Yukon public servants honoured with Premier’s Award for Excellence and Innovation

Individuals

Jessica Smith
Category: Excellence in Leadership
Jessica is the Nurse in Charge at the Mayo Health Centre. She has demonstrated resilience and dedication to her staff and the community during times of extreme staff shortages, a global pandemic, the opioid emergency and forest fire evacuations. Jessica leads with integrity and has developed and maintained respectful relations with her staff and the community. Jessica is not only a strong professional role model but also an active member of the community, participating in sports, recreation and community events. Jessica has an empathic and holistic approach to care and patients trust her not just for her clinical expertise, but for the kindness and dignity with which she treats every individual.

Stephanie Coombes
Category: Outstanding Achievement
Stephanie was the first registered nurse to join the Child, Youth and Family Therapeutics Team (CYFTT). In less than a year, she has integrated into the CYFTT and the Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services and formed numerous community partnerships. It is through her outstanding ability to build partnerships that CYFTT successfully launched the Youth Outreach Clinic. She worked closely with the local organizations by participating in community events such as the Farmer’s Market and the PRIDE parade. These initiatives helped raise awareness about available services and supported the team’s work in reaching a wider audience and fostering stronger connections with the community. Stephanie’s actions have enabled the expansion of primary care services into critical locations such as Whitehorse high schools, the Youth Achievement Centre and the Boys and Girls Club. These partnerships have been instrumental in promoting integrated care and breaking down barriers to essential service for youth and families. Stephanie’s innovative approach has increased accessibility to care and contributed to a more inclusive healthcare model that addresses the diverse needs of individuals who may face barriers. Stephanie has played a pivotal role in expanding vaccination availability at the Referred Care Clinic, leveraging her vast experience to provide mentorship and education.

Amanda Hatch
Category: Outstanding Achievement
Amanda is a registered nurse at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre. Thanks to her commitment, inmates frequently request to see her because they know she listens, cares and will advocate for their wellbeing. Amanda ensures that even the most marginalized Yukoners receive dignified, timely and effective health care, whether they are experiencing a medical emergency, mental health crisis or simply need someone to listen. Amanda has transformed the standard of care within the correctional facility. She has brought the institution into the modern healthcare era by securing new equipment that significantly enhances the centre’s capacity to respond to medical situations. She has established and coordinated regular in-unit dental and mental wellness clinics that not only address acute health needs but also promote preventive care and public health education. Amanda has spearheaded the development and implementation of the comprehensive opioid use disorder treatment policy, on-site protocols for minor lacerations treatments, introduced advanced emergency monitoring systems, led specialized staff training, developed and led a COVID-19 public health response and built a multidisciplinary health services unit capable of delivering trauma-informed care, mental health support, gynecological and obstetrical care, emergency response and health promotion programs. Through this, she has achieved a 95 per cent reduction in emergency room visits by inmates due to the efficiency of the systems she has implemented.

Flora Asp
Category: Innovation
Flora is a visionary educator and policy leader whose work has had a profound and lasting impact on the Yukon education system. Through her leadership she has transformed how Yukon First Nations knowledge is recognized and honoured in schools. Her ability to work across governments, inspire trust and drive systemic change has led to one of the most significant advancements in Yukon education. Flora played a pivotal role in the successful development and launch of the Accreditation of Yukon First Nations Traditional Knowledge, Cultural and Language Learning Policy. This is a landmark achievement in Indigenous education. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the policy process wasn’t just inclusive but also co-created. Flora’s work to support the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s self-governance in education and her leadership on the Dawson City Rural Experiential Model event are two examples of her collaborative actions. Flora also led the Rural Education Model which brings students together from different rural communities to gain opportunities and access to earn credits in creative ways. Flora’s work is shaping future education in the Yukon and is setting a national example of how Indigenous and public education systems can work together in trust and respect.

Andy Blattmann
Category: Public Service
Andy is a local legend in Faro and Ross River. For the last 20 years, Andy has been the Government of Yukon’s sole building maintenance worker in Faro. He is usually the last line of defense between an inoperable building and public programs continuing to function. He single-handedly manages a wide-ranging portfolio of buildings both in Faro and often in Ross River, with a myriad of assets and components between them. He acts as an electrical, carpentry, mechanical and HVAC craftsperson as the need arises. In his 20 years, he has woven himself into the fabric of the communities with his unwavering standard of public service. It is because of him that many school closures have been avoided. Andy personally checks all of the Government of Yukon buildings in Drury Creek, Faro and Ross River each day, starting with the Faro Liquor Store and Territorial Agent Services Building. From clearing the pavement of snow and ice to keeping furnaces running, Andy does it all.

