Articles of Interest/Archive
A collection of disassociated materials highlighting the contributions of cultural individuals and groups to the socio-economic fabric of Yukon and Canada.
Note, the materials do not belong to HHSY and many are still in copyright. They are provided here for research and private study only. Please respect the copyright owners: do not distribute without permission and credit lines.
First Filipina nanny helped community grow
The Yukon Filipino community’s growth can be traced back to one nanny who set off a chain reaction by helping others arrive in the territory.
Businessperson took big chances that paid off
From the late 1940s through the 1970s he owned four businesses including Tourists’ Services, Northern Caterers, General Catering Services Ltd., and Dianne Hotels.
A community minded entrepreneur
Masayuki (Massa) Sakata was a well-respected, hard-working and generous Japanese man who lived in Dawson City, Keno City, Mayo and Whitehorse between 1907 and 1974.
When Everyone Around You Is Talking About the End, Talk About Black History
Embracing the strategy of gritty hope that Black culture and history make manifest.
It's a Good Life for a Free Spirit
Pete Risby was inducted into the Prospectors' Hall of Fame in 1996 for his contributions to Yukon mining.
Yukon miner will be the first Black person to be inducted into Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
Peter Risby remembered as an advocate for inclusion in the industry.
Miner and entrepreneur
She was attracted to the North by the promise of new opportunities with fewer restrictions because of race, gender, and socio-economic status.
Social justice advocates
While other kids were playing with friends on the weekend, Jasmina Randhawa and her two siblings were often at a picket line alongside their parents, Jasbir Randhawa and Harbans (Har) Singh.
Alberta’s First Filipino Immigrants
First wave of people from Philippines arrived in 1960s and 1970s to work as nurses, teachers and engineers.
Aurora Dacanay remembers jumping in a car and driving hours, even in blizzards, to greet every new arrival to Alberta from her home country, the Philippines.
Article by Danielle Nerman, CBC News, March 2021.
A Flirtation With Death
Staff Sergeant Charles Davis of South Carolina was one of thousands of African American soldiers building the Alaska Highway in 1942-43. When his crew’s truck crashed in temperatures below -30°C, he put his winter clothes on his injured companion, then walked 19 km to get help. He later received the Soldier’s Medal: the highest US Army award for heroism outside of combat.
Two U.S. Soldiers To Receive Medals
Here’s an article about two more Black soldiers in northern Canada receiving the Soldier’s Medal. In June 1942, Sergeant Robert Hayes of South Carolina and Technician Hubert Massie of Virginia were loading a barge at Waterways. When their captain – who could not swim – fell overboard, Hayes and Massie jumped in and saved him.
Kwong, first Chinese-Canadian in NHL, dies at 94
Larry Kwong, who broke an NHL barrier in 1948 when he became the first Chinese-Canadian to play in the League, died at his home in Calgary on March 15. He was 94.
Article by Dave Stubbs, NHL.com - March 2018
One of the biggest Black settlements in Western Canada has a rich history
Alberta’s Amber Valley, settled by those fleeing U.S. segregation and violence, grew quickly in the 1900s.
Article by Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press - February 2021.