We’re saying goodbye to Scott Carlson, our phenomenal Whitehorse Outreach Coordinator. Scott will be moving to a new position coordinating a project that focuses on engaging Yukon men in ending violence against women. It’s an issue he’s passionate about and we know he’s going to make a deep impact on the territory.

Nevertheless when a co-worker leaves it’s always a bit of a shock. They’re the people you spend the majority of your day with.  You drink coffee with them and brainstorm with them and eat lunch with them and carpool with them and crank the music and flail wildly during a mid-morning dance party with them. For those who don’t know Scott, he is someone who knows how to get down.

During his time here Scott not only acted as an amazing youth facilitator, but organized events like this year’s Battle of the Bands (which received rave reviews) and led the MOVE! program, an anti-violence training series that gives youth the skills and confidence to address violence amongst their peers.

So, goodbye, and good luck Scott.  You will be greatly missed.

And goodbye Watson (Scott’s well-meaning yet slightly crazy dog who spends the day pacing the BYTE office).

Check out Scott’s epic dance moves in this video:

Some of our favourite moments with Scott:

To keep you up to date on the event, you can join our facebook group. In the meantime, if you’d like more info or have some questions, please don’t hesitate to email Chris at ed@yukonyouth.com!

Philippe rides the purple “chopper”, now on display at the BYTE office!

exact date on the river breaking up is nearly impossible. But don’t despair. The sun has come out and the time has finally arrived: the purple bikes are ready to go.

Phillipe has been running the purple bike project for over a decade, fixing and tweaking old bikes, slathering them in purple paint and renting them out to anyone who wants an inexpensive and green form of transportation in Whitehorse when the roads are bare. It’s an obvious labour of love for this local bike mechanic/metal artist. He even names each bicycle: first, it was after gods. Then cheese, and now he’s starting to name them after the periodic table of elements.

Last August BYTE (in cooperation with Phillipe and the Boys and Girls club of Whitehorse) was lucky to have the opportunity to take over the Purple Bikes Project. The project fits perfectly within our own green office mandate, and we’re excited to extend our eco-friendly attitude beyond our front doors.

“This project is unique to the Yukon and we’re so honoured to be part of it,” says Chris Rider, BYTE’s Executive Director. “ It’s inexpensive, eco-friendly, community-oriented and promotes active living. What more could we ask for?”

You can rent a purple bike for only $75 a season. There’s also a $75 deposit that you will get back when you return the bike in good condition. Come to the BYTE office (2-407 Ogilvie Street) during our office hour (9 am-4:30 pm) with $150 (cash or cheque) and cruise away with your own purple bike for the season. Our fleet of bikes are refurbished commuter bikes and Phillipe has put a lot of time into making sure each one is ready for the road.

Please feel free to contact us here at BYTE to learn more about the project. Happy biking!

The Job

Reporting to the Executive Director, this position is responsible for a range of tasks. The primary focus is on growing and maintaining BYTE’s connection with the Whitehorse community, through events and workshops for Whitehorse youth.

This person will plan and run youth activities and fund raising events within Whitehorse and will attend any other youth focused events on behalf of BYTE. They will be responsible for finding new and innovative ways for BYTE to connect with the community and to increase our community fundraising.

In addition, this person will be responsible for day-to-day tasks within the office, including greeting all visitors and callers to the BYTE office and providing appropriate direction and/or assistance. The position will also provide some general administrative and clerical assistance to the BYTE staff team, and perform other related duties.

Main duties 

• Plan and run youth focused events in and around the city of Whitehorse;

• Coordinate Whitehorse events in conjunction with community partners (Skateboarding Competition, Battle of the Bands and others);

• Find events that are relevant to BYTE and organise a table or other ways to have a formal presence. Examples may include running a survey, an information desk, fundraising or even running fun youth workshops at music festivals;

• Find fundraising opportunities for BYTE within Whitehorse or the wider community;

• Take lead on BYTE’s referral services, reception, BYTE’s Whitehorse events;

• Assist Executive Director;

• Perform administrative tasks;

• Help Connect Yukon youth with National or Global opportunities;

• Disseminate and tally result for BYTE’s annual survey;

• BYTE Club and;

• Join Facilitation Team and assist in facilitating workshops.

I’ve had Rhonda for four years now. I’ve driven her everywhere. From my hometown in Southern BC to the Yukon, to work and back, in the middle of the night to visit boyfriends, to the grocery store, in a rush to a friend’s house down the street.

Like most Canadians, I grew up in a car culture.  My parents and three siblings piled into our Ford Aerostar; we turned on a crackly CBC radio and off we went. The question of whether I really needed my own car after I graduated university was never something I carefully considered. I just wanted one. I was starting my real life and a car seemed like an appropriate box to check.  I remember the thrill of buckling into the Civic the first few times, turning on the engine and knowing it was all mine.