Dennis Clutton
Category: Public Service 
Dennis has dedicated over 18 years to advancing inclusion in the Government of Yukon with a career focused on supporting people with disabilities. Dennis plays a critical role at the Document Destruction Centre (DDC), a unique and vital program that employes individuals with disabilities. His contributions directly affect the ability of clients to succeed in their roles and feel confident in their work. Dennis brings patience, resourcefulness and an unwavering commitment to quality service. Dennis has improved access to programs and information for Yukoners by using creative solutions tailored to individual needs. Whether he is troubleshooting a technical issue, welcoming new colleagues or helping clients build the best resume, Dennis fosters that connection and steps in with humility and grace. He genuinely cares for people and listens to their needs. Dennis leads a diverse team with leadership qualities that are hands-on, responsive and grounded in respect. He has found creative ways to meet client needs and strengthen the operations of the Diversity and Inclusion Branch. The DDC crew state, “Dennis has elevated the standard for what it means to provide meaningful, high-impact service to the public. He is a pillar of professionalism, a problem-solver and a bridge-builder. In an increasingly complex world, he makes things better”.

Teams 

Traffic Safety Act Legislative Team
Category: Outstanding Achievement
Team Members: Melanie Fortunato, Ardeth Evans, Chris Butler, Katherine Hartshorne, Samantha Chrysanthou, Vern Janz
This team worked for six years on complex legislation that was finally passed in fall 2024 as the new Traffic Safety Act. This was an enormous achievement for the territory as the new Act replaces existing motor vehicle legislation and provides the foundation for the modernization of the territory’s long-outdated traffic safety laws. It is one of the largest pieces of legislation in the territory, encapsulating best practices from other jurisdictions, incorporating the perspectives from mulitple invested and diverse stakeholder groups and modernizes traffic safety legal framework that will enhance safety for years to come. The team worked with experts in various fields across Canada to ensure the Act addresses a wide array of critical safety enhancements. Through extensive research, ongoing relationship-building and commitment to excellence, the team successfully ensured the new Act is forward thinking and includes many world-leading best practices tailored to meet the unique needs of the Yukon.

Library Outreach Worker Team
Category: Innovation 
Team Members: Anne, Aram, Mireille Simon, Deserine Grimes, Lynn Williams, Fiona Munroe, Naomi Collins, Melissa Yu Schott, Sarah Gallagher
This team pooled Yukon Public Library staff with Health and Social Services staff for a community outreach services-type program. Library Outreach workers were stationed at the Public Library, which provided an extra location to meet potential clients and at the same time provided some relief for library staff who could focus on the traditional library tasks at hand. The result has been that staff and patrons feel safer and more supported. There was a lot to consider before this project started, such as cost sharing, space, hours, duties and communication with staff. The library outreach workers have contributed a wealth of information and skills to the library community. Each has brought ideas from their experience, education and backgrounds to enhance library services, including building one-on-one relationships with library regulars, introducing the concept of using snacks as a de-escalation tool and original programming such as beading kits and the Outreach Café Partnership with Service Canada. The collaborative spirit between the two partners has fostered a culture of openness to new approaches, which resulted in a service that continues to evolve to better meet the needs of everyone in the library community.

Aurora Virtual School
Category: Innovation 
Team Members: Mark Connell, Steven Biss, Amelia Fraser, Kirin Devries, Andrea Fougere-Chou
This dedicated group of educators has demonstrated leadership and creativity as agents in response to the growing number of students disengaging from traditional schooling, particularly in Grades 8 and 9. They have delivered creative and effective school programming for over 300 students a year. Without access to additional resources, this team has reimagined what school can look like for students who face challenges and heightened stress in regular school environments. Through collaboration and a deep commitment to student success, they have found creative and workable solutions while having limited access to resources. They are exemplary partnership-builders, always reaching out to work with community partners to develop improved community connections and build stronger resource networks. The Aurora Virtual School provides travelling science labs to rural Yukon communities, so online learners have an opportunity for hands-on science learning. They have provided Math 11 instruction to an adult employment group in Carcross and supported families by providing opportunities for field trips for homeschooled students.

