Oct 02
This week, we’re featuring some of our favorite Yukon musicians who have been our special guests since our first My Yukon Life podcast radio show back in early 2011. I encourage you to visit the podcast page of our website where you can listen to full episodes featuring these and other outstanding musicians from the Yukon.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:56 — 19.2MB) | Embed
Dec 26
On My Yukon Life podcast radio, we’ve been fortunate enough to feature many wonderful Yukon musicians on the show our first year. The only downside to having a half-hour podcast is that it’s not nearly enough time to fit in all the great music they’ve produced. Thankfully, all their music is available for sale, either on their website, CD Baby, iTunes, or combination of the above. You can find the podcasts featuring all our special guest musicians on this page of our website, where you can enjoy more of their music and hear their stories: http://www.myyukonlife.com/
In the meantime, enjoy this selection of songs, courtesy of My Yukon Life’s special guest musicians from 2011.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:22 — 19.5MB) | Embed
Dec 19
Bob Cameron is an icon in the world of Yukon aviation. He earned his private pilot’s license in 1961, followed by his commercial license in 1970. Retired from commercial flying since 2001, Bob remains just as focused on flying as ever. Recognized as an expert in aviation history, he’s currently at work on a book that will be released next year about an all but forgotten airline that was based in the Yukon but owned by an American railroad company.
Bob will take us on a VIP tour of the Transportation Museum in Whitehorse where he’ll reveal some of the forgotten relics of aviation history, including a Fairchild aircraft that Bob is restoring. He also shares stories about growing up in a flying family and shares anecdotes about some of the pioneers of Yukon aviation.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:52 — 18.5MB) | Embed
Dec 12
Part one of our visit with Nicole from last week is available on the podcast page of our website at http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-40-yukon-musician-nicole-edwards-part-one/.
Nicole Edwards is an outstanding vocalist and songwriter despite the challenges she’s faced over the years. Nicole was diagnosed with Scleroderma. If you’re not familiar with it, Scleroderma is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. For Nicole, it’s resulted in a hardening of her fingers and hands. It means she can no longer play guitar or flute. It’s also affected her lungs and ability to breathe.
What causes Scleroderma is unknown, and there’s no cure. The prognosis varies. In some cases, the chance of surviving five years is 70%. Ten year survival drops to 55%. Having been diagnosed 10 years ago already, Nicole is beating those odds. What’s even more amazing is her consistently positive attitude. Her music is moving and compelling.
On this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we conclude our visit with Nicole in her home outside of Whitehorse. We hear her story firsthand, and in addition to her original music, she treats us to wonderful cover tunes of such classics as La Vie en Rose.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:56 — 19.2MB) | Embed
Dec 05
Nicole Edwards is an outstanding vocalist and songwriter despite the challenges she’s faced over the years. Nicole was diagnosed with Scleroderma. If you’re not familiar with it, Scleroderma is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. For Nicole, it’s resulted in a hardening of her fingers and hands. It means she can no longer play guitar or flute. It’s also affected her lungs and ability to breathe.
What causes Scleroderma is unknown, and there’s no cure. The prognosis varies. In some cases, the chance of surviving five years is 70%. Ten year survival drops to 55%. Having been diagnosed 10 years ago already, Nicole is beating those odds. What’s even more amazing is her consistently positive attitude. Her music is moving and compelling.
On this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we visit with Nicole in her home outside of Whitehorse. We hear her story firsthand, and in addition to her original music, she treats us to a classic gospel tune which she sings Acapella.
Part two of our visit with Nicole will conclude next week on My Yukon Life. That podcast will be posted Monday, December 12 on the podcast page of our website.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:47 — 17.7MB) | Embed
Nov 29
The Kitchen-Kuaick household is one of six families from across Canada competing in the Shell Canadian Geographic Energy Diet Challenge. The family that reduces its energy consumption the most before December 4th will win the competition.
The Kitchen-Kuaicks represent northern Canada and the challenges they face, especially when it comes to heating their home in sub-zero temperatures, are unique. As part of the competition they’ve constructed a solar cooking stove. We’ll see how that worked out and other ways they’ve reduced their energy consumption. You might be surprised how many of their tips can help you reduce your own monthly power bill, regardless of where you live.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:51 — 19.1MB) | Embed
Nov 21
Sue Thomas grew up in Beaver Creek, Yukon, population 300. The coldest temperatures ever recorded in North America occurred not far from her family’s cabin. During her early years, Sue attended classes in a two-room schoolhouse. When not in class, she often took to the skies with her father in his small airplane. Eventually she too earned a pilot’s license.
