View source for Whitehorse

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Yukon, Canada}}
{{About|the city in Yukon, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Whitehorse
| official_name = City of Whitehorse
| settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Yukon|City]] and [[List of cities in Canada#Capital cities|territorial capital]]
| nickname = [[List of city nicknames in Canada#Yukon|"The Wilderness City"]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/about-whitehorse|title=About Whitehorse – Whitehorse, YT|website=www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca|access-date=2015-10-21|archive-date=2016-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505194119/http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/about-whitehorse|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| motto = Our People, Our Strength{{force singular}}
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| perrow         = 1/2/2
| border         = infobox
| total_width    = 300
|caption_align = center
| image1 = Yukon River at Whitehorse -b.jpg
| caption1 = [[Downtown Whitehorse]] and the [[Yukon River]]
| image2 = Yukon Legislative Building 2012.jpg
| caption2 = [[Yukon Legislative Building]]
| image3 = SS Klondike 03.jpg
| caption3 = [[SS Klondike]]
| image4 = Whitehorse Airport Terminal 2012.JPG
| caption4 = [[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport]]
| image5 = Panorama for the Yukon College Roof.jpg
| caption5 = [[Yukon University]]
}}
| image_size = 
| image_flag = Flag of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.gif
| flag_size = 110px
| image_shield = Coat of arms of Whitehorse.png
| image_blank_emblem = City of Whitehorse Logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type = Logo
| pushpin_map = Canada Yukon#Canada
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Whitehorse##Location of Whitehorse
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Canada
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Territory]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Yukon]]
| subdivision_type2 = 
| subdivision_name2 = 
| leader_title = [[List of mayors of Whitehorse, Yukon|Mayor]]
| leader_title1 = Governing body
| leader_title2 = [[House of Commons of Canada|MPs]]
| leader_title3 = [[Yukon Legislative Assembly|MLAs]]
| leader_name = Kirk Cameron
| leader_name1 = [[Whitehorse City Council]]
| leader_name2 = [[Brendan Hanley]]
| leader_name3 = [[Kevin Mclaughlin]]<br />[[Yvonne Clarke]]<br />[[Currie Dixon]]<br />[[Scott Kent]]<br />[[Jeanie McLean]]<br />[[Tracy-Anne McPhee]]<br />[[Richard Mostyn]]<br />[[Ranj Pillai]]<br />[[Elaine Taylor (politician)|Elaine Taylor]]<br />[[Lane Tredger]]<br />[[Kate White (politician)|Kate White]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1898
| area_magnitude = 
| area_total_km2 = 413.94
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_land_sq_mi = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_sq_mi = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2 = 35.97
| area_urban_sq_mi = 
| area_metro_km2 = 8465.21
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_note = 
| population_total = 28201
| population_density_km2 = 68.1
| population_demonym = Whitehorser<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/bien-well/fra-eng/vocabulaire-vocabulary/demonyms-eng.html|title=Demonyms—From coast to coast to coast – Language articles – Language Portal of Canada|access-date=2014-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830091113/http://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/bien-well/fra-eng/vocabulaire-vocabulary/demonyms-eng.html|archive-date=2014-08-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population_metro = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 681.5
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban = 24,513
| timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset = −07:00
| coordinates = {{coord|60|43|27|N|135|03|22|W|region:CA-YT|notes=<ref>{{cite cgndb|id=KAHFT|name=Whitehorse|access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m = 670–1702
| elevation_ft = 2200–5584
| postal_code_type = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]
| postal_code = [[List of Y postal codes of Canada|Y1A]]
| area_code = [[Area code 867|867]]
| blank_name = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map
| blank_info = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|105|D|11}}
| website = {{URL|https://whitehorse.ca}}
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Whitehorse''' is the capital of [[Yukon]], and the largest city in [[Northern Canada]]. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the [[Alaska Highway]] in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's [[Downtown Whitehorse|downtown]] and [[Riverdale, Yukon|Riverdale]] areas occupy both shores of the [[Yukon River]], which rises in [[British Columbia]] and meets the [[Bering Sea]] in Alaska. The city was named after the [[White Horse Rapids]] for their resemblance to the mane of a [[white horse]].