Carcross Visitor Information Centre
Category: Public Service
Team Members: Ruth Foster, Shirley Lord
This team provided exceptional service for visitors during a time of crisis that had a direct impact on their lives and used creativity and innovation to meet the clients’ needs. On the night of July 23, 2024, a mud and rockslide occurred on the South Klondike Highway and the White Pass train tracks. In the late afternoon, the train was hit by a rockslide a few kilometers outside of Carcross, causing it to backtrack and buses were sent from Skagway to pick up passengers to return them to their cruise ships. Around 8:10 pm, the buses returned to Carcross due to more rock and mudslides on the highway. Ruth decided to open the restrooms and Visitor Information Centre and kept them open until 10 pm that evening. There ended up being around 400 stranded visitors. Most were elderly, hungry and in shock. Ruth contacted Shirley and the two of them, along with a guest of Shirley’s, prepared coffee, hot chocolate, tea and food for six large busloads and five small busloads of people. The buses were unable to continue to Skagway so they were directed to Haines, Alaska where the passengers could be reunited with their ships who were waiting for them offshore.

Lands Development Branch
Category: Outstanding Achievement
Team Members: Ben Campbell, Audrey Pflug, Bastien Robert, Laura Prentice, Brian Crist (retired), Duncan Martin, Eamonn Pinto, Hannah McDonald, Joseph Petch, Keiko Fujise, Kevin Fisher, Kira Beukeboom, Miasha Albisser, Myran McLauglin, Pierre Marchand, Vendula Lecbychova, Christine Lambert
This team creates lots for Yukoners and the land that is developed is the foundation for the Yukon’s housing, schools, health facilities and recreational pursuits. They partner with First Nations and municipalities to deliver and maintain an inventory of lots to address demand in a territory that is facing unprecedented growth. Since 2018, the team has been intensifying their program and launched more project feasibility, planning, design and construction work to ensure a supply of new residential, commercial and industrial lots in Yukon municipalities and communities. In 2024, the Lands Branch completed 202 lots across the territory and advanced 15 construction projects, nine master plans, 13 feasibility assessments and five detailed design projects. They have worked closely with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation on the Range Point subdivision. Through this collaboration, the team has consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, strategic thinking and a strong commitment to partnership. Their approach goes beyond technical excellence, bringing collaborative problem-solving, practical innovation and forward momentum to the table. Their willingness to develop solutions has been instrumental in maintaining the ambitious pace of Range Point development. Whether finding ways to rejuvenate a series of tired, vacant lots or assisting in helping to develop a much-needed new industrial subdivision, this team takes up the challenge and proves to be a great resource.

Tombstone Interpretive Centre
Category: Innovation
Team Members: Carrie Mierau, Olivia Masters, Bella Sol Roy Gelinas, Ingrid Janzen, Anne Morrison, Quinn Heal, Tommy Landry, Miriam Behman, Samir Braham, Amélie Kenny-Robichaud, Joanie Maheu, Myriam Lachance-Bernard
Recognizing the gap in French-language services, a collaboration between the French Language Services Directorate and the Department of Environment transformed the Tombstone Interpretive Centre (TIC) into a bilingual point of service. Services are now available in English and French with some services available in Hän. This team met the needs of ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to accessing park services. Their commitment to providing high-quality, accessible and reliable service is evident in the overwhelmingly positive feedback received. The team overcame the challenge of providing bilingual services in an area with limited technological resources. Despite the remote location and lack of internet access, the team embraced intensive, customized French-language training, which was tailored to include region-specific terms, even integrating the local Hän language, for a truly unique and culturally inclusive service offering. This work has had a profound impact on visitor experience and safety, particularly in providing timely and accurate information such as road conditions and emergency communications in both French and English. Additionally, relevant cultural, biological and geographical information is now available in all three languages: Hän, English and French.

Referred Care Clinic
Category: Public Service
Team members: Tyler Bowman, Emerald Gillespie, Caro Logan, Christina Kenny, Elli Savoie, Janelle Greer, Zoe Braul, Eilish (Fin) Doran, Michael Arsenault, Ed Anderson, Andrej Dewolf, Iqbal Brar, Maricor Fiendell, Scott Burrell, Sam Bidaman, Derek Bryant, Brittany Greer, Gillian Gibson, Megan Schenke, Adi Boon, Willie Bell, Sharon Lazeo, Sunshine Giesbrecht, Leandra Wellneier
The Referred Care Clinic provides health care and services for clients that otherwise would not have access to a health care team. These services include outreach clinics, home visits, opioid treatment and counselling, case management and access to primary care, among others. They are an integral service for access to timely and non-judgmental opioid treatment and preventative health care. Their clients are some of the most marginalized in our community and are less likely to access health care. The trust and rapport that this team builds allows clients to feel comfortable addressing their health care needs before requiring major intervention or hospitalization. Through the outreach clinics and home visits, they can reach a population of people that no other service can. Many of their clients are unhoused or do not have regular access to a phone, so their client-centred model is the only way they can be reached.