Whitehorse: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Infobox settlement

| name = Whitehorse

| settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Yukon|City]]

| official_name = City of Whitehorse

| nickname = [[List of city nicknames in Canada#Yukon|"The Wilderness City"]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/about-whitehorse|title=About Whitehorse – Whitehorse, YT|website=www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca|access-date=2015-10-21|archive-date=2016-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505194119/http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/about-whitehorse|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| motto = Our People, Our Strength

| image_skyline = {{Photomontage

| photo1a = Whitehorse, Yukon in 2019.jpg

| photo2a = Northern Lights (6879315371).jpg

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| color_border = white

}}

| image_size =

| image_caption = From top to bottom; left to right: View of Central Whitehorse in 2019, [[Aurora|northern lights]] viewed from [[Riverdale, Whitehorse|Riverdale]], buildings in Downtown Whitehorse, [[Yukon Legislative Building]]

| image_flag = ~~Whitehorse flag~~Whitehorse_flag.~~png~~svg

| image_shield = ~~City~~Coat of ~~whitehorse coat~~arms of ~~arms~~Whitehorse.png

| image_blank_emblem = City of Whitehorse Logo.svg

| blank_emblem_type = Logo

| pushpin_map = Canada Yukon#Canada

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Whitehorse##Location of Whitehorse

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Canada

| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Territory]]

| subdivision_name1 = [[Yukon]]

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| leader_title = [[List of mayors of Whitehorse, Yukon|Mayor]]

| leader_title1 = Governing body

| leader_title2 = [[House of Commons of Canada|MPs]]

| leader_title3 = [[Yukon Legislative Assembly|MLAs]]

| leader_name = Laura Cabott

| leader_name1 = [[Whitehorse City Council]]

| leader_name2 = [[Brendan Hanley]]

| leader_name3 = [[Nils Clarke]] [[Yvonne Clarke]] [[Currie Dixon]] [[Scott Kent]] [[Jeanie McLean]] [[Tracy-Anne McPhee]] [[Richard Mostyn]] [[Ranj Pillai]] [[Elaine Taylor (politician)|Elaine Taylor]] [[Lane Tredger]] [[Kate White (politician)|Kate White]]

| established_title = Established

| established_date = 1898

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 416.54

| area_land_km2 =

| area_land_sq_mi =

| area_water_km2 =

| area_water_sq_mi =

| area_water_percent =

| area_urban_km2 = 34.95

| area_urban_sq_mi =

| area_metro_km2 = 8488.91

| population_as_of = 2021

| population_note =

| population_total = 28201

| population_density_km2 = 60.2

| population_demonym = Whitehorser<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/bien-well/fra-eng/vocabulaire-vocabulary/demonyms-eng.html|title=Demonyms—From coast to coast to coast – Language articles – Language Portal of Canada|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830091113/http://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/bien-well/fra-eng/vocabulaire-vocabulary/demonyms-eng.html|archive-date=2014-08-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| population_metro =

| population_density_urban_km2 = 621

| population_density_metro_km2 =

| population_density_metro_sq_mi =

| population_urban = 21,732

| timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]

| utc_offset = −07:00

| coordinates = {{coord|60|43|27|N|135|03|22|W|region:CA-YT|notes=<ref>{{~~CGNDB~~cite cgndb|id=KAHFT|name=Whitehorse|access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_m = 670–1702

| elevation_ft = 2200–5584

| postal_code_type = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]

| postal_code = [[List of Y postal codes of Canada|Y1A]]

| area_code = [[Area code 867|867]]

| blank_name = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map

| blank_info = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|105|D|11}}

| website = [{{URL|https://~~www.whitehorse.ca/ www.~~whitehorse.ca]}}

| footnotes =

}}

'''Whitehorse''' ({{IPA-|fr|wajtɔʁs}}) is the capital of the [[Yukon]], and the largest city in [[Northern Canada]]. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the [[Alaska Highway]] in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's [[Downtown Whitehorse|downtown]] and [[Riverdale, Yukon|Riverdale]] areas occupy both shores of the [[Yukon River]], which rises in [[British Columbia]] and meets the [[Bering Sea]] in Alaska. The city was named after the [[White Horse Rapids]] for their resemblance to the mane of a white horse, near [[Miles Canyon Basalts|Miles Canyon]], before the river was dammed.

