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FAQs
Business and Technology Systems
- Click here for our interactive GIS system!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
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Bylaw Services
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
- Click here to access the City's ATV Safety Course
- Click here to access the City's Snowmobile Safety Course
- The speed limit changes being considered should help make the roads safer for all users, including cyclists.
- As of January 2018, we are working on the Downtown Parking Management Plan Update.
- The Maintenance Bylaw establishes minimum standards for the repair and maintenance of property in the City of Whitehorse. Learn more here.
In the near future, Bylaw Services hopes to be able to purchase cost-effective machines which will allow for modernized features such as "pay by phone".
- Visit our Parking page which includes maps / zones and further information, including Accessible Parking Permits.
- Call Bylaw Services at 668-8317 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For after hours or weekends, call the Whitehorse Trouble Line at 667-2111.
Canada Games Centre
All rentals, programs and camps affected by the closure, registrants will be contacted directly regarding credits or refunds.
- Please come dressed for your activity. If you decide to bring a bag, we ask that you still try to limit your items as much as possible. Lockers are open but limited.
- Please bring a form of photo ID with you, for members this can be your CGC membership card.
- Please follow staff directions and safety protocols while inside the facility. Practice physical distancing of 2m (6ft), good handwashing and respiratory hygiene. Stay home if you are feeling unwell.
- Be kind and patient with everyone. Pace yourself as you return to physical activity.
- At the end of an activity time slot, everyone booked for that time slot must exit the facility, regardless of the time they entered.
- Yes you can! Strollers, nordic poles, wheelchairs and walkers are all allowed on the track during all open track times. When using a stroller, children must stay in the stroller or within arms’ reach of the parent or guardian.
- Typically programs fill up fast and can be waitlisted. No late registrations are accepted unless approved by the Program Coordinator.
If you can no longer make your booked time slot, you can cancel it in-person, on the phone (668-8360) or email (cgccsrgroup@whitehorse.ca) up to 4 hour prior to the start time without penalty.
- Staggered bookings and activity times scheduled to support enhanced cleaning periods during the day and deep cleaning at night.
- Activity specific modifications and disinfecting practices to support current Public Health protocols.
- Hand sanitizer and self-serve sanitation carts are available to users and staff throughout the facility.
- Frequent cleaning by staff of high-touch surfaces throughout the facility.
- Plexiglass installed at Customer Service Desk and Aquatics Desk.
- All staff are required to wear masks where social distancing cannot be achieved.
- Staff are trained in proper cleaning measures, products, tools and equipment.
- Cleaning routines will adapt to changes in activity/amenity availability and usage to ensure proper disinfecting and sanitation at all times.
- Find it at whitehorse.ca/alg or pick up a copy next time you’re at the CGC
Visit our Facility Booking Information web page!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Check the online schedules at: Whitehorse.ca/cgcschedule or follow us on Facebook
Are you looking to purchase City of Whitehorse pins for an upcoming tournament, conference or event?
City of Whitehorse pins can be purchased at the Canada Games Centre. Please visit the reception counter. Pins are sold in bags of 25 for $10. Payment options include cash, debit, Visa or MasterCard, and recreation gift cards.
Visitors and residents can continue to receive a complimentary City of Whitehorse pin at the Yukon Visitor Information Centre. Only bulk pin purchases are available at the Canada Games Centre.- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
See our CGC Schedules here!
- Participate and Get Involved in your Community! Please visit our Volunteer web pages.
- As we'd really love for you to engage in physical activity while at the CGC, we recommend putting your cell phone away. However, if you must use your cell phone, here are the rules: the use of camera/video enabled devices is strictly prohibited in change rooms and washrooms. In all other areas of the facility, use of these devices is allowed provided it is for personal use only, does not disrupt the activity of others, and is in accordance with the CGC User Code of Conduct and posted Safety Standards. Please be respectful of others: i.e. when making phone calls/sending texts, do so in the hallways; and avoid capturing others in the background of photos.
- No exceptions, sorry. All participants must meet the age requirements and have achieved all pre-requisites to register.
Separate entrance and exits doors, directional signage, stanchions and staff to guide you through the facility and help you maintain physical distancing.
Health screening during online booking and also self-screen prior to entering the facility.
- Proper hand washing and drying before exiting the washroom is required.
- Washrooms are cleaned throughout the day by staff, with a deep clean overnight.
All persons, aged 5 years and older are required to wear a mask while inside the Canada Games Centre, Takhini Arena, and Mt McIntyre Recreation Centre. This includes all public areas; elevators, concourse, hallways, washrooms, change rooms, spectator seating, Youth Club, and to and from activities.
