Minister of Tourism and Culture John Streicker has issued the following statement:
“Congratulations to the five recipients of the 2023 Yukon Heritage Awards! These annual awards are presented by the Yukon Historical and Museums Association to individuals, organizations and businesses which have made a significant contribution to the conservation or interpretation of Yukon’s heritage. The awards were presented at an event yesterday evening at the Yukon Archives to honour all of the recipients.
“This year, instead of granting an Annual Heritage Award, Yukon Historical and Museums Association decided to honour two individuals with History Maker Awards.
“Ruth Armson received the first History Maker Award in recognition of her work preserving the stories of individual Yukoners. Among her many achievements, Ruth has helped to produce over 100 biographies of Yukon women, as well as published her autobiography.
“The second History Maker Award was presented posthumously to John Layman for his artistic contributions to the territory, most notable being the calligraphy work and cedar signage visible in neighbourhoods, parks, municipalities, and other significant heritage landmarks. John also interacted with countless musicians from the Yukon and beyond through his work in music.
“The Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Harris Cox for his work with the Yukon Transportation Museum. Over the past decade, he has been a steady volunteer at the museum and has made donations of artifacts to the museum including a significant collection of Yukon images from the 1950s to the 1990s.
“Shot in the Dark Productions received this year’s Innovation, Education and Community Engagement Award for their 2023 film, Signal Fire. The documentary film focuses on the importance of the relationship between researchers and Indigenous communities and is based on an academic paper called Toward Reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action for Natural Scientists Working in Canada.
“The Heritage Conservation Project of the Year Award went to the Yukon Film Society for the restoration of the Yukon Theatre neon sign. The Heritage Conservation Project of the Year award is sponsored by the Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon.
“Overall, the Yukon Heritage Awards are a testament to the passion, dedication and hard work of those who strive to safeguard and celebrate the Yukon’s heritage which plays a vital role in preserving and promoting our unique territory. I thank this year’s recipients for their contributions to historical preservation, their commitment to cultural revitalization and their efforts to inform and inspire future generations.
“Congratulations again to all of the recipients. And thank you to the Yukon Historical and Museums Association for all of its efforts to promote Yukon heritage.”