Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Middle McIntyre Creek Timeline

Middle McIntyre Creek Timeline

1992 - the Yukon Department of Education hosts an information meeting to discuss management
of College Endowment Lands. A map produced at the time shows the College Endowment Lands
encompassing all the undeveloped land north of the College between Mountainview Drive and the Alaska
Highway, south of Porter Creek. Proposed at this time is a Board made up of representatives from the
City of Whitehorse, Yukon College and the Yukon government who would develop a land use plan for the
area for public review and comment.

1993 - the Kwanlin Dun First Nation (KDFN) propose a land claim selection (C-14) in the area where the
City of Whitehorse is currently proposing to develop the Porter Creek-D subdivision.

1996 - the Yukon Government Departments of Community and Transportation Services and Environment
express interest in the greenspace proposed to be Yukon College Endowment Lands and commit to further
consultation with concerned parties once First Nation land claims have been settled in the area.

1997 - petition presented to Yukon Legislature by Pat Duncan, MLA for Yukon Liberal Party, urging the
government to “ensure the lands were protected and to designate these lands as a park.” Government of
the day responds with “Further consideration will be given to the specific park land petition once the First
Nation land claims are settled in the area.” Also, “this area has previously been identified as potential
future endowment lands for Yukon College and the Minister of Environment has made a commitment
to consult with all the parties involved including the residents of Porter Creek before making any final
decisions about the land.”

2000 – AEM Ltd. produces a report titled Defining Ecologically-Based Significant Wildlife Areas for
the City of Whitehorse: Expanded Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping Program. This report states: “The
McIntyre Creek Corridor represents the largest contiguous Significant Wildlife Area within the City of
Whitehorse”

2001 - the Yukon government advises KDFN they want the proposed C-14 area for other purposes,
including college expansion, environmental studies programs and general green space. KDFN drops their
land claim selection in the area.

2002 - the Whitehorse Official Community Plan (OCP) designates the land in Middle McIntyre Creek east
of the Pine Street Extension and north of McIntyre Creek as Residential-Urban.

2005 - Pine Street Extension Porter Creek Feasibility Study completed in September and presented to
the public. City of Whitehorse undertakes public consultations on proposed Phase D of the Porter Creek
development, also known as the Pine Street extension. In December, City withdraws from planning
process because of conflicting plans for the land – Education Minister, John Edzerza, committed to
endowing the land to Yukon College, while Community Services minister, Glenn Hart, announced
consultations on turning the area into park land.

2006 - the Yukon Department of Community Services holds a series of Public Open House Meetings to
discuss McIntyre Creek land use.


2008 – May, first meeting of the Friends of McIntyre Creek (incorporated as a Society in November
2009).

2009 - Minister of Environment, Elaine Taylor, responds to requests from the opposition to protect
McIntyre Creek from development by deferring responsibility to the municipal government.

2010 – Minister of Environment, John Edzerza, indicates his support for protection of the McIntyre Creek
Corridor for its ecological, educational and recreational values. The Whitehorse OCP rezones a section
of Greenspace west of the Pine Street Extension to Residential-Urban, resulting in the current crescent
shaped area of land proposed for the Porter Creek-D subdivision. The 2010 OCP makes no mention of
College Endowment Lands and the land around the Yukon College, designated “Public Service”, has
shrunk to a fraction of its original size, much of which is taken up by the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.

2011

February – Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC) and Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) hold Middle
McIntyre Creek Workshop to collect information from local experts on wildlife and habitat in the area.

Summer – Yukon Fish and Game Association (YFGA) funded project to revegetate former creek crossing
near the Pumphouse.

August – Yukon Liberal Party calls for permanent protection for the McIntyre Creek corridor.

September – the Great Miss-Stake – FOMC stakes Middle McIntyre Creek to show the public
the location and scale of the proposed Porter Creek-D subdivision.

November – EDI McIntyre Creek Wildlife Corridor Assessment released. FOMC holds their
own Open House in conjunction with the City of Whitehorse Open House. Over 500 comments
submitted to City, the majority opposed to the proposed Porter Creek-D subdivision.

December 1 – City of Whitehorse By-election. Eight of the thirteen candidates are in favour
of protecting McIntyre Creek from the proposed Porter Creek-D subdivision. Kirk Cameron,
supporter of protection for Middle McIntyre Creek, is elected to City Council.

December 7 - Petition to protect Middle McIntyre Creek presented to the Yukon Legislative
Assembly. Over 350 signatures

December 12 – City Council votes to award contract for pre-design and planning for the Porter
Creek-D subdivision to HB Lanarc

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