Because of the city's location in the Whitehorse valley and relative proximity to the [[Pacific Ocean]], the climate tends to be milder.<ref name="Pinard 227–237">{{cite journal|last=Pinard|first=Jean-Paul|title=Wind Climate of the Whitehorse Area|journal=Arctic|date=September 2007|volume=60|issue=3|pages=227–237|doi=10.14430/arctic215|url=http://www.esc.gov.yk.ca/pdf/wind_climate_of_the_whitehorse_area.pdf|access-date=2017-10-25|archive-date=2017-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810185516/http://www.esc.gov.yk.ca/pdf/wind_climate_of_the_whitehorse_area.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> At this latitude, winter days are short and summer days have up to about 19 hours of daylight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/canada/whitehorse?month=6|title=Sunrise and sunset times in Whitehorse, June 2018|website=www.timeanddate.com}}</ref><ref name="thecanadianencyclopedia">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Whitehorse|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008565|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=2011-03-25|archive-date=2011-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814073645/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008565|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of the [[2021 Canadian census]], the population was 28,201<ref>{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census – Whitehorse, City [Census subdivision], Yukon and Yukon, Territory [Census division], Yukon |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0&DGUIDlist=2021A00056001009&SearchText=whitehorse|website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Statistics Canada-Government of Canada |date=30 January 2022}}</ref> within city boundaries and 31,913<ref>{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census – Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000501 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Statistics Canada-Government of Canada |date=13 February 2022}}</ref> in the census agglomeration. These figures represent approximately 70 and 79 percent, respectively, of the total population of Yukon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yukon Population 2023 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/canadian-provinces/yukon-population |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Street in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, ca 1900 (HESTER 312).jpeg|thumb|left|Streetscape of Whitehorse in 1900. The community saw a population boom with the [[Klondike Gold Rush|discovery of gold in the Klondike]] in 1896.]]
[[File:White horse 1910.png|thumb|left|View of Whitehorse in 1910]]
[[File:Canada - Whitehorse - NARA - 68154678 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Whitehorse, 1941]]
Archaeological research south of the downtown area, at a location known as [[Canyon City, Yukon|Canyon City]], has revealed evidence of use by [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] for several thousand years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whitehorse {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/whitehorse#:~:text=Indigenous%20Peoples&text=These%20artifacts%20indicate%20that%20Yukon,reside%20in%20and%20around%20Whitehorse. |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref> The surrounding area had seasonal fish camps and [[Frederick Schwatka]], in 1883, observed the presence of a [[portage]] trail used to bypass [[Miles Canyon Basalts|Miles Canyon]]. Before the Gold Rush, several different tribes passed through the area seasonally and their territories overlapped.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Whitehorse, Canada {{!}} Shuttle Alaska |url=https://alaskashuttle.com/blog/the-history-of-whitehorse-canada/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Alaska Shuttle |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Klondike Gold Rush|discovery of gold in the Klondike]] in August 1896, by [[Skookum Jim]], [[Tagish Charlie]], and [[George Washington Carmack]], set off a major change in the historical patterns of the region. Early prospectors used the [[Chilkoot Pass]], but by July 1897, crowds of neophyte [[Prospecting|
prospector]]s had arrived via steamship and were camping at "White Horse".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Whitehorse, Yukon |url=https://www.explorenorth.com/yukon/whitehorse-history.html |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.explorenorth.com}}</ref> By June 1898, there was a bottleneck of prospectors at Canyon City, and many boats had been lost to the rapids as well as five people. [[Samuel Steele]] of the [[North-West Mounted Police]] remarked: "why more casualties have not occurred is a mystery to me."<ref>{{Cite web |last=sharlene |date=2003-07-06 |title=Miles Canyon and Canyon City |url=https://wend.ca/?p=8155 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=wend.ca |language=en-US}}</ref>

On their way to find gold, prospectors also found copper in the "copper belt" in the hills west of Whitehorse. The first copper claims were staked by Jack McIntyre on July 6, 1898, and [[The Cremation of Sam McGee|Sam McGee]] on July 16, 1899.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yukon Nuggets – Facts, Photos and News Radio |url=https://yukonnuggets.com/stories/pueblo-mine-disaster#:~:text=A%20Klondike-bound%20prospector,%20John,called%20it%20the%20Copper%20King. |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=yukonnuggets.com}}</ref> Two tram lines were built, one {{convert|8|km|mi|adj=on}} stretch on the east bank of the Yukon River from Canyon City to the rapids, just across from the present day downtown, and the other on the west bank of the river.

The [[White Pass and Yukon Route]] [[narrow-gauge]] railway linking [[Skagway]] to Whitehorse had begun construction in May 1898. By May 1899, construction had arrived at the south end of [[Bennett Lake]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markusoff |first=Jason |date=2016-10-13 |title=Inside the wild Canadian past of the Trump family |url=https://macleans.ca/politics/inside-the-wild-canadian-past-of-the-trump-family/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Macleans.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> Construction began again at the north end of Bennett lake to Whitehorse. It was only in June–July 1900 that construction finished the difficult Bennett Lake section itself, completing the entire route.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company Info |url=https://wpyr.com/company-info/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=White Pass & Yukon Route Railway |language=en-US}}</ref>

By 1901, the ''[[Whitehorse Star]]'' was already reporting on daily freight volumes. Even though traders and prospectors were all calling the city Whitehorse (White Horse), there was an attempt by the railway people to change the name to Closeleigh (British Close brothers provided funding for the railway), this was refused by [[William Ogilvie (surveyor)|William Ogilvie]], the territory's Commissioner.

On May 23, 1905, a small fire in the barber shop of the Windsor Hotel got out of control when the fire engine ran out of water, spreading throughout the city and causing $300,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|0.3|1905}} million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}) in damage, though there were no deaths. [[Robert W. Service|Robert Service]] was working as a bank teller at the time and participated in suppressing the flame.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whitehorse Daily Star: Whitehorse swept by fire |url=https://www.whitehorsestar.com/History/whitehorse-swept-by-fire1 |website=Whitehorse Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> The White Horse Restaurant and Inn was among the buildings destroyed, after its co-founder [[Frederick Trump]] had sold his shares and left the city.<ref>Gwenda Blair (2000). The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire. Simon and Schuster. {{ISBN|978-0-7432-1079-9}}.</ref>

