Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement: 

“This Monday is Thanksgiving, an occasion often associated with bountiful feasts and expressions of gratitude. 

“This holiday also carries a history deeply intertwined with colonization. The origins of this celebration are rooted in a complex narrative of displacement and loss experienced by Indigenous peoples. As we reflect on this history, it is essential that we recognize this reality and consider how it continues to influence our understanding of this holiday to the present day.

The Government of Yukon will host the annual United Way Breakfast fundraiser tomorrow, Friday, October 6, at the Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre in Whitehorse from 7 am to 10:30 am. This family- friendly event is a Yukon tradition with a history spanning over 30 years. The theme is Giving and Gratitude, a fitting message on the importance of giving back to the community and being grateful.

Yukon athletes have a track record of achieving success at the regional, national, and international levels and in just over five months, 355 members of Team Yukon will be travelling to the Mat-Su Borough of Alaska to participate in the 2024 Arctic Winter Games. These games will be held March 10 to 16, 2024, and will give Yukon athletes an opportunity to compete against their northern peers in 20 different sports.

Minister of Education Jeanie McLean has issued the following statement:

“World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) October 5, 1966, adoption of the ‘Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers’, and acknowledges the essential role of teachers in advancing education, as well as the importance of their contributions towards the development of society and humankind.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee has issued the following statement:

“October 1 to 7 marks Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). First established by the Canadian Psychiatric Association and now steered by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), it serves as a reminder for Yukoners to approach mental illness with empathy, understanding and support.

Keeping with the Government of Yukon’s commitment to make life more affordable for Yukoners while practising responsible management of the territory’s fiscal position, Finance Minister Sandy Silver tabled the 2023–24 First Supplementary Estimates in the Yukon Legislative Assembly today. It includes increases of $105.9 million in net operations and maintenance (O&M) and no changes to gross capital funding.

In response to shifting populations and demographics across the territory, including significant growth in Whitehorse’s Whistle Bend community, the Government of Yukon is working to ensure Yukoners are represented more equitably in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. Today, Premier Ranj Pillai tabled a proposed amendment to the Elections Act that will allow for the establishment of an Electoral District Boundaries Commission.

Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the Government of Yukon, I would like to congratulate Manitoba Premier-designate Wab Kinew on his success in yesterday’s provincial election. Our governments have a longstanding history of cooperation and I look forward to continuing our strong partnership for the benefit of all Yukoners and Manitobans.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee has issued the following statement:

“September 29, 2023, marked the second anniversary of the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS), a beacon of hope and safety in Whitehorse. It stands as a testament to our government's commitment to addressing problematic substance use through a public health approach grounded in empathy, understanding and harm reduction initiatives.

The Government of Yukon has released the second edition of the Pathways magazine, which shares stories of collaboration, partnership and reconciliation. 

This issue reflects on collaborative work with First Nations governments and organizations to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The magazine features stories on the work of the Yukon Residential Schools and Missing Children Project, the evolution of the Yukon’s education system, child welfare, justice, sport and recreation and much more.