Parks Canada to outsource tours at Yukon historic sites
Decision affects S.S. Klondike in Whitehorse and Dredge No. 4 in Dawson City
CBC News
Posted: Mar 9, 2013 12:57 PM CST
Last Updated: Mar 9, 2013 1:29 PM CST
Private business operators will be able to provide guided tours at two national historic sites in the Yukon, including Whitehorse's S.S. Klondike, MP Ryan Leef announced Friday. (CC)
Related
Private business operators will be able to provide guided tours at two national historic sites in the Yukon, MP Ryan Leef announced Friday.
Thirty employees at the S.S. Klondike, one of the most popular stops for visitors during the summer in Whitehorse, were laid off last May, and the funding cuts meant there would be no more guided tours.
The steamboat hauled cargo along the Yukon River in the first half of the 20th century until a road was built to Dawson City. It was designated a national historic site in 1967.
Yukoners have been vocal in their opposition to the cuts that would affect the S.S. Klondike and the Dredge No. 4 historic site in Dawson City. Dredge No. 4 was the largest wooden-hulled bucket-lined dredge in North America and was used to mine gold from the riverbed.
“Changes and shifts can be tough for people at times, but it provides us a great opportunity to find a new way of doing business,” said Leef.
“It finds a great opportunity to improve and to give again Yukoners a great hand in things that are so very important to them. We've obviously heard that loud and clear over the last year or so.”
Leef said Parks Canada will also waive entry fees for guided tour groups at both locations.
Tour operators will be able to determine the amount they charge clients.
Yukon's Parks Canada superintendent Ann Morin applauded the decision.
“We’re really quite pleased that the announcement has been made and we’re looking forward to working with new operators who are interested in working with us,” she said.
“We’re really hoping that businesses come forward.”
Parks Canada will still be responsible for the operation and maintenance at both sites.
Businesses will find out by April 15 if they will be providing guided tours of the historic sites.
Meanwhile, concern has been raised about the vast archaeological collection in Dawson City. It will continue to be managed locally by Parks Canada with assistance from national collections and curatorial staff.
Share Tools
Latest North News Headlines
- 2 climbers rescued off Yukon mountain after 5 days
- Two climbers were rescued off Mount Eaton this weekend in Kluane National Park in Yukon. more »
- 'Suicide contagion' spreads after schoolmate death
- Youth who had a schoolmate die by suicide are more likely to consider or attempting it, according to a large Canadian study into "suicide contagion." more »
- Yukon couple hold record for longest marriage in country
- A couple in Ross River, Yukon, who have been married since 1932, are believed to hold the record for the longest marriage in Canada, according to Worldwide Marriage Encounter Canada. more »
- New team hired at Hay River counselling centre
- A new team has taken over at Hay River Community Counselling, which saw four of its employees leave last year after being asked to take demotions. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Kids from levelled Oklahoma schools recount deadly tornado
- Children from two Oklahoma schools levelled Monday by a powerful tornado are recounting what it was like to survive the "loud" and "scary" twister, while rescuers near the end of their search for any other remaining survivors or bodies. more »
- Deadly Oklahoma tornado confirmed as most powerful type
- Emergency workers neared the end of their search Tuesday afternoon for survivors in Moore, Okla., following a deadly tornado that weather officials said was now classified among the most powerful type of twister. more »
- Senate debates expense audits amid greater scrutiny
- The expenses scandal dominated the first Senate session since the audits on senators Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau were released and it was revealed Duffy's questionable expenses were repaid by a personal cheque from the prime minister's chief of staff. more »
- Only 1 set of human remains found at Millard farm, police say
- Hamilton police have confirmed that they are dealing with only a single set of human remains at the Waterloo region farm of Dellen Millard. more »
- Rob Ford faces more calls to address crack allegations
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford went back to work after a holiday weekend, but he kept his mouth shut about an alleged video that two published reports say shows him smoking what appears to be a crack pipe. more »
- 2 climbers rescued off Yukon mountain after 5 days
- Yukon couple hold record for longest marriage in country
- Northerners struggle with new temporary foreign worker rules
- Yellowknife rental units still pricey, despite more vacancy
- 'Suicide contagion' spreads after schoolmate death
- Nunavut spending less on students than Yukon, N.W.T.
- Bell Mobility to appeal ruling in 911 lawsuit
- Yukon not protecting group home workers, says former employee
- Nunavut MLAs say public housing units not fairly distributed