In 1920, the first planes landed in Whitehorse and the first air mail was sent in November 1927. Until 1942, rail, river, and air were the only way to get to Whitehorse, but in 1942 the US military decided an interior road would be safer to transfer troops and provisions between Alaska and the US mainland and began construction of the [[Alaska Highway]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Alaska Highway {{!}} Project Jukebox |url=https://jukebox.uaf.edu/node/4645 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=jukebox.uaf.edu |publisher=Project Jukebox – Oral History Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks}}</ref> The entire {{convert|1600|mi|km|adj=on}} project was accomplished between March and November 1942. The Canadian portion of the highway was only returned to Canadian sovereignty after the war. The [[Canol pipeline]] was also constructed to supply oil to the north with a refinery in Whitehorse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Earley |first=Sinead |date=2019-02-11 |title=The 'Epic of Canol' |url=https://niche-canada.org/2019/02/11/the-epic-of-canol/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=NiCHE |publisher=Network in Canadian History & Environment |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1950, the city was incorporated and by 1951 the population had doubled from its 1941 numbers. On April 1, 1953, the city was designated the capital of the Yukon Territory when the seat was moved from [[Dawson City]] after the construction of the [[Klondike Highway]].<ref name="Traveller's Guide">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.visitwhitehorse.com/
 |title=The Whitehorse Interactive Traveller's Guide
 |access-date=2006-07-03
 |pages=History–>Facts–>Whitehorse–>The Name "Whitehorse"}}</ref> On March 21, 1957, the name was officially changed from "White Horse" to "Whitehorse".<ref name="ref1">Robert G. Woodall, The Postal History of Yukon, Canada, Lawrence, MA, Quarterman, Revised edition, ©1976, {{ISBN|0-88000-086-4}}, p.239</ref>

==Geography==
Whitehorse is located at kilometre 1,425 (Historic Mile 918) of the [[Alaska Highway]] and is framed by three nearby mountains: Grey Mountain to the east, Mount Sumanik to the northwest and Golden Horn Mountain to the south. The [[White Horse Rapids|rapids]] which were the namesake of the city have disappeared under [[Miles Canyon Basalts|Miles Canyon]] and [[Schwatka Lake]], formed by the construction of a hydroelectricity dam in 1958. Whitehorse is currently the [[List of the largest cities and towns in Canada by area|64th]] largest city in Canada by area. The city limits present a near rectangular shape orientated in a NW-SE direction.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehorse Keymap|url=http://ww3.whitehorse.ca/Maps/gmap75.php?_GRP_Cadastre_Layers=1&Subdivision=1&Zoning=1&_GRP_Streams%2C_Rivers%2C_Lakes=1&Yukon_Satellite_Image=1&ViewRegion=Quick+View&minx=476407.649681&miny=6714194.605109&maxx=515589.436842&maxy=6745540.034837&imagewidth=500&imageheight=400&mainmap.x=170&mainmap.y=282&CMD=&KEYMAPXSIZE=138&KEYMAPYSIZE=200&MapSize=Map+Size&PREVIOUS_MODE=1&SEARCH_ADDR=&SEARCH_STREET_NAME=Street+Name|work=Whitehorse Topography and Zoning|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2011-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902180159/http://ww3.whitehorse.ca/Maps/gmap75.php?_GRP_Cadastre_Layers=1&Subdivision=1&Zoning=1&_GRP_Streams,_Rivers,_Lakes=1&Yukon_Satellite_Image=1&ViewRegion=Quick+View&minx=476407.649681&miny=6714194.605109&maxx=515589.436842&maxy=6745540.034837&imagewidth=500&imageheight=400&mainmap.x=170&mainmap.y=282&CMD=&KEYMAPXSIZE=138&KEYMAPYSIZE=200&MapSize=Map+Size&PREVIOUS_MODE=1&SEARCH_ADDR=&SEARCH_STREET_NAME=Street+Name|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cityscape===
Whitehorse Bylaw 426 (1975) restricts the operation of motor vehicles to designated roadways in certain "Protected Areas" to ensure maximum conservation of the environmental quality.<ref>{{cite web|title=BYLAW 426|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/vertical/Sites/%7B77FF5155-2407-453B-BAE8-67D8813B88C6%7D/uploads/%7B7D50CCCB-7095-4E32-AAC4-8143699082AE%7D.PDF|work=OFFICE CONSOLIDATION To Bylaw 94-02 Passed January 24, 1994|publisher=City of Whithorse|access-date=2011-03-27|archive-date=2011-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928020930/http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/vertical/Sites/%7B77FF5155-2407-453B-BAE8-67D8813B88C6%7D/uploads/%7B7D50CCCB-7095-4E32-AAC4-8143699082AE%7D.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most are near the downtown core (downtown and Yukon river escarpments, Mt. Mac ski trails, Riverdale, Valleyview, Hillcrest, Granger, Porter Creek, and Mountainview) and one, Pineridge, is south of downtown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Protected Areas within City Limits|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D399FCB1-97FC-43B8-8989-97B072B3BA10}|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref>

In 1999, the city approved the Area Development Scheme (ADS) which reallocated the area previously known as "Whitehorse Copper" to the following uses: Country Residential, Commercial, Service Industrial, and Heavy industrial.

Recent demands for growth have reignited urban planning debates in Whitehorse.<ref>{{cite news|title=A downhill slide|url=https://www.yukon-news.com/letters/17591/|access-date=2011-03-26|newspaper=[[Yukon News]]|date=9 April 2010|archive-date=2012-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311213300/https://www.yukon-news.com/letters/17591/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1970 the Metropolitan Whitehorse development plan included park and greenbelt areas that were to be preserved to ensure high quality of life even within city limits.<ref>{{cite book|title=General development plan, Whitehorse metropolitan area|year=1970|publisher=Reid, Crowther & Partners|location=Yukon Government Archives|url=http://virtua.gov.yk.ca:8080/lib/item;jsessionid=16631D01624F337AAF89EF312E265821?id=145506|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718021232/http://virtua.gov.yk.ca:8080/lib/item;jsessionid=16631D01624F337AAF89EF312E265821?id=145506|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012|author=Planning Division, Reid, Crowther|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref>

===Climate===
Whitehorse has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dfc'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]] ''Eclc'') and lies in the rain shadow of the [[Coast Mountains]], causing precipitation totals to be quite low year-round. Due to the city's location in the Whitehorse valley, the climate is milder than other comparable northern communities such as [[Yellowknife]]; however, during cold snaps it is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below {{cvt|-40|C}}.<ref name="Pinard 227–237"/> With an average annual temperature of {{cvt|0.2|C}} Whitehorse is the warmest place in the Yukon. The temperature measurements for the city are taken at the airport. The Whitehorse Riverdale weather station situated at a lower elevation than the airport is also {{cvt|0.2|C}}.

