2000 Historical Photos

Robert Service’s Birthday

Every year the Yukon celebrates Robert Service’s birthday. Service emigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1894. He joined the Bank of Commerce in Victoria, B.C. and was transferred to Whitehorse and then to Dawson City. After 8 years in the Yukon he left in 1912. By then he was successful as a poet – his first poems “Songs of a Sourdough” was published in 1907. He spent most of the rest of his life in France where he died in 1958. Doug Bell was instrumental in founding the annual celebration.