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For immediate release | February 8, 2011

Whitehorse – The Northern Climate ExChange (NCE) has joined a delegation of public sector representatives, traveling in the United States to discuss a spectrum of climate change issues. Community Adaptation Project Manager, Ryan Hennessey, is traveling with Canadian delegates from BC, Alberta and Ontario, who work in the area of policy and research on climate change.
 

On Thursday, February 10, Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and his wife Mrs. Sharon Johnston will spend the morning at Yukon College, engaged with students and staff.

The Governor General will attend a presentation on the Yukon Research Centre of Excellence (YRCE) as well as a discussion on the research initiatives at Yukon College. “His Excellency has worked for many years in post-secondary education and he understands the connection between education and research with community and economic development”, says Yukon College Vice President, Karen Barnes. “We are proud of our accomplishments at Yukon College and look forward to sharing them with Their Excellencies”, says Barnes.

Her Excellency will be touring the Yukon Native Language Centre (YNLC) and the Nursing Program.

The schedule for the visit is as follows:

The Yukon Research Centre (YRC) is supporting research that may improve Yukon highways. Dr. Guy Dore (Door-eh) is a leading Canadian permafrost researcher and he is now working with the Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre (YCCIC) within YRC. Dr. Dore will work to develop strategies that prevent and manage highway permafrost damage in the Yukon, while he is on sabbatical from Laval University.

Dore currently holds a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) industrial research chair on the interaction between trucks, climate and pavements. Half of his research is focused on developing strategies to deal with highway permafrost damage, while the other half is focused on seasonal frost heave and thaw weakening of roads.

The Yukon Research Centre of Excellence (YRCE), with the support of the Government of Yukon and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, is undertaking a tour to the European Union (EU).

Partnerships will be pursued with several European organizations interested in developing small scale energy projects to replace diesel fuel, as well as initiatives in the permafrost engineering field. One example of YRCE’s work is the new energy source currently under testing is Biochar (biomass charcoal), which has the potential to provide heat, electricity and even agricultural benefits for Yukon.

“This is the research centre’s first step into the international arena to initiate partnerships in technology and innovation,” said Dr. Chris Hawkins, YRCE vice president.

Yukon College Student Union is hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, January 26 and will match donations made by the student body. The Student Union will support their mandate of bringing relevant speakers and events to students while assisting in humanitarian efforts.

The Student Union is challenging all YC students to attend Wednesday’s presentation and give generously to Hands of Hope. “The Student Union hopes to inspire the spirit of giving by matching all donations made to this local charity” says Student Union co-president, Dawn Hansen. “Part of our role is to provide learning opportunities to our student body that will also have humanitarian benefits.”

Yukon College has invited TV celebrity, Chef Lynn Crawford to work with the Culinary Arts students on Thursday, January 27. The Food Network star will be instructing and assisting the students with making over 800 appetizers for the Gourmet Food Festival that takes place later that evening.

“We are pleased to partner with Skills Canada to bring this Canadian celebrity to our students” says Yukon College President, Terry Weninger. “Yukon College is committed to creating the most rewarding and valuable learning experiences for our students”.

The students will spend the entire day with Chef Crawford creating food for the Gourmet Food Festival Fundraiser for the Yukon Hospital Foundation MRI campaign. Media are encouraged to join Chef Crawford and the culinary students between 11am and 12pm in the Yukon College Culinary kitchen.

The Yukon College Student Union (YCSU) is beginning the Winter semester by hosting Justin Trudeau. On Thursday, January 20th, YCSU will be introducing the Official Opposition Critic for Youth, Citizenship and Immigration to Yukon College students and the community at large.

YCSU is committed to servicing the student population with speakers that are relevant to its membership. The topic of Trudeau’s talk is, “Social Responsibility: Young people are our leaders of today” which is a pertinent topic for the student union. “Part of our job as a student union is to provide support and information to the rest of the members by having inspiring guest speakers that will further enhance their experience at Yukon College”, says Student Union Co-President, Dawn Hansen.

Whitehorse – Yukon College’s Learning Assistance Centre has seen a steady rise in its client numbers over the past year.  Since opening in 1987, the Centre has assisted over 2000 students.  The Centre works with the general student population to improve study skills.  It also provides important services to both students and staff with disabilities and chronic health concerns. If the demand for assistance continues for the rest of the year, the Centre will see a significant increase in its annual average of 150 clients.

Whitehorse – The students in the Working and Leading Program at Yukon College will be working together with Many Rivers Counseling Services to host a Youth Connex event which provides a venue for youth to connect with available services in the community. The event is structured to welcome and expose youth to healthy life styles and to choose positive change. Four bands will provide music, as well as karaoke and an open mic. There will be free haircuts and pizza as well as door prizes to give away.

Whitehorse – Senior high school students from Robert Service School, Dawson City and J.V. Clark School, Mayo accepted an invitation from Yukon College to stay an extra day in Whitehorse after the Western Canada Education Fair to attend college classes. Yukon College is hosting twenty students who will be able to get a taste of post secondary education in an experiential way. The idea is to expose students to the concept of the college environment while breaking down any fears or misinformation that exists about adult learning.

“The ‘College-for-a-Day’ is an occasion for Yukon College to open its doors to community students and let them know about the accessible post-secondary education that exists within their own territory,” says Vice President of Education and Training, Dr. Karen Barnes. “We have grown and changed from the vocational school that first started as the College and now offer diverse programming that meets the changing needs of our adult learners.”

For immediate release   | December 1 2010

Yukon College Hosts 2010 Western Canada Education Fair

Whitehorse – Yukon College, in partnership with Yukon Education, is hosting 26 universities, colleges and institutions at the second Western Canada Education Fair. Over 800 high school students and the general public are expected to attend the fair on Monday, December 6, 2010. The fair opens officially at 9am and runs until 6:30pm while closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Almost every high school in the Yukon will be attending.

This is the largest educational event in the Yukon, with prize draws to win an Acer netbook, digital camera, gift certificates and other prizes. All of the universities and colleges will be hosting information tables at the fair, as well as offering presentations to the public.

Whitehorse – Students at Yukon College’s Working and Leading Program will host their annual Christmas dinner at Angel’s Nest Shelter on Wednesday, December 1. The students have coordinated the planning, shopping, and preparing for the festive dinner for disadvantaged youth. Working and Leading students feel strongly about providing a service for those who might not have an opportunity to celebrate during the festive season.

The students have planned a menu of ham, turkey and all the fixings, veggies, macaroni salad, mashed potatoes, and desserts. The team of nine Yukon College students cooks and serves the dinner as well as does the cleaning up.

The students received donations from Extra Foods, G-P Distributing, and Superstore. The Culinary Arts students contributed to the cooking. The event takes place on Wednesday, December 1 at 6pm.