Because of the city's location in the Whitehorse valley and relative proximity to the [[Pacific Ocean]], the climate is milder than comparable northern communities such as [[Yellowknife]].<ref name="Pinard 227–237">{{cite journal|last=Pinard|first=Jean-Paul|title=Wind Climate of the Whitehorse Area|journal=Arctic|date=September 2007|volume=60|issue=3|pages=227–237|doi=10.14430/arctic215|url=http://www.esc.gov.yk.ca/pdf/wind_climate_of_the_whitehorse_area.pdf|access-date=2017-10-25|archive-date=2017-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810185516/http://www.esc.gov.yk.ca/pdf/wind_climate_of_the_whitehorse_area.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> At this latitude, winter days are short and summer days have up to about 19 hours of daylight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/canada/whitehorse?month=6|title=Sunrise and sunset times in Whitehorse, June 2018|website=www.timeanddate.com}}</ref><ref name="thecanadianencyclopedia">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Whitehorse|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008565|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=2011-03-25|archive-date=2011-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814073645/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008565|url-status=dead}}</ref> Whitehorse, as reported by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'', is the city with the least air pollution in the world.<ref>''Guinness World Records 2013'', Page 036 (Hardcover edition). {{ISBN|9781904994879}}</ref>

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[[File:White horse 1910.png|thumb|left|View of Whitehorse in 1910]]

[[File:Canada - Whitehorse - NARA - 68154678 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Whitehorse, 1941]]

~~Archeological~~Archaeological research south of the downtown area, at a location known as [[Canyon City, Yukon|Canyon City]], has revealed evidence of use by [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] for several thousand years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whitehorse {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/whitehorse#:~:text=Indigenous%20Peoples&text=These%20artifacts%20indicate%20that%20Yukon,reside%20in%20and%20around%20Whitehorse. |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref> The surrounding area had seasonal fish camps and [[Frederick Schwatka]], in 1883, observed the presence of a [[portage]] trail used to bypass [[Miles Canyon Basalts|Miles Canyon]]. Before the Gold Rush, several different tribes passed through the area seasonally and their territories overlapped.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Whitehorse, Canada {{!}} Shuttle Alaska |url=https://alaskashuttle.com/blog/the-history-of-whitehorse-canada/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Alaska Shuttle |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Klondike Gold Rush|discovery of gold in the Klondike]] in August 1896, by [[Skookum Jim]], [[Tagish Charlie]], and [[George Washington Carmack]], set off a major change in the historical patterns of the region. Early prospectors used the [[Chilkoot Pass]], but by July 1897, crowds of neophyte [[~~stampede~~Prospecting|
prospector]]rss had arrived via steamship and were camping at "White Horse".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Whitehorse, Yukon |url=https://www.explorenorth.com/yukon/whitehorse-history.html |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.explorenorth.com}}</ref> By June 1898, there was a bottleneck of ~~stampeders~~prospectors at Canyon City, and many boats had been lost to the rapids as well as five people. [[Samuel Steele]] of the [[North-West Mounted Police]] remarked: "why more casualties have not occurred is a mystery to me."<ref>{{Cite web |last=sharlene |date=2003-07-06 |title=Miles Canyon and Canyon City |url=https://wend.ca/?p=8155 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=wend.ca |language=en-US}}</ref>

On their way to find gold, ~~stampeders~~prospectors also found copper in the "copper belt" in the hills west of Whitehorse. The first copper claims were staked by Jack McIntyre on July 6, 1898, and [[The Cremation of Sam McGee|Sam McGee]] on July 16, 1899.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yukon Nuggets – Facts, Photos and News Radio |url=https://yukonnuggets.com/stories/pueblo-mine-disaster#:~:text=A%20Klondike-bound%20prospector,%20John,called%20it%20the%20Copper%20King. |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=yukonnuggets.com}}</ref> Two tram lines were built, one {{cvt|8|km}} stretch on the east bank of the Yukon River from Canyon City to the rapids, just across from the present day downtown, and the other on the west bank of the river.