At this latitude winter days are short and summer days have just over 19 hours of daylight.<ref name="thecanadianencyclopedia" /> Whitehorse has an average daily high of {{cvt|20.6|C}} in July and average daily low of {{cvt|-19.2|C}} in January. The highest temperature ever recorded in Whitehorse was {{cvt|35.6|C}} on 14 June 1969.<ref name="Whitehorse Riverdale" /> The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-56.2|C}} on 21 January 1906.<ref name="January 1906" />

Whitehorse has little precipitation, with an average annual snowfall of {{cvt|141.8|cm}} and {{cvt|160.9|mm}} of rainfall. According to the [[Meteorological Service of Canada]], Whitehorse has the distinction of being Canada's driest city. Whitehorse is in the Cordilleran climate region, the Complex Soils of Mountain Areas soil region, the Cordilleran vegetation region, and the Boreal Cordillera ecozone.
{{Whitehorse weatherbox}}
{{Riverdale, Whitehorse weatherbox}}

===Neighbourhoods===
Due to Whitehorse's unique urban development objectives and varied topography, neighbourhoods are usually separated from each other by large geographical features. In addition to the city's [[Downtown Whitehorse|downtown]] core on the [[Yukon River]]'s west bank, two subdivisions sit at the same elevation as the Yukon River — {{cvt|640|m}}. Crossing the bridge to the east bank of the river leads to [[Riverdale, Yukon|Riverdale]], one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. From Riverdale, the road climbing up Grey Mountain leads to Grey Mountain Cemetery and the local FM radio antenna.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBC AM transmitter gets three years' grace|url=http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/cbc-am-transmitter-gets-three-years-grace/|access-date=2011-03-26|newspaper=[[Whitehorse Star]]|date=14 July 2009}}</ref>

The rest of Whitehorse is generally located above {{cvt|690|m}}. Immediately after climbing "Two Mile Hill", looking to the north are the old residential neighbourhoods of Takhini West, Takhini North, and Takhini East, where many homes actually are originally army barracks and military officers' residences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp Takhini|url=http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/down_north12.htm|work=Down North, A Dependent's Notes of Interest|publisher=© Jean Watts 2002|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> [[Yukon College|Yukon University]], [[Yukon Arts Centre]] and Whitehorse Correctional Centre are situated in Takhini. Situated further north are Range Point, Porter Creek, and Crestview, as well as Whitehorse's newest neighbourhood, Whistle Bend, where a significant amount of new residential growth is currently occurring.

West of downtown are Valleyview, Hillcrest (also largely constituted of old military lodgings) and the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport; and beyond the Canada Games Centre along Hamilton Boulevard are the neighbourhoods of McIntyre (designated to replace inferior lands and homes of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation ("The Village") previously located where Marwell adjoins a marshy area), then Ingram, Arkell, Logan, Granger, and rapidly expanding Copper Ridge.

Whitehorse also has subdivisions designated "Country Residential" which are subject to different municipal bylaws and are located farther out from the downtown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Animal FAQ|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={ED5E5AB3-9730-489F-8234-4AEB5333001E}|work=Bylaw Services|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> They consist of the rural Whitehorse subdivisions of Hidden Valley and MacPherson at Whitehorse's northern limits; to the south: McCrae (also spelt MacRae), Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek North, Mary Lake, Cowley Creek, Spruce Hill, Pineridge and Fox Haven Estates.<ref>{{cite web|title=try Residential – Whitehorse|url=http://www.sewp.gov.yk.ca/region?regionId=YK.WH.CNTRYRES|work=Socio-Economic Web Portal|publisher=© Yukon Bureau of Statistics|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2019-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620140130/http://www.sewp.gov.yk.ca/region?regionId=YK.WH.CNTRYRES|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also located at the south end of the city is the newly designated Mt. Sima Service Industrial Subdivision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehorse Copper History|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EE3B6960-73AC-4E94-9525-4DBBBCA93B11}|work=Planning and Development|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref>

Construction of Whistle Bend, Whitehorse's newest subdivision, began in 2010 on the "Lower Bench" east of the Porter Creek subdivision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whistle Bend|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={631AA75F-80A9-464C-91A4-950E4D5778AB}|work=Development and Planning, Lot Sales|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref>

== Attractions ==
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}

* [[MacBride Copperbelt Mining Museum]]
* [[MacBride Museum of Yukon History]]
*[[Miles Canyon Basalts|Miles Canyon]]
*{{ship|SS|Klondike}} [[Riverboat|sternwheeler]]
*[[Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre]]
* [[Yukon Transportation Museum]]

