As we travel across Canada, we round off the third northern territory: Yukon. Regarding this sad little place:
"Most of Yukon has a sub-arctic continental climate with a longer winter and shorter summer compared to most southern provinces. Temperature across Yukon communities varies according to their geographic locations."
It has one city (Whitehorse, the capital) and seven communities. Total population: just under 38,000.
The average yearly income is $52,000. The median income after taxes-paid is $40,000.
All of this being noted, you'd rightly assume that the cost of living should be within reason for its location and scant resources, not to mention limited employment. But this is Canada - so think again!
In 2018 the average sale price on a single-detached home in Whitehorse was nearly half a million ($475,000). The average rental price has stayed at around or over $1000/month the past several years.
Naturally the biggest employer is 'public administration' at 30%, followed by "trade" at just under 15%. (Clearly a sizzling hot employment market to pay off your half-million dollar home!)
What's not to love? Expensive homes, arctic temperatures, low population and slim opportunities ... let's throw in crime! Yukon had the third highest crime level in Canada (2017) for yet another year.
So far the Yukon sounds typical of Canada, albeit a miniature version - is there anything else to add?
Whitehorse hosts a "Frostbite Music Festival" in February (don't cringe too hard). It has the world's largest windvane and the closest nearby city is Edmonton. Sound inviting? I didn't think so. Why don't we try caker tourism promo instead:
"Close your eyes now and breathe in crisp Yukon air. Smell spruce sap and the earthy scent of tundra, and listen for the excited howls of husky sled dogs. Open your eyes and drink in Yukon landscapes under dancing aurora borealis. Canoe a Yukon river and dip your hands into the clearest water you've ever seen. A vacation in Canada's Yukon is a larger than life experience. Stay awhile—you won't want to leave."Wow.
Some "high points" might be the northern lights or dog sledding - but these are things that can be experienced in Alaska, Nordic countries or Russia. Why spend the money on a third rate corner of the caker kingdom? Ninety-nine percent of cakers can't be bothered to visit, I'm not sure why anyone outside the country would either.
Anything caker promotion left out? The territory is mostly white, a quarter of its population are Aboriginals. Almost 40% of Aboriginal people don't have a high school education. A third of single-parent families earn below $30,000 (mostly women).
Owing to the small population, critical resources to treat battered women, mental health issues and addictions are underrepresented, leaving people to struggle in poverty and violence virtually alone.
Only 58% of Yukon residents have a high school diploma.
There is a critical lack of doctors, psychiatrists and other healthcare practitioners needed.
Food insecurity is an ongoing issue; there are two food banks in the entire territory. According to one:
The Whitehorse Food Bank is a community-based organization that provides emergency food to people in need. We provide emergency food hampers to 1300 people a month.
Poverty? Check. Limited employment? Check. Unaffordable housing? Check. Awful winters? Check. Fairly uneducated population with scarce prospects? Check. Forced to learn French? Check.
Well, we've just simultaneously summed up the Yukon and caker kingdom.
O Canada!