Exceptions include meeting rooms, when privately rented, appropriately distanced, or within a bubble.
Temporary removal of the mask or face covering is permitted where necessary when:
- actively engaging in a sport, recreation, or fitness activity
- while seated to consume food or drink
- for any emergency or medical purpose
- for the purpose of verifying identification
Using a mask alone isn’t enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Continue to follow all other Public Health and CGC protocols like keeping your hands clean, following cough and sneeze etiquette, physical distancing guidelines, and staying home if feeling sick.
- The CGC is not responsible for any lost or stolen items; however, if something is returned we will place it in the lost and found for up to 48 hours. Contact us ASAP and we’ll do our best to locate your item. Valuable items found are locked in a safe and held for a longer period of time. In order to help prevent losing items, we suggest that you leave all valuable items at home.
“Drop-In” means an activity that you can show up for without preregistration. Take advantage of this flexibility with your membership or through a daily admission pass.
Drop-In schedules can be picked up at the CGC or viewed online at Whitehorse.ca/cgcschedule
Any changes to the schedule are updated online.
Memberships expiring before April 15th will be cancelled and credited to the users account. All other memberships will continue with scheduled payments but will be extended for the duration of the COVID-19 related closure. This extension will be posted on all active memberships when CGC resumes operations.
Membership extensions won’t be visible on your account until after the CGC reopens.
If you elect to cancel your membership you can email cgcmembers@whitehorse.ca or call 667-4FUN.
- The CGC is a Scent-Free Environment, however, as you can understand, enforcing this policy can be difficult. We have posted signs in the appropriate areas and we ask that you minimize scent usage for an enjoyable environment for all.
Want to save money using the Canada Games Centre and Transit? Check out whitehorse.ca/superpass for more information!
A $25 fee is charged for each participant withdrawing from a program and the balance is placed on an account. If the program fee is less than $25, the program fee is charged and no balance is refunded.
Due to the extensive planning and preparation involved, programs marked with a DIAMOND will not be refundable within 7 days of a program start date.
If the City of Whitehorse cancels a program, participants will be notified and a full refund will be credited to your account.
We currently do not have a reopen date and we will be sure to provide an update as we receive recommendations from Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Staff will still be answering phones and checking emails between 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 7 days a week. Call us at 667-4FUN.
We are experiencing a high volume of calls and messages so we appreciate your patience as we work through this.
- Programs are subject to cancellation if there aren’t enough registrations or an instructor becomes unavailable. If the City of Whitehorse cancels a program, participants will be notified and a full refund will be credited to your account.
City Manager
Each department has its own section on the website, with contact information. These pages can be accessed through the Departments tab or through the Contact List. If you still cannot find what you are looking for, please provide feedback!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
- Thanks for your interest, please click here for visitor information!
Engineering Services
- Previous estimate was based on the City having an open trench for the water service installation and the sanitary service cost was materials only ($100/m) for property owner to replace the sewer at the same time. Under the proposed new policy, the costs would be different because the cost would include materials plus trenching, backfill, and restoration. Restoration costs will vary greatly between properties depending on the complexity of the landscaping and structures on the property.
- No, the rules for Hillcrest are no different than for other areas of the city.
Can you break down the private costs for Hillcrest in more detail? (What about Steelox houses that can't connect well?)
Properties need to be looked at individually in detail. The Engineering department has estimated costs for each property in Hillcrest and can discuss your situation with you in detail if you wish.Research, evidence, and case studies from cities across North America show that there are significant road safety benefits from simply lowering speed limits to an appropriate "target speed," even in the absence of other road safety improvements. A target speed is the safe speed vehicles should drive considering the adjacent land use area and the number of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. Lowering speed limits is shown to reduce high-end speeding and reduce collisions, particularly severe injuries and fatalities.
For more information, see pages 12 to 13 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.For Hillcrest, what would be the estimated 2021 (rather than 2017) LIC costs (average, low and high) given the existing LIC policy?
To estimate the 2021 LIC costs, the City has taken the 2017 rates and added inflation applied over 4 years. The results for the estimated 2021 LIC rates are shown in the table below and are bolded in brackets:
Average
Low
High
Roundel Road
$12,349 ($13,012)
$10,279 ($10,831)
$15,928 ($16,783)
Kluane Cres.
$12,060 ($12,707)
$10,615 ($11,185)
$16,308 ($17,183)
Park Lane
$11,879 ($12,517)
$7,961 ($8,388)
$20,653 ($21,762)
- The good news for Hillcrest property owners is that much of the preliminary design has already happened with extensive public consultation, and the remainder of the preliminary design can be completed in 2021 with the budget that is already approved in the capital plan. The project proceeding to construction will depend on approval of funding from the Federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), but if that is approved, phase 1 of 4 could begin in 2023, at the earliest. The ICIP fund is administered by the Yukon Government with 25% contribution from them, and the City will also be contributing from its reserves to the cost of the project.
