| |
| January |
| January 7, 1944 |
Washington releases that the Canol oil pipeline will be completed by the U.S. government despite recommendations that the project be abandoned. |
| January 7, 1944 |
With the last issue in December, the Whitehorse Star completes forty-three years of service in the Yukon. |
| January 7, 1944 |
Carpentry work is completed on the new White Pass and Yukon Railway engine house. The building had been destroyed by fire on Christmas night, 1943. |
| January 14, 1944 |
A well-equipped completely modern laundry and dry cleaning plant is built on the banks of the Lewes River near McCrae. |
| January 14, 1944 |
The entire Yukon Territory, N.W.T. and parts of Alberta are declared "prohibited areas" under the Defence Air Regulations. It is stated that this action has been taken "in order that military control can be exercised over air transport in the whole area". |
| January 19, 1944 |
Pioneering Yukoner, H. G. MacPherson, owner of a drug store on Front Street since 1907, passes away. |
| February |
| February 4, 1944 |
Earthquake tremors shook many premises in town yesterday. |
| February 11, 1944 |
Alexander A. Smith is elected to the Yukon Territorial Council. |
| February 11, 1944 |
The Honourable Ernest Gruening, Governor of Alaska, is a visitor to Whitehorse on his way to Juneau from Fairbanks. |
| February 11, 1944 |
Robert W. Service makes an appearance in the Hollywood movie "The Spoilers". |
| February 12, 1944 |
A farewell banquet for American Brigadier-General James A. O'Connor, Officer Commanding the Northwest Service Command is given by residents of Whitehorse at the Inn Café. Horace Moore, editor of the Whitehorse Star, is the Master of Ceremonies. A gold key to town is presented to O’Connor who spearheaded the race to build the Alaska Highway. |
| February 16, 1944 |
The final weld on the Canol pipeline is made by Bob Shivel, twenty months after the project began. |
| February 19, 1944 |
The citizens of Whitehorse, through the Whitehorse Star, receives a letter of appreciation from Brigadier-General O’Connor for the send-off. He says the key will always be a treasured memento, but that he needed no souvenir to remind him of the town of Whitehorse and its wonderful people. |
| February 19, 1944 |
The recreation hall of the RCAF is the banquet location for the first RCAF wedding in the Yukon. Leading aircraftsman Jason McNair marries Rita Aikens. Both are originally from Montreal. The wedding takes place in the Chapel of Christ Church. |
| February 24, 1944 |
CFWH, the U.S. Army operated radio station, begins regular broadcasting. |
| February 25, 1944 |
Sales of War Savings Certificates in British Columbia and the Yukon registered a substantial gain in January amounting to $425,000 compared with $380,892 in December. |
| February 25, 1944 |
The Whitehorse Chapter of the I.O.D.E. submits it annual financial statement. Mrs. Matthew Watson of the Carcross chapter alone raised $608 for the organization’s contribution to “the war funds”. |
| April |
| April 28, 1944 |
Henry C. Macaulay, first mayor of Dawson, YT, dies in Vancouver at the age of 74. |
| May |
| May 5, 1944 |
The Canol Refinery, built by Standard Oil for the U.S. Army, officially opens in Whitehorse on April 30, 1944. Three thousand people attended. |
| May 12, 1944 |
Alaska Highway air fields have already more than paid for themselves with the number of aircraft that has utilized them under emergency conditions. |
| May 25, 1944 |
The first river boat of the season, The Whitehorse, departs for Dawson on with Captain Bromley in control. |
| May 26, 1944 |
Dawson suffers its worst flood in history, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Four American bombers from Fairbanks, Alaska are called in to break the ice jam. |
| June |
| June 6, 1944 |
The Western Allies landed in northern France, opening the long-awaited 'Second Front' against Germany. Commanded by U.S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Normandy assault phase, code-named "Neptune" (the entire operation was "Overlord"), was launched when weather reports predicted satisfactory conditions. D-Day had begun. |
| June 16, 1944 |
Whitehorse residents petition Ottawa for public utilities. |
| June 16, 1944 |
Gordon R. Cameron and his bride take up their residence in Whitehorse. |
| June 16, 1944 |
On June 11, 1944, Berent Hougen arrives in Whitehorse from Francois Lake, B.C. as the local representative for Rawleigh Products. |
| June 19, 1944 |
Sam Johnson, a colourful figure in the Klondike Goldrush of ‘98, passes away at the age of 84. |
| June 23, 1944 |
On June 9, 1944, George Black, M.P. for the Yukon Territory, introduces in the Commons an amendment to the elections Act relative to the Yukon being grouped with Alberat instead of with British Columbia. The amendment was rejected. |
| July |
| July 7, 1944 |
Whitehorse Men’s Council; Honourary President, Inspector Cronkhite, R.C.M.P: President, E.F. (Ted) Pinchin: Vice President, Jack Barber: Secretary, Rev. L.G Chappel: Treasurer, Geoff Bidlake. |
| August |
| August 1, 1944 |
Alaska travel permits are no longer required for traveling the highway to Alaska. |
| August 11, 1944 |
Whitehorse welcomes the return of the Northwest Service Command after a period spent in Edmonton. |
| September |
| September 15, 1944 |
The business men of Whitehorse at their own expense installed both a water and sewerage system, as well as laying the concrete sidewalk on Main Street to 3rd Avenue and to T.C. Richards’ home at 3rd Avenue and Steele Street. |
| September 22, 1944 |
A powerful radio telegraph system nears completion on the Northwest Staging route between Edmonton and Whitehorse. It is called the most effective system of radio telegraph and telephone communications ever established by the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Northwest Staging Route is the name given all operations along the Alaska Highway. |
| October |
| October 27, 1944 |
War department officials state they intend to continue operating the Alaska Highway until six months after the end of the war as per their original agreement with Canada. |
| November |
| November 3, 1944 |
The first U.S. Women's Army Corps arrive in Whitehorse. They are the first WAC'S to be assigned to service outside the United States. |
| November 10, 1944 |
Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President of the United States for a fourth term. He is the first to receive this honour. |
| December |
| December 8, 1944 |
The Whitehorse Men’s Hockey League is organized. President, Inspector H.H Cronkhite, R.C.M.P: Vice-president, Mr.York Wilson, W.P. & Y.R.: Secretary Mike Nolan, R.C.M.P. |
| December 15, 1944 |
Under the direction of the British Columbia government schools have been established along the Alaska Highway to serve the families of the maintenance crews. |
| December 15, 1944 |
Major C.A.K. Innes-Taylor has become director of the U.S. Army Arctic Training Centre at Namao airport. |
| December 22, 1944 |
Improvements to the Alaska Highway are requested by the American Auto Association. They are anxious to promote post-war tourist traffic. |
| December 29, 1944 |
Mr. H. Milton Martin is appointed Public Administrator for the Yukon Territory. |