The [[White Pass and Yukon Route]] [[narrow-gauge]] railway linking [[Skagway]] to Whitehorse had begun construction in May 1898. By May 1899, construction had arrived at the south end of [[Bennett Lake]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markusoff |first=Jason |date=2016-10-13 |title=Inside the wild Canadian past of the Trump family |url=https://macleans.ca/politics/inside-the-wild-canadian-past-of-the-trump-family/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Macleans.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> Construction began again at the north end of Bennett lake to Whitehorse. It was only in June–July 1900 that construction finished the difficult Bennett Lake section itself, completing the entire route.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company Info |url=https://wpyr.com/company-info/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=White Pass & Yukon Route Railway |language=en-US}}</ref>

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On May 23, 1905, a small fire in the barber shop of the Windsor Hotel got out of control when the fire engine ran out of water, spreading throughout the city and causing $300,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|0.3|1905}} million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}) in damage, though there were no deaths. [[Robert W. Service|Robert Service]] was working as a bank teller at the time and participated in suppressing the flame.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whitehorse Daily Star: Whitehorse swept by fire |url=https://www.whitehorsestar.com/History/whitehorse-swept-by-fire1 |website=Whitehorse Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> The White Horse Restaurant and Inn was among the buildings destroyed, after its co-founder [[Frederick Trump]], the grandfather of [[Donald Trump]], had sold his shares and left the city.<ref>Gwenda Blair (2000). The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire. Simon and Schuster. {{ISBN|978-0-7432-1079-9}}.</ref>

In 1920, the first planes landed in Whitehorse and the first air mail was sent in November 1927. Until 1942, rail, river, and air were the only way to get to Whitehorse, but in 1942 the US military decided an interior road would be safer to transfer troops and provisions between Alaska and the US mainland and began construction of the [[Alaska Highway]].{{cncitation needed|date=February 2023}} The entire {{cvt|2500|km}} project was accomplished between March and November 1942. The Canadian portion of the highway was only returned to Canadian sovereignty after the war. The [[Canol pipeline]] was also constructed to supply oil to the north with a refinery in Whitehorse.{{cncitation needed|date=February 2023}}

In 1950, the city was incorporated and by 1951 the population had doubled from its 1941 numbers. On April 1, 1953, the city was designated the capital of the Yukon Territory when the seat was moved from [[Dawson City]] after the construction of the [[Klondike Highway]].<ref name="Traveller's Guide">{{cite web

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In 1999, the city approved the Area Development Scheme (ADS) which reallocated the area previously known as "Whitehorse Copper" to the following uses: Country Residential, Commercial, Service Industrial, and Heavy industrial.

Recent demands for growth have reignited urban planning debates in Whitehorse.<ref>{{cite news|title=A downhill slide|url=https://www.yukon-news.com/letters/17591/|access-date=2011-03-26|newspaper=[[Yukon News]]|date=9 April 2010|archive-date=2012-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311213300/https://www.yukon-news.com/letters/17591/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1970 the Metropolitan Whitehorse development plan included park and greenbelt areas that were to be preserved to ensure high quality of life even within city limits.<ref>{{cite book|title=General development plan, Whitehorse metropolitan area|year=1970|publisher=Reid, Crowther & Partners|location=Yukon Government Archives|url=http://virtua.gov.yk.ca:8080/lib/item;jsessionid=16631D01624F337AAF89EF312E265821?id=145506|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718021232/http://virtua.gov.yk.ca:8080/lib/item;jsessionid=16631D01624F337AAF89EF312E265821?id=145506|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012|author=Planning Division, Reid, Crowther|access-date=2011-03-26~~}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes~~ }}</ref>

===Climate===

Whitehorse has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dfc'') and lies in the rain shadow of the [[Coast Mountains]], causing precipitation totals to be quite low year-round. Due to the city's location in the Whitehorse valley, the climate is milder than other comparable northern communities such as [[Yellowknife]], however during cold snaps it is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below {{cvt|-40|C}}.<ref name="Pinard 227–237"/> With an average annual temperature of {{cvt|0.2|C}} Whitehorse is the warmest place in the Yukon. The temperature measurements for the city are taken at the airport. The Whitehorse Riverdale weather station situated at a lower elevation than the airport is ~~even warmer at~~also {{cvt|0.2|C}}.