The speed limit changes being considered are set by defining a "target speed." A target speed is the safe speed that vehicles should drive considering the adjacent land use and the presence of vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Given the dense urban area that makes up Downtown Whitehorse and the high number of pedestrians and cyclists, the appropriate target speeds are 40 km/hr on major arterial roadways and 30 km/hr on local side streets.
For more information, see pages 9 to 11 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
How do I formally express my support, concerns, or objections to a reconstruction project under the new Local Improvement Policy?
Infrastructure Reconstruction projects will have public consultation and input from property owners taken into consideration during the design process. However, because property owners are not sharing the cost of reconstruction of the roadway and other public property, there will not be the objection process to determine whether the project proceeds or not. That would be decided through the City's capital budget process, and property owners will be able to Opt-In or Opt-Out for the replacement of private services to the property. In the case of Discretionary Local Improvements that are property owner-initiated, there would be a formal process in accordance with the Yukon's Municipal Act with not more than 50% objection by benefitting property owners.- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
The City does not have the authority to enforce “moving traffic” as this is the authority of the RCMP.
The City regularly collaborates with the RCMP to identify areas with significant road safety concerns. If speed limit changes are proposed by Council, the City will collaborate with the RCMP to ensure there is awareness of the new speed limits and conduct enforcement to ensure that the new speed limits are followed.
For more information, see pages 13 to 14 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.- The speed limit changes being considered should help make the roads safer for all users, including cyclists.
During peak hours:
- Travel times along 2nd Ave and 4th Ave are not anticipated to be significantly impacted as average speeds during those times are already in line with the speed limit changes being considered.
- Travel times along side streets may be impacted, but given that the majority of travellers use major arterials, travel time impacts are expected to be minimal.
During non peak hours:
- Travel time is expected to be minimally to moderately impacted. Travel times are anticipated to increase to a maximum of approximately 20%.
- Transit services are not anticipated to be significantly impacted the speed limit changes being considered. Due to the high number of stops in the Downtown area, transit vehicles are typically not able to maintain the posted speed limit for long distances or long periods of time.
- The speed limit changes being considered should help make the roads safer for all users, including pedestrians.
- They have to pay private-side costs if they connect, which is a similar amount in many cases to what the LIC would have been.
I’m still paying for an LIC and I didn’t have any work done on my property. I didn’t want the LIC. Do I have to keep paying?
Yes. Your improvement was approved through a by-law and the policy required a contribution to the public street, which you benefit from. Whether or not people opted-in to the reconstruction work for their property did not affect the required contribution to the public side improvements, per the policy at that time.
If I "Opt In" to get my water and sewer services replaced on my property and into my house, how does the LIC program work?
The voluntary infrastructure loan program is similar to other programs the City offers (such as the Urban Electrification program): The amount will be added to your property taxes and amortized over 15 years at the best interest rate the City can secure at the time. The interest rate will be fixed at the time of borrowing, and it will not change. The City will provide a very conservative estimated interest rate to show what the annual amounts might be, but when the best rate is secured, that will be the rate you pay, not the estimated rate. Historically, the actual fixed interest rate has been much lower than the estimated rate. You can also choose to pay the entire amount immediately (no interest) or pay it down in lump sums annually. The amortized amounts will be applied to your annual property taxes and paid however you pay your taxes.Is it better for me to "Opt In" to the program to install services to my property now? What if I "Opt Out" and choose to postpone replacing my water and sewer lines until I'm ready to do it?
It is a significant cost for some property owners to replace their services, and there is not always all the available information to make a fully informed decision. Generally, the decision is based on age and type of material of the services along with any historical issues the home owner may have had such as water service failures or tree roots in the sanitary service. Opting-In to the voluntary loan program to have the services replaced as part of the overall reconstruction project has some advantages such as:
- The contractors will already be working in the neighbourhood and all the disruption can happen at once.
- There will be cost savings for mobilizing on site and economy of scale for supply of materials, as opposed to a single property owner having to arrange to have a contractor come to the area just to do one service.
- There would not be any costs to dig up the new surface (landscaping, concrete, fences, etc.) to get at the services later.