Now the Executive Director of the famed 1,000 mile sled dog race known as the Yukon Quest, Sue is right at home in the Yukon. Hear her story on this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:25 — 18.8MB) | Embed
Nov 14
My Yukon Life podcast radio host Jennifer Hawks visits Sky High Wilderness Ranch on the shores of Fish Lake. It’s only about 30 minutes from Whitehorse, but it’s a world away from civilization. They offer dog sled and horseback adventures as well as cabin and lodge stay packages. They have a kennel of 150 dogs and 24 horses, so it’s truly a place for animal lovers. The ranch is also neighbors with quite a few wild animals, including lynx, moose, fox, and wolves.
In 1960, a woman named Sylvia left British Columbia in a covered wagon with a few horses, three of her own children and two others she adopted along the way. She headed for the Yukon Territory with a dream of starting her own trail riding outfit and pack horse business. Sylvia taught her children how to live off the land by farming, gardening, trapping, horseback riding, dog mushing and a whole lot of other survival skills. Then she met Ian McDougall. It was instant love and the two started Sky High Wilderness Ranch. That was over 30 years ago.
We hear from Ian and a few of the other present day owners, including Jocelyn LeBlanc. When she’s not helping run the ranch, Jocelyn is a professional dog musher and a veteran of the Yukon Quest.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:07 — 18.6MB) | Embed
Nov 07
“I mush dogs and play music.” This is Kate Weekes’ response to the oft-asked question “What are you doing in the Yukon?” In the years since hitch-hiking across the country from her home in Eastern Ontario to Canada’s North, Kate has found a lifestyle built on exploration and creativity. Kate has been moved to capture the stories of characters she meets along her way and ponder a sense of place within the varying lifestyles.
Kate released her debut self-titled album in 2007 and has since received national airplay and performed throughout Canada, Japan and China. Kate is the recipient of the 2007 Beth Ferguson Award as well as the Mac Beatie Award for being “quintessentially Canadian.” Kate has had the honour of performing for the Governor General and is making her mark on the Canadian music scene.
Bold guitar playing and thought-provoking lyrics accompany Kate’s strong, sweet voice that continues to captivate audiences. Kate and Grant Simpson recently released their album “Beneath the Yukon Moon.” The album features original material from Simpson and Weekes, a blend of folk and swing. Kate also performs and conducts school workshops with the fiddle-based trio Home Sweet Home, who released their debut album in the spring of 2011.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:39 — 19.0MB) | Embed
Oct 31
In the second half of this two-part Halloween episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, host Jennifer Hawks visits the notorious Caribou Hotel in Carcross, Yukon, where several people have died, including one former owner who was brutally murdered at the hotel bar. A woman’s ghostly apparition is said to occasionally look out one of the third floor windows. Decide for yourself if Jennifer picks up the sound of someone who never checked out of the Caribou Hotel.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:29 — 11.3MB) | Embed
Oct 31
We’ve put together a very special, two-part episode for you of My Yukon Life podcast radio: Haunted Yukon. In this first part of this episode, host Jennifer Hawks takes her recording equipment into a Yukon Bed and Breakfast in which many have experienced ghostly encounters.
Take a tour with the current owner of this house which was originally built for the real Sam McGee fictionalized in Robert Service’s poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:54 — 17.1MB) | Embed
Oct 24
We first met special guest Ingrid Wilcox during the July 25th episode of My Yukon Life which featured Maralyn Rogers and the Paddlers Abreast team as they competed in the Yukon River Quest. In addition to also being a champion female solo kayaker, 62-year old Ingrid is a professional gardener and a Yukon homesteader.
Hear Ingrid share what it was like to live in a homemade cabin without running water or electricity while running a 50-acre ranch that included 9 greenhouses and livestock! She also talks about her record-setting solo kayak racing in the River Quest.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:04 — 18.6MB) | Embed
Oct 17
Doug Davidge is the owner and operator of Underwater Video North which is based in Whitehorse. He uses what’s called a remote operated vehicle to take video images deep underwater, or even under ice, to discover and sometimes recover what can’t be accessed any other way. Doug has used the ROV to find World War II aircraft, military ordnance, and even previously undiscovered fish species. He’s also been instrumental in finding underwater shipwrecks from the days of the gold rush. Doug will share some of those stories with us, and explain how the ROV works.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:52 — 17.8MB) | Embed
Oct 11
Mayor Bev Buckway is serving her third consecutive term as a member of city council, including her second term as mayor.
Born in Whitehorse and raised in Yukon, Mayor Buckway’s background includes private business ownership and extensive involvement in the non-profit and service club sector.
A former professional curler, she’s represented the Yukon at both the Canada Winter Games and the Scott Tournament of Hearts, Mayor Buckway promotes the value of active living and can be found walking, cross country skiing, bike riding, camping and kayaking around the Yukon.