At this latitude winter days are short and summer days have just over 19 hours of daylight.<ref name="thecanadianencyclopedia" /> Whitehorse has an average daily high of {{cvt|20.6|C}} in July and average daily low of {{cvt|-19.2|C}} in January. The highest temperature ever recorded in Whitehorse was {{cvt|35.6|C}} on 14 June 1969.<ref name="Whitehorse Riverdale" /> The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-56.2|C}} on 21 January 1906.<ref name="January 1906" />

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Due to Whitehorse's unique urban development objectives and varied topography, neighbourhoods are usually separated from each other by large geographical features. In addition to the city's [[Downtown Whitehorse|downtown]] core on the [[Yukon River]]'s west bank, two subdivisions sit at the same elevation as the Yukon River — {{cvt|640|m}}. Crossing the bridge to the east bank of the river leads to [[Riverdale, Yukon|Riverdale]], one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. From Riverdale, the road climbing up Grey Mountain leads to Grey Mountain Cemetery and the local FM radio antenna.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBC AM transmitter gets three years' grace|url=http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/cbc-am-transmitter-gets-three-years-grace/|access-date=2011-03-26|newspaper=[[Whitehorse Star]]|date=14 July 2009}}</ref>

The rest of Whitehorse is generally located above {{cvt|690|m}}. Immediately after climbing "Two Mile Hill", looking to the north are the old residential neighbourhoods of Takhini West, Takhini North, and Takhini East, where many homes actually are originally army barracks and military officers' residences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp Takhini|url=http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/down_north12.htm|work=Down North, A Dependent's Notes of Interest|publisher=© Jean Watts 2002|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> [[Yukon College|Yukon University]], [[Yukon Arts Centre]] and Whitehorse Correctional Centre are situated in Takhini. Situated further north are Range Point, Porter Creek, and Crestview, as well as Whitehorse's newest neighbourhood, Whistle Bend, where ~~most~~a ofsignificant ~~the~~amount of new residential growth is currently occurring.

West of downtown are Valleyview, Hillcrest (also largely constituted of old military lodgings) and the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport; and beyond the [[Canada Games Centre]] along Hamilton Boulevard are the neighbourhoods of McIntyre (designated to replace inferior lands and homes of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation ("The Village") previously located where Marwell adjoins a marshy area), then Ingram, Arkell, Logan, Granger, and rapidly expanding Copper Ridge.

Whitehorse also has subdivisions designated "Country Residential" which are subject to different municipal bylaws and are located farther out from the downtown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Animal FAQ|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={ED5E5AB3-9730-489F-8234-4AEB5333001E}|work=Bylaw Services|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> They consist of the rural Whitehorse subdivisions of Hidden Valley and MacPherson at Whitehorse's northern limits; to the south: McCrae (also spelt MacRae), Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek North, Mary Lake, Cowley Creek, Spruce Hill, Pineridge and Fox Haven Estates.<ref>{{cite web|title=try Residential – Whitehorse|url=http://www.sewp.gov.yk.ca/region?regionId=YK.WH.CNTRYRES|work=Socio-Economic Web Portal|publisher=© Yukon Bureau of Statistics|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2019-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620140130/http://www.sewp.gov.yk.ca/region?regionId=YK.WH.CNTRYRES|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also located at the south end of the city is the newly designated Mt. Sima Service Industrial Subdivision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehorse Copper History|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EE3B6960-73AC-4E94-9525-4DBBBCA93B11}|work=Planning and Development|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref>

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* [[~~Copperbelt~~MacBride ~~Railway &~~Copperbelt Mining Museum]]

