A Place To Call Home – Hospice Yukon

Carlotta Smith welcomes visitors to the house at 409 Jarvis Street.

Hospice Yukon has offered its services to Yukoners from the little house at 409 Jarvis Street in Whitehorse for more than 17 years. Visitors and clients who walk through the doors often remark at how comfortable and welcoming the space feels. More than just a building…it is a home where healing takes place.

Stacey Jones & Premier-great smiles! — Executive Director Stacey Jones and Premier Darrell Pasloski celebrate the house purchase.

This fall, after years of renting, Hospice Yukon Society was able to purchase the house thanks to a generous contribution by the Yukon Government.

Premier Darrell Pasloski said “Keeping what is familiar is really important. We are pleased and proud to provide $220,000 to Hospice Yukon so it can purchase the building from which it has provided much-needed services to Yukoners”. The money will go towards the purchase price of the house, as well as covering the costs of timely renovations including a new roof and flooring for the building.

Former landlord of Hospice Yukon, Gordon Ryder, in front of his business – Builders Supplyland in Whitehorse.

Staying in the same location for 17 years is not always possible for a non-profit with a minimal operating budget. Landlord Gordon Ryder charged very reasonable rent and offered a purchase price well below market value as his way of supporting the organization. Ryder is a born-and-raised Yukoner and local business owner of Builder’s Supplyland.

The house comes with a bit of it’s own local history. Originally owned by Bob and Nellie Watson (of the Yukon Pioneer Watson family), they moved the house from a former location on Ogylvie Street. Ryder bought it in the 1980s. When the elderly tenant who had rented the house for several decades passed away, Gordie agreed to rent it out to Hospice Yukon Society, and the rest is history.

open door with photo credit — All are welcomed at Hospice…

Though small – the house contains just four rooms – it has supported a wide range of services and activities over the years. These include an active lending library, counselling and Healing Touch appointments, grief
support groups, volunteer training sessions, board meetings, and public workshops for healing through art, journalling, poetry writing, and more.

We look forward to supporting Yukoners from 409 Jarvis Street for many more years to come.