Join Mayor Buckway and My Yukon Life host Jennifer Hawks on a walk beside the Yukon River and hear how a a girl who grew up in a log cabin surrounded by glaciers became mayor of the Yukon’s capital.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:09 — 16.1MB) | Embed
Oct 03
Hank Moorlag is the superintendent (retired) of the Yukon RCMP. We first met him during our August 8th episode when we featured Tagish Post—the historic Northwest Mounted Police post that operated during the 1898 gold rush. Mr. Moorlag described for us what life would have been like at Tagish Post for the officers stationed there.
On this episode of My Yukon Life, Hank describes what it was like to be stationed in the high Arctic, when patrols were still made by dog sled in brutal winter conditions. In his long career he witnessed the transition to more modern patrolling methods, and he shares with us some of the highlights as an RCMP officer.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:03 — 17.9MB) | Embed
Sep 26
Manu Keggenhoff, born and raised in Germany, is an accomplished graphic artist and photographer who provides stellar images for Harper Street Publishing, the company responsible for such classic publications as Yukon, North of Ordinary, Arts, North of Yukon, and The Last Great Road Trip.
Manu’s photographical work has been published in several photo-art calendars and magazines. It was also released by a number of book publishers in Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S. You may have seen her photo on the cover of Dean Koontz’s book, The Darkest Evening of the Year.
On this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we accompany Manu into the Yukon wilderness to experience firsthand how she recreates an astonishing landscape with her lens and unique vision.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:42 — 19.0MB) | Embed
Sep 19
Barbara Chamberlin has cracked the Canadian top 100 country songs, and was the first and only Yukon artist to have a video featured on CMT. She has appeared on a variety of local and national TV shows. Most recently, she thrilled audiences singing her song, “Follow your Heart” at the Opening Ceremonies for the Canada Winter Games.
Her acclaimed debut album Sanctuary was nominated for a West Coast Music Award and her second CD, Walking with Ghosts is a treasured collection of tunes wrenched from her experience with cancer. Barbara also won the Yukon’s On Yukon Time Competition, the Yamaha songwriting award at the BC Festival of the Arts, and the selection of her song “November in June” was a runner-up in the prestigious John Lennon Song Contest.
Barbara is currently the conductor of the Whitehorse Community Choir and its subsidiary choirs. Her group Four Below Normal was honored to sing for Prince Charles.
Barbara’s third CD, Of Ice and Men is full of fun and serious songs about the Yukon. It includes stories about moose camp, dogs, Yukon characters, love, and of course, the Yukon’s beauty.
We sit with Barbara in her living room over a cup of tea and talked to her about her life, her music, and what she’s got in store for the near future.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:02 — 17.8MB) | Embed
Sep 12
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is a unique wildlife viewing property featuring 10 species of northern Canadian mammals in their natural environment. Encompassing 750 acres with various natural habitats, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve offers unparalleled wildlife viewing and photo opportunities.
Take a virtual tour of the preserve with My Yukon Life podcast radio host Jennifer Hawks as she gets up close and almost personal with numerous woodland caribou, Rocky Mountain elk, mountain goats, mule deer, muskoxen, wood bison, Dall’s sheep, stone sheep, and arctic foxes.
Even a usually shy bull moose comes out to greet Jennifer and pose for the camera. If you’re an animal lover, you won’t want to miss this episode. And, you might even learn some surprising facts about your favorite animals. For instance, did you know that reindeer are actually caribou? And that only female caribou have antlers in winter? That means Santa’s reindeer may actually be a team of female caribou!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:10 — 16.7MB) | Embed
Sep 05
My Yukon Life host Jennifer Hawks takes listeners to the Whitehorse Fish Ladder—the longest wooden fish ladder in the world. It’s also one of the oldest. Without it, because of the hydro dam that’s in place, migrating salmon wouldn’t be able to swim upstream to spawn. As of August 31st this year, 1,519 salmon were counted going through the ladder. A lot of people have passed through as well– the Fishway has been rated the number one visitor attraction in Whitehorse.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:24 — 19.5MB) | Embed
Aug 29
In this episode, take to the skies above Carcross, Yukon during the 2011 Carcross Flying Event sponsored by COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association). Join My Yukon Life host Jennifer Hawks as she flies beside seasoned aviators who’ll be donating their time and aircraft to take local kids flying. Jennifer will share the highlights of this two-day event with My Yukon Life listeners. Get ready for take off!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:58 — 16.0MB) | Embed
Aug 23
Special guest Denise McHale is a long distance, adventure racer. She’s a veteran of one particular ultra marathon race that’s held in Alberta every August. It covers 125 km over three mountains with an elevation gain of 17,000 ft. The race has to be completed in less than 24 hours. It’s called the Canadian Death Race for a reason.
This last February, Denise competed in the Yukon Arctic Ultra– a 430 mile distance race. She came in not just first amongst the women, but 1st overall and set a new course record.