This weekend I parked Rhonda with intention: I would not open her doors for a long time. The transmission has been gurgling for over a year now and I fear the next time I turn on the engine it’ll be toast.  I don’t yet know what I’ll do with her, but buying a new transmission, or buying another car seem like ridiculously expensive options.

To be honest, it’s a sweet relief to give Rhonda a break. I would be too scared to calculate how much I’ve spent on insurance and gas and repairs in the past few years.  And it makes me cringe to think about all the times I drove Rhonda and really didn’t need to.

This morning I pulled my socks over my jeans and rode my mountain bike to work. My face was cold because I forgot to wear a scarf and my gears weren’t shifting properly, but once I got over those frustrations I could focus on the morning: the Yukon river breaking up, the green, yellow and then red of the streetlight, the crunch of tire on gravel.

My cheeks were flushed as I logged into Facebook and saw it was Earth Day. What a lovely time to say goodbye to Rhonda.

Here at BYTE we’re always looking for new ways to green everything we do.  We have a few bins of composting worms that live in the corner of the office. We turn our computers off at night and try to only print when absolutely needed. And a lot of us walk and bike to work. One staff even pulls a scarf to his eyes and runs with his dog to work in the middle of the winter.

Come on by to the BYTE office and check it out.

Happy Earth Day, everybody. Here’s to another year of simplifying, reducing, and being aware of the impact of our lifestyles.

And here’s to the retirement of my first (could it be my last?) car. Rest in Peace, Rhonda.

-Nadine

Speaking out about his school’s policy on homosexuality is something  he just… needs to do. It comes as naturally to him as playing with barbies did when he was a kid.  So does stading up in front of a crowd of strangers and telling his story. On Thursday night Liam charmed the crowd with his passion; with his deeply reflective words and one-liners that had the audience cracking up. It was his first time speaking in public and he nailed it.

“I always knew I was gay. I knew I was gay before I knew what gay was. I used to play with barbies. I used to dress up with my aunts,”Liam told the crowd. “I first told my dad I was bisexual. Then when I was twelve I said, actually I’m gay. And my dad just said, I know.”

Liam was one of two speakers at BYTE’s second ConneX event Thursday night, a speaker series where youth leaders from across the territory share their inspiring stories. You’ve probably read about this 16-year-old in the news lately. He spoke to CBC North against Vanier Catholic School’s policy on homosexuality. It was posted to the school’s website in October and described homesexuality as, among many things, “morally evil” and a “grave disorder”.  A flood of media followed, and much of Whitehorse stood behind Liam in support. Soon after the Yukon Government  announced Vanier has to drop the policy.

This still doesn’t solve the problem of starting a gay-straight alliance; Liam doesn’t have support from the school. The 16-year-old emphasized beyond the school’s policy and what the bishop has said recently, his biggest frustration is not being able to create a safe community for all students like a gay-straight alliance. It’ll be a battle, but if anyone has the gumption to do it, it’s Liam Finnegan.

Stephanie Dixon shocked the crowd with her life story so far. Stephanie – the other speaker at Thursday’s event – was born with only one leg. It’s thanks to her parents, she said, that she’s experienced such success as a paralympic swimmer. When she was a baby they didn’t pick her up and carry her, even though it would be a whole lot faster than watching her crawl with one leg. They treated as if she didn’t have a disability. Stephanie is one of Canada’s most decorated paralympians, and she’s even broke world records. But it’s her down to earth personality and generosity that shines.

After Stephanie’s talk one audience member asked if she could teach him how to swim. He had never learned how. Stephanie, who is about to retire from coaching the Whitehorse swim team, smiled and quickly agreed. She’s about to embark on an whirlwind journey as the ambassador for the Canadian paralympic swim team as the 2014 games in Russia approach. It’s clear, though, her commitment to community is as strong as ever. We’re excited to watch Stephanie and Liam as they continue to lead and inspire.

Thanks to all who came out to Baked last night, and be sure to stay tuned for the next BYTE ConnEX event.

That’s a 1,500 kilometer trek through frozen Canadian tundra. The group, led by 17-year-old David Kawapit Jr., started the journey January 16^th when the temperature in his hometown of Whapmagoostui was hovering around -50 degrees.

David and his friends strapped snowshoes to their feet and sleds to their backs; off they went, into the wild, together.

The group, originally made up of six youth under 20 years old and two guides, call themselves the Nishiyuu walkers. Their intent is to show government on Parliament Hill they continue to respect the sacred laws of their ancestors. And they want to unite different First Nations of the country, a goal they’ve been wildly successful in achieving. There are now over 100 trekkers on the journey: Cree, Inuit, Algonquin, Attikamek, Mi’kmaq and many more.

