Thursday, February 14, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Joy to my World
So my cousin David remarked the other day that I had not updated since May!!! Of course I knew that, but what with the whirlwind of our lives had just not gotten to it!
For any of you who DON'T know already, in June we had the joy of welcoming a beautiful little girl - Waverly Rose - into the world, our family, and (in August) our home here in Whitehorse! Her adoption finalizes this January, which is when we can start posting photos of her publicly (another reason I haven't blogged!).
For now, here's a little sneak peek at the joy in my life:
And you can't even see the snow outside, the 36 below outside the door, the cozy house around me, the hot mulled wine in my hand or the Christmas carols playing!
Joy indeed...!
For any of you who DON'T know already, in June we had the joy of welcoming a beautiful little girl - Waverly Rose - into the world, our family, and (in August) our home here in Whitehorse! Her adoption finalizes this January, which is when we can start posting photos of her publicly (another reason I haven't blogged!).
For now, here's a little sneak peek at the joy in my life:
And you can't even see the snow outside, the 36 below outside the door, the cozy house around me, the hot mulled wine in my hand or the Christmas carols playing!
Joy indeed...!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
River-ON!
James and I went for our first paddle of the season last weekend, up (yes, UP) and then down the Yukon River at Miles Canyon. It was loooovely to be back on the water again... Saw some awesome river-on real estate too (and the beaver who lives there), and ducks. ( Watch the video)
Monday, April 02, 2012
And THIS week in the Yukon News...!
Assante ascends to top of Rapids league | Yukon News
(equally cerebral, a little on the lighter side...)
(equally cerebral, a little on the lighter side...)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
This Week in The Yukon News
Open Letter to Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski:
I heard you speak on the radio last week, after the packed gallery for the first Spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly had conveniently emptied at the end of Question Period (it certainly could not have been called Answer Period, as you and Brad Cathers so clearly illustrated). You said that the people of the Yukon voted for the Yukon Party's management of the Peel Watershed when you won a majority of seats in the 2011 election – implying that this win meant that a majority of Yukoners stand behind you and therefore you do not need to listen to those now protesting. Hearing this made me upset enough to write this response, to remind you that just because the Yukon Party gained a majority of seats, you did NOT gain a majority of Yukon votes. The fact that you have the majority of the seats in the Legislature is a result of our current, and I believe flawed, electoral system. The Yukon Party won with only 40% of the popular vote - that is NOT a majority and does NOT mean that your party is representing the majority of the people of the Yukon. The fact that the Yukon Party is in power should not imply that your views and policies are representing the majority of us, the people of the Yukon.
From the people of the Yukon, meanwhile, I am heartened and encouraged to see the number of privately-created petitions, letters, and media ads from the other 60% of us, created and paid for by individual citizens who are coming together and putting their time, money, and effort where their mouth is to take a stand on what is important to them, and to ensure that their views are being clearly presented. Whether their voices are being clearly heard is another question altogether.
Here is my voice - I had the amazing opportunity to fly onto McClusky Lake and to paddle down the Wind and Peel Rivers last Summer. Some have stated that tourists and adventurers want to maintain the Peel Watershed for our own selfish use as a wilderness playground. This is untrue - I am not protesting development in the Peel based on my own personal attachment to this region or even on any likelihood that I will return there. It is an unbelievably important and beautiful region that deserves protection in its own right. However, spending over two weeks in the area myself did give me valuable personal insight into exactly what this contested area is like, and just what we have to lose. The thought of this rich wilderness region having landing strips and mining camps and drilling occurring, being exposed to radioactivity, polluting the soil and the water, displacing and destroying the wildlife all for short-term financial gain is sickening to me. Mid-way down the Wind River, I woke up one morning and looked out of my tent. And I saw a scene before me - of a pristine river valley and mountains glowing in the morning sun - that literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. Despite travels and many beautiful wilderness experiences throughout the Yukon, Canada, and worldwide, I have never experienced the awe that I felt at that moment. I was made speechless by the realization that, “This is what the whole entire world was once like.” We no longer have the whole entire world of unspoilt wilderness, but we do have this, and this is so important to save.
And if you want the numbers on that, Premier Pasloski - the Peel Watershed constitutes 14% of the Yukon. The Peel Commission's final recommended plan is seeking protection for 11% of the territory. Omitting areas already protected, currently almost 88% of the Yukon is open to industrial development. According to information from the Yukon Government's Department of the Environment, community and web-based consultations of the Peel Commission in 2010 found 79% of Yukoners wish to preserve 100% of the Peel Watershed with an additional 9% accepting the recommended 80% protection. Which leaves just 12% of Yukoners seeking less than 80% protection of this region. Those are the numbers. That is “the majority”. Oh, but I heard you don't count polls, right Premier Pasloski? Never even look at them? Then maybe we should have other democratic avenues of expression, other ways to count votes. Like referendums. Or recalls.