* [[MacBride Museum of Yukon History]]

*[[Miles Canyon Basalts|Miles Canyon]]
*{{ship|SS|Klondike}} [[Riverboat|sternwheeler]]

*[[Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre]]

* [[Yukon Transportation Museum]]

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=== Ethnicity ===

Whitehorse's population is mostly [[European Canadian|European]] (66.9%), but has a significant number of [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous peoples]] (16.3%): [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] (11.7%), [[Métis people in Canada|Metis]] (3.4%), and [[Inuit]] (0.7%). There is also a moderate [[visible minority]] population (16.8%): [[Filipino Canadians|Filipino]] (6.6%), [[South Asian Canadian|South Asian]] (3.5%), and [[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] (1.9%) ~~and~~ were the three largest minority groups.<ref name="2021censusB"/>

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"

|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the City of Whitehorse (2001−2021)

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| {{Percentage | 3010 | 18915 | 2 }}

| [[Southeast Asia~~|Southeast Asian~~]]n{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name="SoutheastAsian"}}

| 1,970

| {{Percentage | 1970 | 27725 | 2 }}

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Whitehorse's proximity to the wilderness and the mountains allows its residents to enjoy a very active lifestyle. The city has an extensive trail network within its limits, estimated at {{cvt|850|km}} in 2007,<ref name=trailplan>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={41C4C5E9-E613-413F-B972-2D00EBE11455} |title=City of Whitehorse 2007 Trail Plan |publisher=Whitehorse.ca |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> including sections of the [[Trans Canada Trail]]. These trails are used for a variety of non-motorized and/or motorized activities. The Yukon River in and around Whitehorse provides many opportunities for kayaking and canoeing.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

[[File:YQ Start Whitehorse 2005 0002.jpg|thumb|right|Whitehorse hosts the beginning of the [[Yukon Quest]], an annual [[dog sled]] race from Whitehorse to [[Fairbanks, Alaska]].]]

The city is responsible for the maintenance of numerous sports and recreation fields including two dozen grass/sand/soil/ice sports surfaces, 3three ball diamonds, the Canada Games Centre Multiplex (pools, ice rinks, fieldhouse, fitness centre, walking/running track, physiotherapy), the [[Takhini Arena]], and [[Leisure centre|Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5AFA2D76-463B-4741-816F-9EA96DA50450}|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> Private interests run Mount Sima, which contains 350m or 1,150  ft of downhill skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mount Sima|url=http://www.mountsima.com/|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> three golf courses, a bowling alley,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mad Trapper Alleys|url=http://ca.local.yahoo.com/details?id=1001748710&state=YT&city=Whitehorse&stx=Bowling&csz=Whitehorse,%20YT,%20Y1A|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2011-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813010936/http://ca.local.yahoo.com/details?id=1001748710&state=YT&city=Whitehorse&stx=Bowling&csz=Whitehorse,%20YT,%20Y1A|url-status=dead}}</ref> and three gyms, including one with squash courts.

The annual 1,000 mile [[Yukon Quest]] sled dog race between Whitehorse and [[Fairbanks]], Alaska, is considered one of the toughest in the world. The race alternates its starting and finishing points each year. The city has hosted several large sporting events including the [[2007 Canada Winter Games]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2007canadagames.ca/en/index.php |title=Canada Games – Winter 2007 |publisher=2007canadagames.ca |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> for which a CA$45 million sport multiplex was built; the Canadian Junior Freestyle Championships in 2006, the [[Arctic Winter Games]] (2000, 1992, 1986, 1980, 1972, 2012 and up coming location for the 2026 games),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awg2008.ca/ |title=Arctic Winter Games 2008 |access-date=2007-10-27 |archive-date=2007-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101135259/http://www.awg2008.ca/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the annual International Curling Bonspiel,<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual International Bonspiel|url=http://whitehorsecurlingclub.com/calendar/events/wcc-59th-annual-international-bonspiel/|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131204437/https://whitehorsecurlingclub.com/calendar/events/wcc-59th-annual-international-bonspiel/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Dustball International Slowpitch Tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dustball information|url=http://www.softballyukon.com/dustball-information|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> Other major sports events held by Whitehorse include:

