The 2025 Yukon Recreation Gathering, in Faro and Ross River, brought together recreation leaders, volunteers, and community champions from across the territory. Participants shared ideas, learned from local leaders, and built stronger connections across Yukon’s recreation network. The power of collaboration, creativity, and community in Yukon recreation was evident.
We were honoured to host Greg Gilhooly, a lawyer with Sport Law, as our keynote speaker. Greg is an advocate for a safer and more inclusive sport environment. His keynote, based on his book I Am Nobody, shared his lived experience and described the failure of our institutions to safeguard vulnerable participants. Greg’s session, Doing Good Things Can Be Very Risky Business: How to Minimize Risk While Serving Your Community, reminded us that risk is a fundamental aspect of anything we do in recreation and sport.
Our group was welcomed by Chief Dylan Loblaw before walking to the historic settlement of Old Ross. Our visit included time with Dennis and Jenny Shorty, Kaska artists, musicians, and cultural leaders, who spoke about recreation from an Indigenous worldview while highlighting the role of culture, language, and land in well-being and connection.
On the last evening, we celebrated some of the individuals who make an impact in their communities.
Sophia Flather from Old Crow was presented with RPAY’s Recognition Award. Sophia lives a healthy and traditional lifestyle, leading her community by example. From maintaining ski trails to organizing annual bush camps for kids and families, Sophia encourages everyone to get active on the land. Her kindness, strength, and dedication to Gwich’in culture make her a true role model for her community and beyond.
Yukon Government’s Community Recreation Leadership Award was presented to Kyla Guzik (Executive Director) and Robyn Gillespie (Recreation Director) with the Marsh Lake Community Centre. Over the past five years, Robyn and Kyla, have delivered a strong suite of recreation programs, upgraded community centre facilities, and boosted local engagement in Marsh Lake.
As in the past, we forged connections through workshops, stories, and laughter. Experiences shared around the campfire, opportunities brainstormed during sessions, and networks strengthened over meals, lead to a deeper understanding of the unique challenges of recreation in our small communities. It is connections such as these that support our work long after the Gathering.