- The City's voluntary infrastructure loan program gives property owners the ability to pay the amount over 15 years (at a fixed interest rate) or pay it down with lump sums annually. Replacing water and sewer services on your own, when a reconstruction project is not in progress, does come with a payment plan option from the City. Taking the chance that your services are in condition to last a while longer can be risky - if they fail, the damage and repair costs could be much higher than Opting-In, especially if they fail in the winter months when repairs and digging are more difficult.
Lowering speed limits is by no means a substitute for major road safety improvements. Lowering speed limits is just one of the tools for improving road safety and is low cost and easily implementable.
The City is actively considering additional options for improving road safety in the Downtown area such as improved lighting, automatic enforcement technologies, enhanced pedestrian crossings, additional traffic signals, road design treatments, and more in the pending Citywide Transportation Study.
For more information, see pages 14 to 15 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.Is there information available on the voluntary loan program? (e.g., years, interest rate, payment schedule)
The City does not have many details about the voluntary loan program at this time. We plan to start developing the details of that program if the policy is adopted by Council. We can speak conceptually at this time though. A typical term of loan for the City is between 15-20 years and we usually are able to get a fairly good interest rate. Payment would be once per year at the same time as your property taxes, and you would have the option to pay off the remaining balance at any time.
So much effort and consultation went into the 2017 Hillcrest Reconstruction Design. Does this mean the City will be starting over from scratch?
The 2017 Hillcrest design will be the basis point for the upcoming proposed Hillcrest Reconstruction Project with additional consultation planned as the design progresses. The City has heard from Hillcrest residents that they were largely happy with the preliminary design so far, and objections in 2017 were for other reasons in the process and not with the design, so there is no need to start from scratch. All the public input, past and present, will inform the final design for the proposed Hillcrest Reconstruction beyond 2021.The policy states that if I opt-in to the reconstruction project and have work done on my property by the City’s contractor, the City will not include re-landscaping or rebuilding of decks or patios as part of the restoration. Why?
The City intends to only backfill where properties were dug up for the new infrastructure. This is proposed for a number of reasons:
- This will be a cost-saving measure for the property owner, as some or all of this work could be done by owners themselves at their own timing;
- The existing condition of properties varies throughout neighborhoods. Replacing landscaping may not be possible due to age and condition, so this could be a good time for property owners to upgrade or revive their yard;
- Property owners can hire whomever they wish to do the work, whereas the City will have one contractor for all properties, but it will not be a landscape specialist. The City’s contractor will make an effort to salvage any materials on the property that can be stored by the owner;
- This change is also a benefit to both the City and neighborhood, as the contractor will be able to finish phases or projects faster, and therefore get more done in the same amount of time.
What about major transportation planning considerations: one-way streets in Downtown, a second bridge to Riverdale, no left turns, advance left turn signals, protected left turn bays, etc.?
Major transportation planning considerations are being investigated in the pending Citywide Transportation Study. Please watch for public engagement opportunities during the creation of the study over the next year and a half.
Road safety is not just a matter of human decision making, but is also related to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency response. Each factor has a significant role in helping increase road safety and the City is exploring additional options for improving road safety that are within its jurisdiction and control, such as education and engineering.
The City in partnership with the RCMP and Yukon Government are exploring the possibilities for automated enforcement technologies such as cameras, radars, etc.
The City is aware of the multitude of road safety issues experienced in Downtown and throughout the City of Whitehorse. Road safety is not just a matter of human decision making, but is also related to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency response. Each factor has a significant role in helping increase road safety and the City is actively exploring a variety of measures to improve road safety that are within its jurisdiction and control, such as road safety education and engineering and design.
The City does not have the authority to enforce “moving traffic” as this is the authority of the RCMP.
What are my options if I wanted a discretionary LIC but it is not supported by my neighborhood through the objection process?
The Municipal Act states that the by-law to charge the LICs must be defeated by Council if the majority of owners object. However, Council may choose to proceed with the project, revising the capital budget to exclude the LIC.
Many cities across North America have engaged in speed limit reductions.
The City of Edmonton: speed limit reductions on residential roads from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr resulted in a 26% reduction in crashes.
The City of Seattle: speed limit reductions on five arterial corridors from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr resulted in a 22% reduction in crashes, 18% reduction in injuries, and 54% reduction in high-end speeding.
Other cities have recently initiated speed limit reductions of varying scope and size with promising early results: City of Minneapolis, City of Boston, City of New Orleans, City of North Vancouver
Speed limit reductions are not just limited to major cities. The City of Airdrie and the Municipality of Jasper already have reduced speed limits on municipal roadways.
For more information, see pages 13 to 14 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.Improvements made in the right-of-way by property owners without permission from the City will not be replaced as part of restoration. If improvements were approved, the City will consider restoring it, subject to reconstruction design limitations.