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* [[2017 Men's Softball World Championship]]

Although there are no territorial junior league teams, the business community sponsors a number of local teams of volleyball, baseball, basketball, broomball, ice hockey, soccer ~~and~~, ultimate disk, and squash. High school teams are very active and partake in competitions with schools in neighbouring Alaska, and a few local athletes have flourished on the Canadian sports scene. Whitehorse is also home to the Whitehorse Glacier Bears swimming club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehorse Glacier Bears|url=https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=canwgb|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>

== Government ==

[[File:Whitehorse city hall.jpg|thumb|City Hall is home to the [[Whitehorse City Council]].]]

===Municipal===

Whitehorse municipal elections occur every three years. The current mayor of Whitehorse is [[Laura Cabott]]. Municipal services provided by the city of Whitehorse include: water and sewer systems, road maintenance, snow and ice control, non-recyclable waste and composting, as well as a [[mosquito control]] program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Works|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D85C582B-E415-4887-8D04-1DA95101840D}|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref>

===Territorial===

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===Secondary education===

* Vanier Catholic Secondary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcss.ca/|title=Vanier Catholic Secondary School – Home|work=Vanier Catholic Secondary School|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702212230/https://www.vcss.ca/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (Catholic)

* F.H. Collins Secondary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/fhcollins/index.html|title=F.H. Collins Secondary School}}</ref> (English and French Immersion)

* Porter Creek Secondary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/pcss/|title=Porter Creek Secondary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

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Whitehorse's two major English-language newspapers are the ''[[Whitehorse Star|Whitehorse Daily Star]]'' (founded as a weekly in 1900, it currently published three times per week) and the ''[[Yukon News]]'' (founded as a weekly in 1960 by Ken Shortt, published five days a week from 1967 to 1999, and currently prints twice weekly). Other local newspapers include ''[[Yukon News|What's Up Yukon]]'' (a local free music, arts, culture, events, weekly founded in 2005) and a French-language newspaper ''[[L'Aurore boréale]]'' (founded in 1983).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://auroreboreale.ca/apropos/|title=À propos|website=auroreboreale.ca|access-date=2019-01-19|archive-date=2019-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120043443/http://auroreboreale.ca/apropos/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The quarterly magazine ''Yukon, North of Ordinary'' started in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chauvin |first=PIerre |date=2016-11-04 |title=This Yukon magazine is north of awardinary |url=https://www.yukon-news.com/business/this-yukon-magazine-is-north-of-awardinary-6992275 |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Yukon News |language=en}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

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Whitehorse has its own fire service, known as City of Whitehorse Fire Department (WHFD) with two fire stations. The first, Station #1, located in the city centre at the corner of Second Avenue and Steele Street, and Station #2 (305 B Range Road) atop "Two Mile Hill" on the west side, with room for three trucks. It was built in 2010 to become a public safety building.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fire Department|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={9ED97345-C9A7-4607-893C-117F689D6B8E}|work=City Departments|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fire Department Background|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/vertical/Sites/%7B77FF5155-2407-453B-BAE8-67D8813B88C6%7D/uploads/%7BB40BE8DD-EA04-469B-8198-EA4C2D83FAF3%7D.PDF|work=APPLICANT INFORMATION PACKAGE|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2011-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928020843/http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/vertical/Sites/%7B77FF5155-2407-453B-BAE8-67D8813B88C6%7D/uploads/%7BB40BE8DD-EA04-469B-8198-EA4C2D83FAF3%7D.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> The original fire hall located along on the waterfront has been preserved as a historic building and cultural centre. The Fire Department currently operates with thirty-three full-time staff and approximately ten volunteers. Both fire stations are staffed 24/7 through a rotation of four platoons of six firefighters and one dispatcher.

