Yukon College eyes Haines Junction lot for expansion

Officials from Yukon College were in Haines Junction Wednesday talking about ideas for a large piece of federal land, just outside the community.

Haines Junction mayor Mike Crawshay says the "blue-skying" exercise included working with the existing research station at Kluane Lake.

"The more you start thinking about it the more the opportunities are just endless, but there's enthusiasm for the project, I guess that's what Yukon College is looking for," he said.

In the past, the 32 hectare site has been used for the Kluane National Park's headquarters, and an experimental farm before that.

The discussions included using the land for projects conducted by the innovation centres at the college campus in Whitehorse and the carpentry program.

Crawshay said another idea could be a school for local governance at the site.

Yukon College president Karen Barnes says it could be looking at offering programming, such as northern research projects, and training within two to three years

"We have so many programs that use the outdoors for field camps and field study and culture camps and because there's such a big piece of land there, there's so many opportunities," she said. "There's forest, there's mountains nearby, plus it's so close to the services of the village."

Crawshay said the village supports the college's initiative.

The chief and council of the Champagne Aishihik First Nation were also briefed by college officials.

Crawshay says the federal government estimates the land is worth $1.6 million.