All highways, including the Alaska Highway running through Whitehorse, are maintained by Yukon Government Highways & Public Works. They can be contacted at 393-7193, or visit their website.
Street lights belong to and are repaired by ATCO Electric Yukon. They can be contacted at 633-7000, or visit their website.
Why are changes in speed limits only being considered for Downtown and not being considered for other areas of the City?
Downtown is being considered first as this neighbourhood has a wide variety of transportation users such as pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers, and because of ongoing and historical road safety concerns in the Downtown area.
Other areas of the City may be considered for speed limit changes and other road safety measures in the pending Citywide Transportation Study.Signage is included to remind drivers of the speed limits. Experience in other cities have shown that frequent spacing of regulatory signage can result in significant road safety benefits.
For more information, see pages 12 to 13 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.
A blended speed limit reduction is being considered for Downtown Whitehorse as it results in the highest road safety benefits for Downtown streets, but still recognizes travel mobility, road safety and driver compliance considerations.
Lowering speed limits to 30 km/hr realizes many road safety benefits however does not consider travel mobility along major arterial roadways. Lowering speeds to 40 km/hr realizes some road safety benefits for major arterial roadways however not full road safety benefits for local side streets.
With this approach in mind the speed limits being considered are:
- 40 km/hr on major arterial roadways:
- 2nd Ave from Two Mile Hill Rd/4th Ave to Lewes Blvd.
- 4th Ave from 2nd Ave to Robert Service Way.
- Robert Service Way from 2nd Ave to 4th Ave.
- 30 km/hr on all other local streets in the Downtown Whitehorse area.
- Existing school and playground zones remain unchanged.
Note: 6th Avenue is not considered a major arterial roadway but a local street. The speed limit being consdered for 6th Avenue is 30 km/hr.
For more information, see page 16 of the Memorandum on Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction.- 40 km/hr on major arterial roadways:
Road safety is an ongoing concern in Downtown Whitehorse and the City wants to ensure that Downtown is a safe and vibrant place to live, work, and play.
The speed limit changes being considered are intended to align the speed limits to an appropriate “target speed.” A target speed is the safe speed that vehicles should drive considering the adjacent land use and the presence of vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Given the dense urban area that makes up Downtown Whitehorse and the high number of pedestrians and cyclists, the appropriate target speeds are 40 km/hr on major arterial roadways and 30 km/hr on local side streets.
Retaining and enforcing the existing speed limits is suitable provided the existing speed limits reflect an appropiate "target speed." However, the latest research, evidence, and best transportation practice suggest that speed limits in Downtown do not represent safe or appropriate "target speeds" that consider the adjacent land use area or the presence of vulnerable users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The City does not have the authority to enforce “moving traffic” as this is the authority of the RCMP.
Why propose a discretionary LIC option in the new policy if people already look after the public land (like boulevards and greenbelts) around their properties?
It is expected that discretionary LICs would more commonly be property owner-driven where a group of benefiting properties would express interest in a potential project for consideration by the City. It's not expected that these will be common, but other municipalities have these options and there may be specific locations where there is enough interest from property owners to see improvements there, and this option allows them to make arrangements with the City for a cost share. Some examples might be adding decorative street lights or paving bricks, trees, and landscaping to a street, or paving a downtown laneway (back alley) if the adjacent properties desire asphalt instead of gravel.In an effort to get more people to remove their potentially leaky pipes or reduce reliance on energy wasteful heat traces and water bleeders, the City helped cover the part of the cost for a number of projects. Given the existing external funding situation, the City cannot cover the costs of improvements on private property.
Both policy approaches ensure a contribution from the benefiting property owner. Using their property line as the division for expenses, the new policy establishes that funding from the public doesn’t enrich private property owners.
Will accurate cost estimates for the private portion, if done by the City, be flushed out in the detailed portion of the design? When can homeowners indicate their “opt in/opt out” choice? How would that be done? Would these details be worked out once the policy is passed and put into place?
The more accurate cost estimates for the private portion of the work will be completed at the detailed design phase of the project. These will be completed by the City’s engineering consultant with input from the City.
- To achieve water conservation goals, the City removes water bleeders that are used for frost protection wherever possible. Recirculating water services do not waste water when preventing water services from freezing, but they do require a recirc pump and some internal plumbing changes. These costs would be the responsibility of the property owner. If you choose to opt out of replacing your water services, the City will replace the lines on the road side only up to the property line and will take future connection for your property into consideration.