WHFD is equipped and trained to respond to Motor vehicle Accidents, high and low angle rescue, confined space, and static water ice rescue. Haz-mat, swift water and urban search and rescue are not under the ~~departments~~department's current capabilities or can only be responded to at awareness levels. All medical emergencies are responded to by Yukon Government Emergency Medical Services. All aircraft emergencies are dealt with by the Eric Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport(ENWIA) ARFF fire department with mutual aid agreement activities from WHFD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca|title=Whitehorse, YT : Home|website=www.whitehorse.ca|access-date=2016-06-08}}</ref> Whitehorse Fire Department is professionally represented by the [[International Association of Fire Fighters|IAFF and the BCPFFA]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iaff.org|title=Welcome to the IAFF Website|website=www.iaff.org|access-date=2016-06-08}}</ref>

Whitehorse Fire Department is the largest municipal fire department in the territory and the only professional one. Though they are 13% of the total population of firefighters in the territory, WHFD protects 82% of the population, and responds to 84% of fire calls within the Yukon. WHFD falls under the authority of the Yukon Fire Marshals Office (FMO) and reports directly to it. Fire and life safety inspection throughout the City of Whitehorse are conducted by the Whitehorse Fire Department duty crews as well as designated Fire Prevention Officers under the direction of Municipal Bylaw 2000–01 "Emergency Services Bylaw" with authority from the current edition of the National Fire Code of Canada.

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The first "[[Whitehorse General Hospital|White Horse General Hospital]]" (WGH) was built in the downtown area in 1902 with a 10-bed capacity. During [[World War I]] beds increased to 30, 10 beds were added in 1943, then 20 beds in 1949, and an operating wing was added in 1951. In 1959 the hospital was rebuilt on the other bank of the Yukon River, across from its previous location, but decision making was still based in Ottawa (National Health and Welfare, Medical Services Branch).<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.whitehorsehospital.ca/wghabout/history/|work=About Us|publisher=Yukon Hospital Corporation|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2012-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321194308/http://www.whitehorsehospital.ca/wghabout/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The downtown area has several private medical, dental, and optometry clinics.

In 1990, the Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC) was created in order to prepare the transfer of powers regarding the hospital from the Federal Government to the Yukon Territorial Government. In April 1993 management of WGH was officially transferred to the YHC following a collaboration with the Yukon government and Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN, then CYI). Construction of the present building lasted from 1994 through 1997. Today Whitehorse General hospital counts 49 in-patient beds, 10 day-surgery beds, an ER department, OR suites and several medical imaging technologies.{{cncitation needed|date=February 2023}}

==Transportation==

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Surface access to Whitehorse is provided by a network of highways, including the international [[Alaska Highway]] connecting the Yukon with Alaska, British Columbia, and [[Alberta]] highway networks.

Whitehorse has been described as "pearls on a string", with its residential, industrial, and service subdivisions located along the main thoroughfares that carry traffic within city limits, with large gaps of undeveloped (often hilly) land between them. The [[Alaska Highway]] is the primary roadway, with branch roads reaching additional subdivisions. One such branch road, signed as "Highway 1A" and following Two Mile Hill Road, 4th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, and Robert Service Way, is the main access to downtown, Riverdale, and the Marwell Industrial Area.

The city [[Arterial roads in Whitehorse, Yukon|road]] network is adequate, although it is congested during rush hours and discussions occasionally occur as to how it might better be managed, such as designating one-way streets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YESAB Registry |url=https://yesabregistry.ca/projects/56647d97-2129-4afc-aa3f-c7a3f10ba876/comments |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=yesabregistry.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Whitehorse Daily Star: 'More people equals more traffic,' city reminded |url=https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/more-people-equals-more-traffic-city-reminded |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Whitehorse Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

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===Public transit===

[[File:Trolley with flags (7041438277).jpg|thumb|The [[Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley]] was a [[heritage streetcar]] service that operated from 2000 to 2018 and again 2024.]]

[[Whitehorse Transit]] provides bus service on weekdays from about 6:40 am to 10 pm, and on weekends and holiday to about 8 pm. For passengers who have difficulty using the transit buses, there is a Handy Bus Service.

