For New Residents
Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Yukon”, Watson Lake is the first Yukon community you encounter after crossing the Yukon and British Columbia border on the Alaska Highway. Yukon’s capital, Whitehorse, is approximately 441 kilometres to the northwest.
The town is situated within the traditional territory of the Liard First Nation who have lived in the region for millennia.
Established in 1941, Watson Lake became a supply and accommodation centre for construction of a chain of Canadian Government airfields built across the north, and later, in 1942 for the building of the Alaska Highway.
Today, it is home to the spectacular landscape and wilderness of the Yukon, the famous Sign Post Forest (72,000 signs and counting!), and the incredible Northern Lights Space and Science Centre.
It is rich in business opportunities, outdoor adventures and is the gateway to the remarkable history and spectacular scenery of Yukon; it offers lifestyle choices like no other community in the North.
Considering this prime location, Watson Lake is a key transportation hub for Yukon Territory.
Housing
As of 2011, there were 417 houses in Watson Lake, the majority of them single-detached homes.
- Yukon Socio-Economic Web Portal
Provides census information on Watson Lake. - Yukon Housing Corporation
Yukon Housing Corporation offers 46 staff units and 34 social housing units in Watson Lake. The Corporation also offers programs and services that enable home renovations, construction of additional rental suites, mortgages, and financing.
More Information?
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Employment
Watson Lake boasts a number of local businesses, and major national and international company branches, that provide access to thousands of products and services to companies, governments, and individuals operating in Eastern Yukon and northern British Columbia.
Many employment and entrepreneurial opportunities exist in Watson Lake for people who want to contribute to a business community that continues to make a difference for the town’s economic development and quality of life.
More Information?
- Yukon Employment Central
Provides job boards, employment counseling, workshops and more - YuWIN
Online employment resource for employers and job seekers, including current job listings, the Yukon labour market, career planning, education, and training - Yukon Workfutures
Guide to work opportunities in the territory that provides information on the labour market, working conditions, education, and employment prospects - Invest Yukon: Yukon Employment Connection
List of employment-related websites to help your search for employment
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