- The City will install new water and sanitary services at the City's cost only up to the property. The cost for the portion of the water and sanitary services on the private side between the property line and the building will be the responsibility of the home owner. The home owner can opt-in for the City to complete the private side work at the time of the reconstruction and the cost will be recovered through a loan program.
The speed limit changes being considered are not anticipated to result in significantly more congestion than what is experienced today.
Though traffic flow, and consequently congestion, is dependant on speed, it is also dependant on the density of vehicles. The lower the travelling speed on a roadway, the higher the vehicle density as more vehicles are able to follow each other in a given area. Thus, the higher the vehicle density, the higher the traffic flow and the lower the congestion.
Financial Services
Go to our Property Tax and Utilities page for more information, including an online form to sign up for Utility & Tax E-Billing!
- Click here to see more information on Council grants.
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
- Click here to view current tenders and RFPs!
The tax revenue change attributable to property taxes as reported in the City of Whitehorse Annual Report is 7.12% for the past 6 years. This is different than the tax rate increase, which was 1.7% in 2014 and 2015. The change in tax revenues reflects a blend of community growth and mill rate changes.
Changes in total tax revenue can arise from increased growth in new land and new buildings and this growth is reflected in the Yukon Government’s property assessments. It is also reflected in increased costs to service the new areas.
Changes can also arise from the City’s mill rate changes. A complete explanation of how assessments and mill rates work can be found at: Frequently-Asked Questions about Property Assessment and Taxation
According to the Statement of Operations, the major property tax revenue increase between 2013 and 2012 is an additional $2.42 million in property taxes caused by increased assessments due to growth in the community.
The remainder of the community’s property total tax revenue increase is attributable to the tax rate which can be found here.
Here is the information from page 10 of the 2013 Annual Report:
Revenues Property Taxes Average Annual Change 7.12% 2013 $32,607,543 2012 $30,191,241 2011 $28,051,329 2010 $26,219,850 2009 $24,645,547 2008 $23,119,023
FAQ published February 2015
This guide by the Public Sector Accounting Board answers 20 questions about Government Financial Reporting.
The EFT form (also known as a Direct Deposit form) is for any new or existing vendor to provide banking information and receive payments via electronic funds transfer. The form can be found here.
Advantages of registering for EFT include:
- faster payments, directly into your bank account
- not having to manually deposit your cheques
- no postal delays and/or disruptions
- bank statements that show the deposit as a City of Whitehorse payment
- email remittances for the deposit of your payment
The City has been reviewing procurement process and looking at ways to streamline and modernize it. This includes our process for publishing and handling the paperwork associated with requests for documents (RFX). We are now using an online system called Bonfire.
Q: What are the benefits?
A: An RFX can be an expensive thing, even in printing costs alone. There’s also the associated cost of managing and tracking all those documents. Bonfire posts all of the documents electronically, and allows for electronic tracking of the RFX documents, addendums and submissions as well as issues award notifications. This is more efficient and it is a good way to make sure everyone gets the information they need.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: There are no registration fees associated with the city’s Bonfire Hub.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A: For more information, please email procurement@whitehorse.ca
Fire and Protective Services
The Fire Department occasionally fills vacancies externally however preference is given to current volunteer members who are certified NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level II, IFSAC or PROBOARD.
Please note we are not currently recruiting members at this time. However, you can send your resume and certificates to the Chief Training Officer at chris.gerrior@whitehorse.ca and they will be kept on file for any future recruitment occurring.- Please note we are not currently recruiting members at this time. However, you can send your resume and certificates to the Chief Training Officer at chris.gerrior@whitehorse.ca and they will be kept on file for any future recruitment occurring.
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Participate and Get Involved in your Community! Please visit our Volunteer web pages.
- Definitely. The membership engages in numerous social functions each year. We strongly believe that camaraderie is a vital component to a successful department.
- Volunteer Firefighters are covered by workers compensation when working for the Fire Department.
- Yes. Volunteer Firefighters are paid for attending calls and regular training once they have successfully completed the basic training program.
Fleet and Transportation Maintenance
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
There are over 600 lane kilometres of roadway maintained by the Operations Department, including roads that are paved, un-paved roads, and roads treated with Bituminous Surface Treatments.
Learn more about the Transportation Maintenance Policy.
The Operations Department is responsible for snow and ice control on approximately 600 lane kilometers of roadways within the municipal boundaries. The exception is the Alaska & Klondike highways (owned by the Government of Yukon), and private developments.
Learn more about the Snow and Ice Control Policy.
All highways, including the Alaska Highway running through Whitehorse, are maintained by Yukon Government Highways & Public Works. They can be contacted at 393-7193, or visit their website.
Street lights belong to and are repaired by ATCO Electric Yukon. They can be contacted at 633-7000, or visit their website.