There ~~was~~is a waterfront tram, known as [[Whitehorse trolley|the "trolley"]], which ~~provided~~provides transport along a short rail section along the Yukon River in the Summer; it ~~was~~is ~~chiefly~~leisure- and tourist-oriented, operated by a non-profit society, and ~~was~~ not integrated into the municipal transit system. It ~~ran~~runs from the Roundhouse to Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre~~, up to~~ (the ~~north~~Northern ~~end~~stretch ofbetween ~~the~~Roundhouse ~~city centre at~~and Spook Creek Station. ~~Whitehorse~~was ~~presently~~included ~~has~~until no2018, ~~active~~but ~~railway~~the ~~service.~~City ~~The~~administration ~~trolley~~has ~~system~~removed necessary train tracks ~~ran~~since) on a small portion of the tracks formerly belonging to [[White Pass and Yukon Route]].

Other than that, Whitehorse presently has no active railway service.

The White Pass Railway started scheduled service from [[Skagway, Alaska]], to [[Carcross, Yukon|Carcross]], {{cvt|72|km}} south of Whitehorse, in the spring of 2007, but this was disrupted by high lake water levels in August 2007. An envisioned transcontinental rail link to Alaska includes one route option through Whitehorse; a report has recommended a hub at [[Carmacks, Yukon|Carmacks]], with a spur line to Whitehorse and on to the Inside Passage of Alaska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGillivray |first=Robert |date=2023-07-07 |title=Thousands of Cruise Passengers Could Be Affected by Popular Alaska Tour |url=https://www.cruisehive.com/thousands-of-cruise-passengers-could-be-affected-by-popular-alaska-tour/105864 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Cruise Hive |language=en-US}}</ref>

The White Pass Railway offers seasonal service between [[Skagway, Alaska]] and [[Carcross, Yukon|Carcross]], {{cvt|72|km}} south of Whitehorse.

====Water====

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==Sister cities==

* [[Juneau, Alaska]], [[United States]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juneau.org/clerk/Sister_Cities/CBJs_Sister_Cities.php|title=The City and Borough of Juneau Homepage|work=juneau.org|access-date=November 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504094524/http://www.juneau.org/clerk/Sister_Cities/CBJs_Sister_Cities.php|archive-date=May 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [[Juneau, Alaska]], [[United States]]

* [[Lancieux, France]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Lancieux, France Sister City Program|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/lancieux|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141027190415/http://www.whitehorse.ca/lancieux|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2014|work=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2014-10-27~~}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes~~ }}</ref> since 2000.

* [[Ushiku]], [[Japan]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Ushiku, Japan Sister City Program|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/ushiku|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141027190337/http://www.whitehorse.ca/ushiku|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2014|work=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2014-10-27~~}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes~~ }}</ref> since 1985.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ushiku mayor bids thanks, farewell to Whitehorse|url=http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/ushiku-mayor-bids-thanks-farewell-to-whitehorse/|access-date=2011-03-19|newspaper=[[Whitehorse Star|Whitehorse Daily Star]]|date=9 August 2005}}</ref>

Historical sister city partnerships:

* [[Echuca, Victoria|Echuca]], [[Australia]], November 1977 – September 2008<ref>{{cite news|title=Item 12660|url=http://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/hardcopy/111708_189939.pdf|access-date=2011-03-19|newspaper=Shire of Campaspe – Minutes|date=16 September 2008|archive-date=2016-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411030026/http://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/hardcopy/111708_189939.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [[Patos de Minas]], [[Brazil]]{{fact|date=May 2024}}

==Notable people==

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* [[Aaron Olson]], basketball player

* [[Gurdeep Pandher]], Bhangra dancer

* [[Edward Peghin]], Emmy-nominated producer resides in Whitehorse

* [[Tahmoh Penikett]], actor whose credits include ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' and ''[[Dollhouse (TV series)|Dollhouse]]''

* [[Tony Penikett]], mediator and negotiator who served as the third premier of Yukon from 1985 to 1992

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*[https://www.whitehorse.ca/ www.whitehorse.ca]

*{{Wikivoyage- inline|Whitehorse}}

{{Geographic location