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Yukon Nuggets

1968

Other News From 1968

  • Newly elected Aldermen Jean Banks and Leo VanVugt are sworn in. Bert Wybrew won the Mayoralty race defeating contenders Duke Collins and R.B. Cousins Wybrew replaced retiring Mayor Howard Firth but the election is challenged. Judge Parker will rule on the validity of the election. Jim Light is appointed as an Alderman to fill the vacancy created when Duke Collins resigned to run for Mayor. In mid-March, Bert Wybrew is sworn in as Mayor following a new election.
  • Ken McKinnon is named President of the newly formed Arctic Winter Games Society. The first games will be held in Yellowknife in 1970.
  • The Yukon Flag, designed by Lynn Lambert of Destruction Bay as a Centennial project in 1967, is officially adopted by the Yukon Territorial Council.
  • John Frame is consecrated a new Anglican Bishop of the Anglican Church.
  • A ten thousand horsepower addition to the Whitehorse Power Plant is announced. The plan will bring the total capacity to 25,000 horsepower. The increase is needed to supply power to the newly opened Anvil Mine near Faro.
  • The newly completed Lynn Office Building on Steele Street is leased to the Yukon Territorial Government.
  • The Army, Air force and Navy are no more. Integration of the three services results in the creation of a single Canadian Armed force.
  • Rolf Klug is elected President of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce succeeding Arnie Phillipsen.
  • Sixteen teams are entered in the Yukon Sourdough Dog Races. Wilfred Charlie of Carmacks is the winner with the fastest time over three days. Stephen Frost of Old Crow had the fastest time one day time and is second overall.
  • Parking meters are installed on Main Street.
  • Shirley Firth of Inuvik wins the U.S. Junior Cross Country Ski Championship.
  • Pierre Elliott Trudeau is elected Leader of the Liberal Party defeating Robert Winters and Paul Martin Sr.
  • On April 11, Rolf Hougen engages a broadcast engineering firm from Vancouver to advise on the establishment of a commercial radio station in Whitehorse.
  • Prime Minister Trudeau calls a federal election for Tuesday, June 25.
  • Three candidates Chris Findlay, Liberal, Erik Nielsen, Progressive Conservative and Rover McLaren, N.D.P. are named to run in the coming federal election.
  • Yukon Magistrate, William Trainor is leaving the Yukon after five years.
  • After serving ten years in the Yukon, Judge John Parker is named Chairman of B.C. Mediation Commission.
  • Mike Stoner, General Manager of United Keno Mines in Elsa, leaves the Yukon after five years.
  • Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles. He had climbed Mount Kennedy in the Yukon two years ago.
  • Jean Chretien is named Minister of Northern Development in the newly elected Trudeau government.
  • After forty-eight years in the Yukon Geoff Bidlake, along with his wife Mary, a long time staff member of Hougen's, are retiring to Victoria.
  • Mayor Bert Wybrew debated Mayor Vince Danzer of Edmonton over the Klondike Days controversy. The hour-long debate was shown on WHTV.
  • Father Andre Renaud is guest speaker at the annual Teacher's Convention.
  • 140 passengers went on the Legion charter trip to England via Pacific Western Airlines.
  • John Varcoe is sworn in as the new Yukon Magistrate succeeding William Trainor.
  • Ken Shortt has sold the Yukon Daily News to Dave Robertson. Don Sawatsky has been named editor.
  • Fire destroys the Kootenay Hotel in Atlin.
  • Canadian Pacific Airlines introduces 737-jet service to Whitehorse.
  • The Hougen Santa train once again takes hundreds of children to McRae and back to meet Santa.
  • 19th Alaska Science Conference held in Whitehorse August 26-28. The local committee consists of Bob Campbell, Bob Choate, Rolf Hougen, Allen Innes-Taylor, John Parker, Herb Wahl and Paul White.
  • The Minister of National Defence announces closure of the Yukon regiment.
  • Rolf Hougen is elected to the board of directors of Yukon Electrical Company Limited and Yukon Hydro Limited.