Human Resources
- Click here to view our job postings and find more information!
- Click here to view the forms applicable to City employees in this situation.
Each department has its own section on the website, with contact information. These pages can be accessed through the Departments tab or through the Contact List. If you still cannot find what you are looking for, please provide feedback!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here for details on the Unions covering City employees.
- Click here to view benefit booklets applicable to City employees.
- Review the Corporate Safety Policy here.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
Contact the Employee Assistance Program as follows
1-800-663-1142 English
1-866-398-9505 en francais
1-888-384-1152 TTY
1-604-689-1717 International (call collect)
Check your collective agreement details here.
- Contact HR now to get started!
The first thing to do is to report the injury. More information can be found on the Yukon Worker's Compensation Bureau website.
- Click here to view the benefit forms applicable to City employees in this situation.
- Click here to view collective agreements applicable to City employees.
Land and Building Services
- For information on Zoning Amendments and Conditional Use applications, please visit Current Amendments and Applications.
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
Legislative Services
- Click here to see more information on Council grants.
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
See the Minutes and Agendas page for more information!
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
Parks
- Click here to see more information on Council grants.
Visit our Facility Booking Information web page!
- Click here to see our playgrounds listing complete with addresses, pictures and more information!
- Click here for the Trails web page!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
Planning and Sustainability Services
- For information on Zoning Amendments and Conditional Use applications, please visit Current Amendments and Applications.
- Click here to see more information on Council grants.
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
- The speed limit changes being considered should help make the roads safer for all users, including cyclists.
- As of January 2018, we are working on the Downtown Parking Management Plan Update.
Recreation
All rentals, programs and camps affected by the closure, registrants will be contacted directly regarding credits or refunds.
- Click here to see more information on Council grants.
Visit our Facility Booking Information web page!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
Are you looking to purchase City of Whitehorse pins for an upcoming tournament, conference or event?
City of Whitehorse pins can be purchased at the Canada Games Centre. Please visit the reception counter. Pins are sold in bags of 25 for $10. Payment options include cash, debit, Visa or MasterCard, and recreation gift cards.
Visitors and residents can continue to receive a complimentary City of Whitehorse pin at the Yukon Visitor Information Centre. Only bulk pin purchases are available at the Canada Games Centre.- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
See our CGC Schedules here!
We currently do not have a reopen date and we will be sure to provide an update as we receive recommendations from Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Staff will still be answering phones and checking emails between 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 7 days a week. Call us at 667-4FUN.
We are experiencing a high volume of calls and messages so we appreciate your patience as we work through this.
Strategic Communications
Each department has its own section on the website, with contact information. These pages can be accessed through the Departments tab or through the Contact List. If you still cannot find what you are looking for, please provide feedback!
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
Are you looking to purchase City of Whitehorse pins for an upcoming tournament, conference or event?
City of Whitehorse pins can be purchased at the Canada Games Centre. Please visit the reception counter. Pins are sold in bags of 25 for $10. Payment options include cash, debit, Visa or MasterCard, and recreation gift cards.
Visitors and residents can continue to receive a complimentary City of Whitehorse pin at the Yukon Visitor Information Centre. Only bulk pin purchases are available at the Canada Games Centre.Visit our partners at travelyukon.com and view more information. You can also speak to a Travel Counsellor on the phone or by or email!
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
- Thanks for your interest, please click here for visitor information!
The City of Whitehorse's facebook page is facebook.com/cityofwhitehorse. Like us today!
The City of Whitehorse's Instagram is available here. Follow us today!
The City of Whitehorse's LinkedIn page is available here. Follow us today!
- The City of Whitehorse's Twitter account is @city_whitehorse. Follow us today!
The City of Whitehorse's YouTube channel is available here. Subscribe today!
Transit Services
Trained service dogs with registration papers are welcome.
Passengers cannot bring any loose (non-caged) animals on the bus. However, if they are small and in a cage, any animal can be transported.
The new loop based system offers flexible options for all riders with shorter ride times in most cases. Take a look at your route and see if there is a stop across the road from where you got off.
For example, if you went from Riverdale to the Canada Games Centre (CGC) on Route 2, there is no need to get back on at the CGC and ride the loop all the way through Copper Ridge before heading back to Riverdale. Instead, cross Hamilton Blvd at the CGC and catch the bus at the Hamilton and Valley View stop.Visit our Schedules and Information web page for more information!
- Click here for more information on the Handy Bus.
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
All bus routes and buses are now low floor accessible buses. Learn more here.
Visit our Schedules and Information web page!