Anni Elliston
Whitehorse
I heard you speak on the radio last week, after the packed gallery for the first Spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly had conveniently emptied at the end of Question Period (it certainly could not have been called Answer Period, as you and Brad Cathers so clearly illustrated). You said that the people of the Yukon voted for the Yukon Party's management of the Peel Watershed when you won a majority of seats in the 2011 election – implying that this win meant that a majority of Yukoners stand behind you and therefore you do not need to listen to those now protesting. Hearing this made me upset enough to write this response, to remind you that just because the Yukon Party gained a majority of seats, you did NOT gain a majority of Yukon votes. The fact that you have the majority of the seats in the Legislature is a result of our current, and I believe flawed, electoral system. The Yukon Party won with only 40% of the popular vote - that is NOT a majority and does NOT mean that your party is representing the majority of the people of the Yukon. The fact that the Yukon Party is in power should not imply that your views and policies are representing the majority of us, the people of the Yukon.
From the people of the Yukon, meanwhile, I am heartened and encouraged to see the number of privately-created petitions, letters, and media ads from the other 60% of us, created and paid for by individual citizens who are coming together and putting their time, money, and effort where their mouth is to take a stand on what is important to them, and to ensure that their views are being clearly presented. Whether their voices are being clearly heard is another question altogether.
Here is my voice - I had the amazing opportunity to fly onto McClusky Lake and to paddle down the Wind and Peel Rivers last Summer. Some have stated that tourists and adventurers want to maintain the Peel Watershed for our own selfish use as a wilderness playground. This is untrue - I am not protesting development in the Peel based on my own personal attachment to this region or even on any likelihood that I will return there. It is an unbelievably important and beautiful region that deserves protection in its own right. However, spending over two weeks in the area myself did give me valuable personal insight into exactly what this contested area is like, and just what we have to lose. The thought of this rich wilderness region having landing strips and mining camps and drilling occurring, being exposed to radioactivity, polluting the soil and the water, displacing and destroying the wildlife all for short-term financial gain is sickening to me. Mid-way down the Wind River, I woke up one morning and looked out of my tent. And I saw a scene before me - of a pristine river valley and mountains glowing in the morning sun - that literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. Despite travels and many beautiful wilderness experiences throughout the Yukon, Canada, and worldwide, I have never experienced the awe that I felt at that moment. I was made speechless by the realization that, “This is what the whole entire world was once like.” We no longer have the whole entire world of unspoilt wilderness, but we do have this, and this is so important to save.
And if you want the numbers on that, Premier Pasloski - the Peel Watershed constitutes 14% of the Yukon. The Peel Commission's final recommended plan is seeking protection for 11% of the territory. Omitting areas already protected, currently almost 88% of the Yukon is open to industrial development. According to information from the Yukon Government's Department of the Environment, community and web-based consultations of the Peel Commission in 2010 found 79% of Yukoners wish to preserve 100% of the Peel Watershed with an additional 9% accepting the recommended 80% protection. Which leaves just 12% of Yukoners seeking less than 80% protection of this region. Those are the numbers. That is “the majority”. Oh, but I heard you don't count polls, right Premier Pasloski? Never even look at them? Then maybe we should have other democratic avenues of expression, other ways to count votes. Like referendums. Or recalls.
Anni Elliston
Whitehorse
Monday, March 05, 2012
And again...
Although if you click on Air North's Seat Sales you won't find any listings, flights are now down to $266 return, if you actually key in some dates... SO, those of you who didn't make the last WestJet-AirNorth price war could still fly on up for even less than my last, unprecedented low rate!! Siiiivvvv fly upppppp!!
(and today's birdy background for: flight! cheep cheep!)
(and today's birdy background for: flight! cheep cheep!)
Friday, March 02, 2012
RMR: Rick and Arctic Winter Games
Whitehorse welcomes the Arctic Winter Games!!
Very funny from Rick Mercer at a past AWG in Yellowknife...
And here's my report from the Canada Winter Games back in 2007 -- I'm looking forward to checking out the Inuit and Dene events this coming week too!
http://belowthepermafrost.blogspot.com/2007/03/kids-try-this-at-home.html
Very funny from Rick Mercer at a past AWG in Yellowknife...
And here's my report from the Canada Winter Games back in 2007 -- I'm looking forward to checking out the Inuit and Dene events this coming week too!
http://belowthepermafrost.blogspot.com/2007/03/kids-try-this-at-home.html
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