{{div col end}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
| title       = Federal census population history of Whitehorse
| type        = Canada
| align       = right
| width       =
| state       =
| shading     =
| percentages =
|[[1911 Canadian census|1911]]|727
|[[1921 Canadian census|1921]]|331
|[[1931 Canadian census|1931]]|541
|[[1941 Canadian census|1941]]|754
|[[1951 Canadian census|1951]]|2594
|1956|2570
|1961|5031
|1966|4771
|1971|11217
|1976|13311
|1981|14814
|1986|15199
|[[1991 Canadian census|1991]]|17925
|[[1996 Canadian census|1996]]|19157
|[[2001 Canadian census|2001]]|19058
|[[2006 Canadian census|2006]]|20461
|[[2011 Canadian census|2011]]|23276
|[[2016 Canadian census|2016]]|25085
|[[2021 Canadian census|2021]]|28201
|2025 estimate|30970<ref>{{cite web |title=Whitehorse |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/canadian-cities/whitehorse |website=World Population Review |publisher=World Population Review |access-date=7 May 2025}}</ref>
| footnote    = 
| source      = [[Statistics Canada]]<br/><ref name=1961census>{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-539-1961.pdf | title=1961 Census of Canada | series=Series 1.1: Historical, 1901–1961 | volume=I: Population | publisher=[[Statistics Canada|Dominion Bureau of Statistics]] | location=Ottawa | chapter=Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1901–1961 | date=March 8, 1963 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=1971census>{{cite book | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-702-1971.pdf | title=1971 Census of Canada | series=Population | volume=Census Subdivisions (Historical) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | location=Ottawa | chapter=Table 2: Population of Census Subdivisions, 1921–1971 | date=July 1973 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=1976census>{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-805-1976.pdf | title=1976 Census of Canada: Population – Geographic Distributions | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=June 1977 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=1981census>{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS94-905-1981.pdf | title=1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=May 1992 | access-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=1986census>{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS92-101-1987.pdf | title=1986 Census: Population – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=September 1987 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=1991census>{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS93-304-1992.pdf | title=91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions – Population and Dwelling Counts | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=April 1992 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=1996census>{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/statcan/rh-hc/CS93-357-1997.pdf | title=96 Census: A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=April 1997 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=2001census>{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-P.cfm?T=1&SR=1&S=1&O=A&PR=60 | title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Yukon Territory) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=August 15, 2012 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=2006census>{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=1&O=A&RPP=9999&CMA=0&PR=60 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Yukon Territory) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=August 20, 2021 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=2011census>{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&CMA=0&PR=60 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Yukon) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=July 25, 2021 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=2016census>{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Yukon) | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name=2021census/>
}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Whitehorse had a population of {{val|28201|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|11436|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|11970|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:28201-25085}}|25085|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|25085|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|413.94|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|28201|413.94|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000260 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Yukon | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref>

The [[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]] reported that [[Immigration to Canada|immigrants]] (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 4,195 persons or 15.1% of the total population of Whitehorse. Of the total immigrant population, the top countries of origin were Philippines (1,325 persons or 31.6%), United Kingdom (395 persons or 9.4%), United States of America (365 persons or 8.7%), India (335 persons or 8.0%), Germany (230 persons or 5.5%), China (175 persons or 4.2%), France (95 persons or 2.3%), Netherlands (70 persons or 1.7%), South Korea (65 persons or 1.5%), and Japan (60 persons or 1.4%).<ref name="2021censusB"/>

As of 2021, most of the residents are Canadian citizens (91.0%).<ref name="2021censusB"/>

=== Ethnicity ===
Whitehorse's population is mostly [[European Canadian|European]] (66.9%), but has a significant number of [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous peoples]] (16.3%): [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] (11.7%), [[Métis people in Canada|Metis]] (3.4%), and [[Inuit]] (0.7%). There is also a moderate [[visible minority]] population (16.8%): [[Filipino Canadians|Filipino]] (6.6%), [[South Asian Canadian|South Asian]] (3.5%), and [[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] (1.9%) were the three largest minority groups.<ref name="2021censusB"/>
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the City of Whitehorse (2001–2021)
! rowspan="2" |[[Panethnicity|Panethnic]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="2021censusB"/>
! colspan="2" |2016<ref name="2016censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6001009&Geo2=CD&Code2=6001&SearchText=Whitehorse&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="2011censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6001009&Data=Count&SearchText=Whitehorse&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2006<ref name="2006censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6001009&Geo2=PR&Code2=60&Data=Count&SearchText=Whitehorse&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="2001censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6001009&Geo2=PR&Code2=60&Data=Count&SearchText=Whitehorse&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
|-
![[Population (human biology)|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[European Canadians|European]]{{efn|Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.|name="euro"}}
| 18,535
| {{Percentage | 18535 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 17,475
| {{Percentage | 17475 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 17,235
| {{Percentage | 17235 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 15,450
| {{Percentage | 15450 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 14,995
| {{Percentage | 14995 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]
| 4,530
| {{Percentage | 4530 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 4,420
| {{Percentage | 4420 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 3,770
| {{Percentage | 3770 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 3,785
| {{Percentage | 3785 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 3,010
| {{Percentage | 3010 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Southeast Asia]]n{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name="SoutheastAsian"}}
| 1,970
| {{Percentage | 1970 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 1,215
| {{Percentage | 1215 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 785
| {{Percentage | 785 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 320
| {{Percentage | 320 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 305
| {{Percentage | 305 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]]
| 975
| {{Percentage | 975 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 480
| {{Percentage | 480 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 355
| {{Percentage | 355 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 170
| {{Percentage | 170 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 205
| {{Percentage | 205 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[East Asian Canadians|East Asian]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.|name="EastAsian"}}
| 785
| {{Percentage | 785 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 505
| {{Percentage | 505 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 420
| {{Percentage | 415 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 300
| {{Percentage | 300 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 240
| {{Percentage | 240 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[African-Canadian|African]]
| 520
| {{Percentage | 520 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 215
| {{Percentage | 215 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 70
| {{Percentage | 70 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 95
| {{Percentage | 95 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 95
| {{Percentage | 95 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]]
| 215
| {{Percentage | 215 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 100
| {{Percentage | 100 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 95
| {{Percentage | 95 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 95
| {{Percentage | 95 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 35
| {{Percentage | 35 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Middle Eastern Canadians|Middle Eastern]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.|name="MiddleEastern"}}
| 40
| {{Percentage | 40 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 40
| {{Percentage | 40 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 20
| {{Percentage | 20 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
| Other{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, {{abbr|n.i.e.|not included elsewhere}}" and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.|name="Other"}}
| 155
| {{Percentage | 155 | 27725 | 2 }}
| 105
| {{Percentage | 105 | 24560 | 2 }}
| 50
| {{Percentage | 50 | 22810 | 2 }}
| 50
| {{Percentage | 50 | 20290 | 2 }}
| 15
| {{Percentage | 15 | 18915 | 2 }}
|-
! Total responses
! 27,725
! {{Percentage | 27725 | 28201 | 2 }}
! 24,560
! {{Percentage | 24560 | 25085 | 2 }}
! 22,810
! {{Percentage | 22810 | 23276 | 2 }}
! 20,290
! {{Percentage | 20290 | 20461 | 2 }}
! 18,915
! {{Percentage | 18915 | 19058 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 28,201
! {{Percentage | 28201 | 28201 | 2 }}
! 25,085
! {{Percentage | 25085 | 25085 | 2 }}
! 23,276
! {{Percentage | 23276 | 23276 | 2 }}
! 20,461
! {{Percentage | 20461 | 20461 | 2 }}
! 19,058
! {{Percentage | 19058 | 19058 | 2 }}
|}
*Note: There are totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

