Junior Program — Mt. McIntyre Rec Centre / Sept 8, 2010
B Meet — Grey Mountain-Magnusson / Sept 15, 2010
Find Out More ...

History and Success

• Brief History
• Successes
• World Orienteering Championships
• Junior World Orienteering Championships
• 2009 World Masters Orienteering Championships
• 2009 Canadian Orienteering Championships
• 2008 North American Orienteering Championships

Brief History

Seeds of orienteering in the Yukon were first sown in 1974 when three Yukoners participated in the historic National Orienteering Leadership Course in Guelph. In 1976, Bob Kaill and Lawrence Kristalovich produced a small black and white map of a portion of what is now our Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre map, at the intersection of the Alaska Highway and Hamilton Boulevard. These seeds did not bear fruit, and the whereabouts of the first Yukon orienteers is not known (Bob Kaill, not a Yukoner, moved to Sweden where he is still active in orienteering).

Orienteering really took off when a couple of orienteers from "outside" moved north in the mid-1980's - Suat Tuzlak from Alberta and Afan Jones from B.C. They were able to spark the interest of the locals and, with a colour map of the Mount McIntyre ski trails area, hosted the Association's first meet, a ski-O, on January 6, 1985. Eighteen people competed on either the 3.5 or the 7.5 km. course. Some of the early volunteers responsible for the strong foundation of the current association include Ella LeGresley, Helen Slama, Jean Carey and Beth Hawkings. In the late 1980's Juri Peepre and Ross Burnett moved north from B.C., adding further support.

Growth since then has been fairly steady. We now proudly have more than 15 colour maps in Whitehorse itself, plus maps in Carcross, Mt. Lorne , Carmacks and Haines Junction. This selection of maps are regularly used at the series of Wednesday evening meets which regularly have 60 – 90 participants. In addition, annual championships have been organized since 1989. The Yukon Orienteering Association also held the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 Western Canadian Orienteering Championships. In 2004, the Yukon Orienteering Association organized the Canadian Orienteering Championships, marking the first time our national championships were held north of 60!

Successes

Ross Burnett, who was the driving force behind the growth over the years, was named to the Sport Yukon Hall of Fame in 2004. This foundation of maps and regular events in combination with coaching and a Junior Program has meant that the Yukon Orienteering Association has produced a long list of top results, including at the Canadian Orienteering Championships and the North American Orienteering Championships. The club also boasts numerous past and present National Team Members.

World Orienteering Championships

Junior World Orienteering Championships

2009 World Masters Orienteering Championships

Medals Won By Yukon Athletes

2009 Canadian Orienteering Championships

Medals Won By Yukon Athletes

2008 North American Orienteering Championships

Medals Won By Yukon Athletes