Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #06-086
April 18, 2006
Public Sessions To Be Held For Arts And Heritage Village
WHITEHORSE - Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor today has announced that the Yukon public will be given more opportunity to comment on the proposed Whitehorse Arts and Heritage Village Development Plan in a series of public sessions.
"Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and Artspace North are to be commended for their leadership in the preparation of this initial vision of an arts and heritage village for the Whitehorse waterfront," Taylor said. "The Yukon government has reviewed the report and recognizes that the public needs to be given more opportunity for input."
The Yukon government will be working closely with the proponents of the report and other greater stakeholders to develop a process to encourage public participation on the future use of the government's component of the waterfront, at the foot of Main Street, which includes an arts and heritage village.
Further details about the public sessions will be announced in the coming weeks. Ideas from these sessions will be made available for further public review.
"It is essential that any future development on the Yukon government's component of the Whitehorse waterfront reflects the vision and aspiration of Yukon citizens and complements the work already done or being planned by other governments," Taylor said.
The Yukon government supports the Whitehorse waterfront development initiatives to date, which consist of $425,000 for the trolley extension to Spook Creek; $500,000 in support of the MacBride Museum expansion; $609,500 for the Roundhouse relocation and refurbishment; approximately $110,000 for the restoration of the Fire Hall; and $9.5 million in Canada Strategic Infrastructure Funds for the waterfront development in support of identified projects by the City of Whitehorse, Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Yukon government. In addition, funding has been provided in support of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation land claim settlement which focused on their development aspirations on the waterfront.
"As a member of Main Street Yukon Society, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and as the president of Artspace North, I am encouraged to see the next steps identified and being acted upon to bring our waterfront alive with arts and culture," Mary Jane Warshawski said.
"The Yukon government remains committed to waterfront development in Whitehorse as evidenced by its accomplishments to date in this area," Taylor said. "The government will also work with stakeholders and interested parties to review the use of the Yukon government owned historic buildings located on the Whitehorse waterfront."
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| Contact: | |
| Peter Carr | Karen Keeley |
| Cabinet Communications | Communications, Tourism and Culture |
| (867) 667-8688 | (867) 667-8304 |
| peter.carr@gov.yk.ca | karen.keeley@gov.yk.ca |