=== Language ===
As a federal territory, the Yukon is officially [[Official bilingualism in Canada|bilingual in English and French]]. In 2011, 84.3% of the residents of Whitehorse declared [[English language|English]] as their only [[mother tongue]], while 4.6% reported [[French language|French]] as their only mother tongue, and 9.7% of the population reported a non-official language as their mother tongue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-cma-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=CMA&GC=990 |author=Statistics Canada |title=Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census |date=8 February 2012 |access-date=16 February 2015|author-link=Statistics Canada }}</ref> According to the 2011 census the most spoken non-official language in Whitehorse was [[German language|German]], followed by [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Dutch language|Dutch]].

The 2021 census shows 82.3% of Whitehorse residents declaring English as their mother tongue, 6.1% French, and 14.4% another language. The largest non-official language groups were Tagalog (3.6%), German (2% including Swiss German), and Punjabi (1.3%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Mother tongue by geography, 2021 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/dv-vd/language-langue/index-en.html |access-date=5 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[File:Sikh men in turbans sitting and standing on rocky bank with bags and supplies, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, April 1906 (AL+CA 7021).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sikhs in Whitehorse in April 1906]]
According to the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]], religious groups in Whitehorse included:<ref name="2021censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0&DGUIDlist=2021A00056001009&SearchText=whitehorse |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
*[[Irreligion in Canada|Irreligion]] (16,150 persons or 58.3%)
*[[Christianity in Canada|Christianity]] (10,165 persons or 36.7%, of which 4,395 self-identify as [[Catholics]])
*[[Sikhism in Canada|Sikhism]] (375 persons or 1.4%)
*[[Hinduism in Canada|Hinduism]] (240 persons or 0.9%)
*[[Buddhism in Canada|Buddhism]] (190 persons or 0.7%)
*[[Islam in Canada|Islam]] (175 persons or 0.6%)
*[[Mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous Spirituality]] (50 persons or 0.2%)
*[[Judaism in Canada|Judaism]] (45 persons or 0.2%)
*Other (340 persons or 1.2%)

== Sports ==
Whitehorse has an extensive trail network within its limits, estimated at {{cvt|850|km}} in 2007,<ref name=trailplan>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={41C4C5E9-E613-413F-B972-2D00EBE11455} |title=City of Whitehorse 2007 Trail Plan |publisher=Whitehorse.ca |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> including sections of the [[Trans Canada Trail]]. These trails are used for a variety of activities, both motorized and non-motorized.
[[File:YQ Start Whitehorse 2005 0002.jpg|thumb|right|Whitehorse hosts the beginning of the [[Yukon Quest]], an annual [[dog sled]] race from Whitehorse to [[Fairbanks, Alaska]].]]
The city is responsible for the maintenance of numerous sports and recreation fields including two dozen grass/sand/soil/ice sports surfaces, three ball diamonds, the Canada Games Centre Multiplex (pools, ice rinks, fieldhouse, fitness centre, walking/running track, physiotherapy), the [[Takhini Arena]], and [[Leisure centre|Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5AFA2D76-463B-4741-816F-9EA96DA50450}|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> Private interests run Mount Sima, which contains 350m or 1,150&nbsp;ft of downhill skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mount Sima|url=http://www.mountsima.com/|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> three golf courses, a bowling alley,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mad Trapper Alleys|url=http://ca.local.yahoo.com/details?id=1001748710&state=YT&city=Whitehorse&stx=Bowling&csz=Whitehorse,%20YT,%20Y1A|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2011-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813010936/http://ca.local.yahoo.com/details?id=1001748710&state=YT&city=Whitehorse&stx=Bowling&csz=Whitehorse,%20YT,%20Y1A|url-status=dead}}</ref> and three gyms, including one with squash courts.

