Backgrounder - Support for Yukon Tourism

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, on behalf of the Government of Canada, will provide a total of $355,770 to the Carcross Tagish Development Corporation for four projects that will stimulate and diversify Yukon’s tourism industry.

CanNor funding: $355,770
Carcross Tagish Development Corporation: $87,590

The Carcross Tagish Development Corporation (CTDC) and the Carcross Tagish First Nation (CTFN) work together to create sustainable business and economic development in keeping with traditional values. Approximately 85,000 visitors come through Carcross each year, and the community wants to capitalize on this through four tourism-related enhancements over two years:

• Carcross Cabins ($172,000) – CTDC will undertake a study to determine the feasibility of building a series of cabins for use as tourist accommodations, and develop a detailed business and marketing plan to guide its tourism initiatives.
  
  
• Skookum Jim’s House ($53,000) – Development of a business plan to assess the viability of relocating the historic Skookum Jim’s house to downtown Carcross, and potentially converting it to a retail ready venue.  If the plan is approved, funding will enable further activities to relocate Skookum Jim’s house.
  
  
• Montana Mountain Single Track Trails ($117,750) – Planning, design and construction of 20 to 25 kilometres of single-track mountain bike trails on Montana Mountain, adjacent to Carcross. This project extends on an existing, world-class trail project that began in 2005. 
  
  
• Resort Communication Strategy ($13,020) – Assessment of community interest and support for a $40 million high-end resort development in Milhaven Bay. Information sessions will be conducted to address the pros and cons of this development and its economic impact.

CanNor Programs

Investments for these projects was made possible through CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building in the three territories. 

SINED is part of a suite of economic development programs within CanNor which is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada’s economic development activities in the territories, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.