunger by donating a minimum of $2 at the checkout in exchange for a reusable YukonU Together We Thrive tote bag. All funds raised will go towards emergency grocery cards and replenishing the Ayamdigut campus student food bank.

“Donating just $2 for a reusable YukonU tote bag helps the environment, helps you get your groceries home and helps students who face food insecurity. I’m grateful to Mark Wykes and his team for collaborating with us to support YukonU students.” said Dr. Lesley Brown, president and vice chancellor.