The annual 1,000 mile [[Yukon Quest]] sled dog race between Whitehorse and [[Fairbanks]], Alaska, is considered one of the toughest in the world. The race alternates its starting and finishing points each year. The city has hosted several large sporting events including the [[2007 Canada Winter Games]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2007canadagames.ca/en/index.php |title=Canada Games – Winter 2007 |publisher=2007canadagames.ca |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> for which a CA$45 million sport multiplex was built; the Canadian Junior Freestyle Championships in 2006, the [[Arctic Winter Games]] (2000, 1992, 1986, 1980, 1972, 2012 and up coming location for the 2026 games),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awg2008.ca/ |title=Arctic Winter Games 2008 |access-date=2007-10-27 |archive-date=2007-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101135259/http://www.awg2008.ca/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the annual International Curling Bonspiel,<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual International Bonspiel|url=http://whitehorsecurlingclub.com/calendar/events/wcc-59th-annual-international-bonspiel/|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131204437/https://whitehorsecurlingclub.com/calendar/events/wcc-59th-annual-international-bonspiel/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Dustball International Slowpitch Tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dustball information|url=http://www.softballyukon.com/dustball-information|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> Other major sports events held by Whitehorse include:
* [[2007 Canada Winter Games]]
* 2008 and 2014 [[U-18 Men's Softball World Cup|Junior Men's Softball World Championship]]
* [[2012 Women's Softball World Championship]]
* [[2017 Men's Softball World Championship]]

Although there are no territorial junior league teams, the business community sponsors a number of local teams of volleyball, baseball, basketball, broomball, ice hockey, soccer, ultimate disk, and squash. High school teams are very active and partake in competitions with schools in neighbouring Alaska, and a few local athletes have flourished on the Canadian sports scene. Whitehorse is also home to the Whitehorse Glacier Bears swimming club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehorse Glacier Bears|url=https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=canwgb|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>

== Government ==
[[File:Whitehorse city hall.jpg|thumb|City Hall is home to the [[Whitehorse City Council]].]]
===Municipal=== <!-- ATTENTION: Councillors listed alphabetically by surname to ensure NPOV -->
Whitehorse municipal elections occur every three years. The current mayor of Whitehorse is Kirk Cameron. Municipal services provided by the city of Whitehorse include: water and sewer systems, road maintenance, snow and ice control, non-recyclable waste and composting, as well as a [[mosquito control]] program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Works|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D85C582B-E415-4887-8D04-1DA95101840D}|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref>

===Territorial=== <!-- ATTENTION: Yukon's parties listed in alphabetical order to ensure NPOV -->
{{further|Yukon Legislative Assembly|List of Yukon general elections|List of political parties in Yukon}}
Whitehorse was represented by 13 of 21 MLAs in [[Yukon Legislative Assembly|Yukon's Legislative Assembly]], as per the 2024 map of Yukon electoral districts.<ref>{{cite web|title=View map of Yukon Electoral Districts (2002)|url=http://www.electionsyukon.gov.yk.ca/whtsemap.html|work=Maps|publisher=Elections Yukon|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref> In 2009 Yukon's electoral map was modified to give Whitehorse an extra seat, bringing its total up to 10 out of 19. The Legislative Assembly Building is located in downtown Whitehorse and elections usually take place every three to five years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Election Call|url=http://www.electionsyukon.gov.yk.ca/elections.html|work=Yukon Elections|publisher=Elections Yukon|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref> The last general election was held [[2025 Yukon general election|in 2025]]. Whitehorse residents have three [[List of political parties in Yukon|local political parties]] from which to choose: [[Yukon Liberal Party]], [[Yukon New Democratic Party]], [[Yukon Party]].

===Federal=== <!-- ATTENTION: federal parties listed in alphabetical order to ensure NPOV -->
{{further|List of Canadian federal electoral districts|Yukon (electoral district)|List of federal political parties in Canada}}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+Whitehorse federal election results<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |title=Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Whitehorse)|date=7 April 2022 |publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=May 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Yukon live federal election results |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/election-results/yukon-live-federal-election-results/article_69e706e9-6def-5c42-a7ea-ed8e72fc1ab0.html |website=Toronto Star |publisher=Toronto Star |access-date=7 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Canada Election Live Results |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-canada-election-results/ |website=Bloomberg |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=7 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Liberal Brendan Hanley wins re-election in Yukon |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-federal-election-night-results-2025-1.7521027 |website=CBC |publisher=CBC |access-date=7 May 2025}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}|
|-
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | '''33%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''3,036''
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 26%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''2,431''
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 24%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,196''
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 5%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''420''
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | '''33%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''3,500''
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 32%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''3,323''
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 24%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,521''
! {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 10%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''1,060''
|-
|}
All of Yukon consists of a single [[Yukon (electoral district)|federal electoral district]] and therefore there is only one [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) and 65% of Yukon's voters live in Whitehorse. Residents of the Yukon have been voting [[Government of Canada|federally]] since a byelection returned the first Yukon MP in January 1903 and, from 1984 onward, have had candidates from at least four [[List of federal political parties in Canada|federal political parties]] to choose from. In 2006, 2008 and 2011, the choices have been: [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]], [[Green Party of Canada|Green]], [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]], and [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|NDP]]. Other parties that have contested the riding from 1984 onward include the Libertarian Party, the [[Rhinoceros Party of Canada (1963–93)|Rhinoceros Party]], the three precursors of the Conservative Party (Reform Party, Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives), the National Party (1993) and the Christian Heritage Party.

Liberal [[Brendan Hanley]] is Yukon's MP.