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
The new bus system features a transfer zone along 2nd Avenue from Rotary Park to Industrial Way. Riders can transfer from their bus to any other bus along this zone. If you need to transfer, ask your driver for a transfer slip when you get on the bus. It is important to note, to have a seamless tranfer you should get off at transfer zone stop furthest from where you got on. For example, if coming from Riverdale to transfer to Yukon College, get off at the Industrial Road stop, rather than Rotary Park.
Visit our Schedules and Information web page for more information!- Click here for Transit fare information.
Want to save money using the Canada Games Centre and Transit? Check out whitehorse.ca/superpass for more information!
- Click here for locations where Transit schedules and passes can be obtained.
Water and Waste Services
Visit our Facility Hours page.
The Canada Games Centre hours vary, please visit the CGC page for more information.
- Click here to provide your email address and sign up for notifications from the City of Whitehorse!
The residential sector accounts for 10% of the waste in Whitehorse; the other 90% comes from commercial sectors. Staff are actively working on implementing the 2013 Solid Waste Action Plan (SWAP), which targets programs and policies to increase waste diversion from those commercial sectors. Projects include:
- Commercial organics collection has been developed, now diverting 22 tonnes/week
- Cardboard, clean wood waste, and organic waste for food service businesses are now controlled
- The compost facility has increased its capacity and is offering better compost quality
- The landfill is monitoring unsorted loads
- Technical assistance is provided to commercial customers who need diversion support
- Diversion Credits have been increased and payments are now quarterly
- These are programs where a small surcharge is added up-front to a product and that fee goes to ensure proper disposal of that item at end of life. For example, in the Yukon there is a small surcharge on beverage containers. When you bring your beverage container back to a recycler, you get half that fee back as a refund, and the other half goes to ensure that beverage container is recycled. This provides much-needed revenue to recycling processors and depots. The Yukon also has a program like that for tires.Beverage containers and tires are two examples of stewardship programs. That means that they are administered and operated by the government.Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is very similar to stewardship, except it’s run by industry. For example, in the case of beverage containers, it would be manufacturers of beverages (like Coke and Pepsi) that would administer and operate the program. This means that manufacturers have a financial incentive to ensure their products have less waste and are affordable to recycle.Most provinces across Canada have either stewardship or EPR programs to fund recycling (and also proper disposal of hazardous wastes like CFL light bulbs). When stewardship or EPR programs are in place, it takes the pressure off municipalities to pay for recycling and proper disposal – which means utility fees and tipping fees don’t have to pay for these services.
- Ideally the City (and all Yukon communities) would have stewardship programs, placing a surcharge on products at point of sale to pay for the recycling of that product (just like pop cans or tires now). When products are funded up front, municipalities no longer have to pay to recycle or dispose of those products. Stewardship programs are a territorial responsibility and out of City control.
Until stewardship programs are in place, the City has to find funding for the processors, or there is a risk they will discontinue recycling. Increased funding options could include: a direct tax increase, tipping fee increases or a contracted curbside recycling program. The faster the territorial government establishes stewardship, the less pressure there is for the City to increase fees and taxes. - Check out our What Goes Where app now!
Refundable and non-refundable recyclable materials can be taken to P&M Recycling Depot (Mon-Sat 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am – 4:00 pm), Raven Recycling (http://www.ravenrecycling.org/hours-of-operation), the recycling bins at the Waste Management Facility (Mon-Fri 7:30 am – 5:30pm, Sat-Sun 9:00am - 5:30pm), or via a collection service with the Yukon Blue Bin Society.
The City's study on curbside recycling collection and processing was released in November 2014.
Click here to view the report summary.
Click here to view the full report.
Click here for our Waste Management Facility page.
Why do we have to pay for residential organics collection? Doesn’t the City profit from selling our compost back to users?
Compost operations currently cost the City $275,000/year. This cost is recovered through utility fees for the residential green cart collection service and from organic tipping fees of $36/tonne. More important than a money-making operation, creating compost from local organic material keeps this waste out of the landfill. As organics decompose in a landfill they create methane, a greenhouse gas that is more potent than carbon dioxide, and toxic leachate that pollutes ground water and the air. Separating organics from our waste reduces our contribution to climate change and at the same time allows us to create a valuable product: nutrient-rich compost.With money from commodities, plus Yukon Government and City diversion credits, isn’t there enough money to process and ship recyclables?
No, both processors still cross-subsidize the profits they make from their BCR depots and contract for services, to pay for recycling the vast majority of household recycling. YG diversion credits have helped keep the processors from shutting down in the short term. YG has committed to paying Diversion Credits until March of 2017. Recycling needs a long term stable funding source.