Air North, Yukon’s Airline, flight number 4N823 landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport Tuesday, marking the first-ever scheduled direct service between Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Toronto.
Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and Culture Ranj Pillai, Yukon MP Brendan Hanley, Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Chief Amanda Leas and Air North, Yukon’s Airline President and CEO Joe Sparling attended celebrations at the Erik Nielsen International Airport in Whitehorse and upon arrival at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
Celebrations included a special performance from Vuntut Gwichin First Nation cultural ambassadors the Teechik Dancers.
A third event was held Wednesday evening at CIBC Square in downtown Toronto to highlight the Yukon's many cultural and natural wonders. Works from the Yukon Permanent Art Collection and the Yukon Prize for Visual Arts were exhibited as well as Travel Yukon promotional displays. There was also a performance by the Teechik Dancers accompanied by Yukon musicians Boyd Benjamin and Kevin Barr.
These new direct flights between Whitehorse and Toronto will connect the Yukon to Canada’s biggest economic hub and create a new pathway for people from around the world to visit our territory. We are thrilled Air North, Yukon’s Airline is able to offer this new service and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to the Yukon and sharing the economic benefits that come with this additional air access.
Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and Culture Ranj Pillai
Air North, Yukon’s Airline owes our success to key Indigenous and community partnerships, which have allowed us to navigate the many challenges we have encountered during the past 20 years. We are pleased to have added Toronto to our network, ensuring residents of the Yukon’s regional communities have seamless and affordable access to the rest of Canada and the world. This will broaden education, sports and cultural horizons for youth, and facilitate regional economic development. We are proud to make the North a better place to live and work.
Air North President and CEO Joe Sparling
The new route to Toronto runs twice weekly from May through September. Flights are now available to book at flyairnorth.com.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Cameron Webber
Communications, Tourism and Culture
867-332-0400
cameron.webber@yukon.ca