She shares her Yukon life with us and talks about what it’s like to compete in extreme races and some of the challenges she’s faced, including walking amongst crocodiles in the dead of night while carrying her kayak.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:31 — 17.5MB) | Embed
Aug 15
Dawson City, Yukon musician “Harmonica” George McConkey is our special guest on this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio. He talks to us about his Yukon life and his music.
We’re also treated to several of George’s songs, and some stories behind the making of his tunes.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:09 — 13.8MB) | Embed
Aug 08
We rediscover the Klondike Gold Rush stop known as Tagish Post. It was there, at a site beside Six Mile River in Tagish where more than 20,000 stampeders paid customs taxes and registered their homemade boats with the North West Mounted Police.
We’ll take you to the now abandoned site which has been reclaimed by forest. We’ll go back in time to learn what life was like on the gold rush trail, which was later made famous by Jack London after his own experiences as a stampeder.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:13 — 16.1MB) | Embed
Aug 01
Author Tor Forsberg reads from her book, North of Iskut: Grizzlies, Bannock and Adventure during Arts in the Park, held in Whitehorse.
Next, My Yukon Life listeners are taken on a tour of Icy Waters, a Whitehorse aquaculture facility dedicated to the development, growth, processing and sale of premium quality Arctic Charr. You’ll also learn how harvesting maggots can help the ecosystem!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:47 — 12.7MB) | Embed
Jul 25
Every year during the Yukon River Quest, racers enter the Yukon River with their canoes at Whitehorse and paddle 740 kilometers/460 miles to Dawson City. The first team crosses the finish line in less than three days.
But for one team that competes every year, it’s not about crossing the finish line in first place. Though they make every effort to win, the concept of winning has a different meaning for them. The goal of Paddlers Abreast is to raise awareness of surviving breast cancer, and through the years, many team members have themselves been cancer survivors.
Maralyn Rogers is one of those survivors, and on this episode of My Yukon Life, she shares her message of hope and survival, and what it’s like to be part of a team that cherishes life as much as crossing the finish line. Because, after all, winning is as much about living as it is about taking first place.
In addition, the Paddlers Abreast team takes My Yukon Life listeners with them during the 2011 Yukon River Quest.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:41 — 15.1MB) | Embed
Jul 18
Kevin Barr, who ran as the Yukon NDP candidate in 2011, was already an established and beloved member of the music scene well before he entered politics.
His CD Lost and Found was based on a wealth of experience drawn from his impressive musical career, most notably as lead singer and co-founder of the The Undertakin’ Daddies, nominated for a Juno in 2001 and a Western Coast Music Award in 2002.
On this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we talk to Kevin about his music, and what he envisions his future will look like. Will it be music, another run at political office, or both?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:12 — 14.4MB) | Embed
Jul 11
Dustin and Brook Davis, co-owners of Cabin Fever Adventures, offer their clients first-rate wilderness experiences with a variety of outdoor packages including canoeing, sea kayaking, fishing, and customized wilderness excursions.
As an eco-driven business, they walk the talk by living up to their high standards of green initiatives, even if the bottom line is affected. But what makes them truly unique is the specialized training they offer to First Nations/Inuit youth from Canada’s North to increase this future generation’s employment opportunities in the wilderness tourism industry.
On this episode of My Yukon Life, listeners will step into the lives of aboriginal youth who will learn wilderness first aid, navigation skills, and everything else it takes to lead groups of people into the Yukon wild and bring them safely home again.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:45 — 12.7MB) | Embed
Jul 04
We first introduced Claudia MacPhee to My Yukon Life listeners during our April 4 episode when she revealed the secrets to creating her unique pottery, dog hair clothing, and hand-tied fishing flies.
On this episode of My Yukon Life, Claudia goes more in-depth in sharing the magic of her fly-fishing flies—how she makes them, the materials she uses and tips on catching monster-sized fish that only a seasoned angler can provide.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:52 — 15.9MB) | Embed
Jun 27
Tim Hodgson will be racing solo during the upcoming Yukon River Quest. An accomplished canoe racer and marathoner, Tim shares some of the challenges and rewards he’s experienced during his career. He also offers tips for those who’d like to get into this rewarding sport.
We also take a ride on the historic Copperbelt Railway with Alex, the engineer.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:39 — 13.0MB) | Embed
Jun 21
These dog mushers, two of whom are veterans of the Iditarod & Yukon Quest, take My Yukon Life listeners inside their world during the off-season of professional dog mushing. Dog mushing is not always glamorous, and we’ll discover the extent to which these two mushers will pursue their dream of crossing the finish line in first place.
We also hear from Adam and Harmony, creators of the Facebook page Bring Will and Kate to the Yukon.
Finally, Ron Berg talks about how he creates his extraordinary art pieces from metal.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:21 — 13.0MB) | Embed
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