In a recent blog post, one walker said: The First Nishiyuu Walkers have endured snow storms and strong winds in freezing temperatures. Now, warmer days bring rain and dampness, yet the Walkers are very determined to continue this journey, regardless of blisters, wet feet and aches many experience, it is not stopping us! Many know their limits, for we take care of each other with love, respect and compassion for one another.

You haven’t heard much about these inspiring young leaders in the media. Maybe because the news has left the movement on the backburner in the name of the federal budget dropping today, or to count how many diamonds Rhianna is wearing on her new tour.

Or maybe it’s because the Nishiyuu walkers are quiet. Peaceful. I can only imagine the patience you have to have with yourself when enduring such mental and physical hardships. But it’s inevitable, too, that the walkers must have gained a communal strength that is impossible to describe in the English language.

Maybe their story is something you only know if you’re right there beside them, trudging through the forest on a pair of snowshoes.

The group is expected to arrive in Ottawa early next week. Let’s hope Stephen Harper can recognize the incredible journey they’ve been on. Let’s hope he listens— really listens— to what they have to say.

If you’ve been listening to the news lately, you’ve probably heard over 100 Yukoners gathered in the city council chambers this Tuesday to show their support for Mount Sima. The hill, which is run by the Great Northern Ski Society, is asking the city for $400,000 to keep operations open. They also want ongoing annual funding.

The ski hill’s president, Craig Hougen, has told media he doesn’t envision the funding to be permanent. Rather, the ski society sees the support decreasing every year for the next five years, eventually tapering off to nothing.

Sima supporters at this week’s meeting stood in front of council to share their stories. The vice-president of Snowboard Yukon said Mount Sima is a “pillar” for a healthy lifestyle.  One youth said if the ski hill closes and you’re not into soccer or hockey, the only option left is alcohol or drugs.

In a Yukon News article today, city councilors seemed undecided on the issue.  Mike Gladish said he needs more facts, like membership numbers and current financial statements.  Betty Irwin thinks it’s unfair to give one society so much money, and not to others. Dave Stockdale threw out a curveball and suggested the society would gain credibility if its supporters donated their own money to keep the hill open.

What do you think? Should the city hand over the money? What will happen if  Mount Sima closes; will youth find new, healthy activities to replace zipping down the hill, or not? Could the city’s money be more useful somewhere else? What does downhill skiing mean to you? Is it a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, or is it your raison d’etre - your reason for existence.  If you grew up with a pair of skis strapped to your feet, how has that shaped you into the person you are today?

Vanier College. Image courtesy of Yukon News.

I wanted to write briefly about the controversy surrounding Vanier Catholic Secondary School and their LGBT policy document. Like many, I’ve found myself shocked by the language and attitude displayed in the schools guidelines. To say the sentiments are “regressive” is somewhat of an understatement. No one choses to be Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual or Transgender any more than anyone choses to be straight. It is certainly not a “disease” or “weakness” that could be compared to diabetes or poor eyesight! No one’s sexual identity is any better or worse than any other and the differences are what makes society so wonderful and interesting.

Our high school years are full of change. Physically and emotionally, a young person is developing. You arrive at high school in early adolescence and leave at late adolescence, with a remarkable amount of growth (both literally and figuratively) in between. It’s during these years that young people grow into their sexuality and come to realise who they are. By the time they do, most are already locked in to the school that their parents sent them to at age 12.

When a young person begins to realise that they are LGBT, if they’ve been told that the feelings they’re experiencing are “contrary to the natural law”, a perfectly normal coming out process is likely to cause a lot of distress. To make matters worse, many youth have parents who add to this distress by saying similarly derogatory things or by rejecting them outright. My point with this is that “if you don’t like Vanier’s policies, then just switch schools” is not a luxury many LGBT youth have. That’s why it’s so important for the school environment to be a supportive one for youth of all sexualities.

I’ve read that many teachers don’t agree with the policy. Apparently they have ignored the teachings that homosexuality can be condoned “under no circumstances” and have given youth all the support that they need. These teachers are to be applauded for all of their work, but it’s not enough. As long as a bigoted policy is allowed to exist, it will infect the school to the core no matter how many good people stand against it.

Well done to Education Minister Scott Kent for asking Vanier to remove the policy. I’m extremely happy to see our politicians stand for equality. His recent statement that the document doesn’t meet government standards sends the right message. I was disappointed to read Bishop Gordon’s response that the policy will “still guide teachers at the school” and I hope Minister Kent has the strength to stand up and enforce the standards of equality that Yukoners expect from our government.

Also, well done to Jesse Winters from Yukon News, who brought this to people’s attention last week. Lastly, I’d like to commend amazing young people like Liam Finnegan and Shara Layne, who were strong enough to stand up for who they are.

To be a good person is about your actions and how you treat others, not who you’re attracted to. By telling LGBT people that they are less valid or somehow “depraved”, the bishop has shown himself to be a less kind person than he’d have himself believe.