Member Spotlight: John Sengia
Originally from Pennsylvania, John is a chemical engineer working in the climate tech space. He’s a digital nomad who loves travelling, seeing new places, enjoying the wilderness and doing lots of hiking. His work focuses on sustainable refrigeration systems, including heat pumps and chillers, as well as consulting related to climate policy for companies and, occasionally,…
Honouring the 2024/25 Hall of Innovators Award Recipients
Innovation thrives in the North, not just in ideas but through action. At the 5th annual Hall of Innovators Awards Ceremony, we celebrate the people who are shaping Yukon’s future through bold vision, perseverance, and community-driven impact. From business leaders to social changemakers, these award recipients exemplify the creativity and resilience that make Yukon’s innovation…
Member Spotlight: Ulrich Trachsel
Ulrich Trachsel, a Red Seal boat builder from Switzerland, has found a unique way to make his mark in the woodworking world. His secret? Dead-standing trees from fire and beetle kill areas. Instead of letting these trees go to waste, he turns them into stunning, handcrafted pieces—blending sustainability with craftsmanship. Since this wood is already…
Member Spotlight: Chandler Pederson
From a basement suite in Whitehorse to a thriving creative business, Ash and Arbour began with a borrowed saw and a spark of inspiration. What started as personal wall art grew into geometric wood creations showcased at the Fireweed Market. The path since has been both challenging and rewarding, and a key turning point came…
Food and Beverage Bootcamp Showcase 2024!
We are very excited to celebrate the 7 graduating 2024 Food and Beverage Bootcamp participants! Yukonstruct’s Food and Beverage Bootcamp participants have dedicated themselves to building their businesses—balancing workshops, mentorship, and leadership coaching alongside their daily commitments over the past eight weeks. This program has equipped early-stage entrepreneurs with essential business skills and specialized agro-food…
Member Spotlight: Tanzi Khakimova
Meet Tanzi, a valued member of Yukonstruct since January 2024. She leads Cue North, a technology consulting firm that helps organizations streamline technology, processes, and services. The firm also operates a product design studio, focusing on no-code and low-code development tools, primarily in healthcare. They run a marketplace for healthcare practitioners and assist clients in…
Reflecting on Winefest 2024: A Night to Remember
This year’s Winefest was an incredible success and we have so much to celebrate! Winefest 2024 brought together our amazing community for a night of laughter, food, music, and, of course, fantastic wines. From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was filled with excitement. The beautifully decorated venue (shoutout to Decora!), the carefully curated selection…
Member Spotlight: Meesha Wittkopf
Meesha has been a dedicated member of Yukonstruct since January 2024. As the founder and owner of Summit Consulting, she specializes in project management and offers consultation services, particularly in programming. Her expertise is often sought after by non-profit organizations (NPOs), where she focuses on advocacy work, especially in the areas of women’s rights, climate…
Tourism and Culture Bootcamp 2024 Recap!
Yukonstruct is proud to celebrate the eight entrepreneurs who successfully completed the 2024 Tourism and Culture Bootcamp! Over the last eight weeks, these Bootcampers have balanced interactive classes, hands-on learning, workshops, personal coaching, networking, and research, all while managing their work and family commitments. They’ve shown dedication to making their dreams take flight. We couldn’t…
Northlight Open House 2024 Recap!
We had a fantastic time with everyone at Northlight’s Open House on August 29th. It was inspiring to see our members showcasing their amazing work and to learn more about the incredible initiatives by Yukon U I&E, Tech Yukon and YWITT. Your participation made this milestone event even more special. Caitlyn MacMaster has been at…
Introducing Our New Board of Directors!
We’re thrilled to announce the success of our 2024 Annual General Meeting, held in June. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible individuals who are serving on the Yukonstruct Board of Directors this upcoming term. Your commitment, expertise, and passion for our organization are deeply appreciated, and we’re excited to see what we…
Member Spotlight: Jill Kay
Jill joined Yukonstruct in the summer of 2023. As a functional nutritionist, she founded and owns Down to Earth Wellness. Her clientele mainly consists of women experiencing burnout and hormonal imbalances. Additionally, she offers coaching and conducts workshops both virtually and locally.
Recap: NorthwesTel’s Summer Camps at Yukonstruct
STEAM Kids Camp – June 24 to 28, 2024 We had an incredible time at our STEAM Kids Camp in June. This camp provided a fun, STEAM-oriented learning experience to six enthusiastic kids, promoting the concept of maker spaces within our community’s youth. The camp was designed for youth aged 10-13, and with a 4:1…
Member Spotlight: Merrick McKinley
Merrick began working in the forest industry while studying at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). He started as a tree planter and later became a Crew Chief and regional supervisor for the Southern New Brunswick district. After earning his Bachelor of Science and Master of Forestry degrees, he worked as a forest carbon analyst…
A Weekend of Creativity and Innovation: Maker Faire Yukon 2024 Recap
From the 27th to the 28th of July, the inaugural Maker Faire Yukon 2024 transformed an ordinary weekend into a remarkable journey of creativity, fun, and innovation. This event was not just a fun gathering, but a celebration of the Maker Movement that brought together individuals from all walks of life. We are thankful to…
Member Spotlight: Candice Gottschall
Introducing Candice, an awesome member of Cospace and a recent addition to our Board of Directors! For around two years, Candice has been an active member at Yukonstruct. She holds the title of “President” at HappyTuesday Marketing and Events, although she prefers the term Project Manager. Candice started her business while based in Halifax on…