===Judicial===
All court matters are handled in Whitehorse at the Andrew Philipsen Law Building which also houses a law library. Yukon's Territorial Court (three judges) handles most adult criminal prosecutions under the criminal code and other federal statutes. The Supreme Court of Yukon has three resident judges and nine judges from [[Northwest Territories|NWT]] and [[Nunavut]]. The Court of Appeal, made up of justices from British Columbia, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut, sits in Whitehorse only one week of the year, so most appeals are heard in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Yukon Courts|url=http://www.yukoncourts.ca/courts/territorial.html|publisher=Yukon Department of Justice|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref>

===Military===
[[File:WCSTC Aerial1.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre. The facility is used by the [[Canadian Cadet Organization]].]]
The Canadian Armed Forces is represented in Whitehorse by Canadian Forces Detachment Yukon located in downtown Whitehorse, Regional Cadet Support Unit (North) was at Boyle Barracks (until a re-organization in 2012 amalgamated the cadet support unit into Regional Cadet Support Unit (NW) based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba) and the [[Canadian Rangers]] of the Whitehorse Patrol of 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. 2685 Yukon Regiment Army Cadet Corps and 551 Whitehorse Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets of the [[Canadian Cadet Organizations]] also operate in Whitehorse. All units operate as part of Canadian Forces [[Joint Task Force (North)]].<ref>{{cite web |title=National Defence |url=http://www.jtfn.forces.gc.ca/units/index-eng.asp |website=www.jtfn.forces.gc.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113222245/http://www.jtfn.forces.gc.ca/units/index-eng.asp |archive-date=2012-11-13}}</ref>

[[440 Transport Squadron]], and other units of the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]], including the [[Snowbirds (aerobatic team)|Snowbirds]] often operate and train out of Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, formerly [[RCAF Station Whitehorse]].

Boyle Barracks is located {{cvt|20|km}} south of downtown Whitehorse. The facility houses Regional Cadet Support Unit (North), Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre, service support elements of Joint Task Force (North), and is used by 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, the [[Junior Canadian Rangers]], and other units to conduct training. Boyle Barracks is located on the property of the unused Wolf Creek Juvenile Corrections Centre which is leased by the Department of National Defence from the Yukon Government.

Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre offers a variety of courses and activities that focus on general training, leadership, and expedition training up to the instructor level. Courses are two, three, and six weeks long and are offered throughout the summer.<ref>[http://www.cadets.ca/content-contenu.aspx?id=49263] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126203714/http://www.cadets.ca/content-contenu.aspx?id=49263|date=November 26, 2010}}</ref> Personnel are drawn primarily from the territories, but many come from across Canada. The training centre also hosts members of the United Kingdom's [[Army Cadet Force]] and [[Combined Cadet Force]].

== Education ==
Whitehorse has several schools as part of a Yukon Government operated public school system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools |title=Yukon Education Student Network – Schools |publisher=Yesnet.yk.ca |date=2011-02-01 |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> Except for ''École Émilie-Tremblay'', Yukon does not have school boards. However, each school has a council composed of three to seven elected positions for two-year terms, consisting of (and elected by) citizens residing in the school's assigned area and parents of students attending the school.<ref>{{cite web|title=School Councils|url=http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/psb/school_councils.html|work=Education|publisher=© Government of Yukon 2011|access-date=2011-03-29}}</ref> All teachers are employed directly by the Department of Education, and there are no tuition fees to be paid to attend elementary and secondary institutions<ref>Education Act, RSY 2002, c 61.</ref> with the exception of the Wood Street Centre School, which offers specialized experiential programs for high school students in the sciences and arts.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2025 |title=Fee Payments |url=http://woodstreetcentre.yukonschools.ca/fee-payments.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Wood Street Centre School |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Learn about the Wood Street Centre programs |url=https://yukon.ca/en/wood-street-centre |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=yukon.ca |publisher=Government of Yukon}}</ref> Yukon schools follow British Columbia's school curriculum.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-22|title=Learn about Yukon's school curriculum|url=https://yukon.ca/en/school-curriculum|access-date=2021-07-11|website=yukon.ca}}</ref>

===Primary education (K-3)===
* Grey Mountain Primary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/greymountain/index.htm|title=Grey Mountain Primary}}</ref>

===Elementary education (K-7)===
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Christ the King Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/ckes/index.html|title=Christ the King Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> (Catholic)
* Elijah Smith Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/elijahsmith/index.html|title=Elijah Smith Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* Golden Horn Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/goldenhorn/index.html|title=Golden Horn Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* Hidden Valley Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/hiddenvalley/index.html|title=Untitled Document|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* Holy Family Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/holyfamily/index.html|title=Holy Family Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> (Catholic)
* Jack Hulland Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/jackhulland/|title=Jack Hulland Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* Selkirk Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/selkirk/|title=Selkirk Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> (French and English Immersion)
* Takhini Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/takhini/index.html|title=Takhini Elementary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* École Whitehorse Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/index.html|title=École Whitehorse Elementary}}</ref> (French and late French Immersion)
{{div col end}}

===Secondary education===
* St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcss.ca/|title=Vanier Catholic Secondary School – Home|work=Vanier Catholic Secondary School|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702212230/https://www.vcss.ca/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (Catholic)
* F.H. Collins Secondary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/fhcollins/index.html|title=F.H. Collins Secondary School}}</ref> (English and French Immersion)
* Porter Creek Secondary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/pcss/|title=Porter Creek Secondary School|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

===French First Language school (K-12)===
* École Émilie-Tremblay<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eet.csfy.ca/fr/|title=École Émilie-Tremblay|work=csfy.ca|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925133814/http://eet.csfy.ca/fr/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Specialized programs===
* Wood St. School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/woodst/index.html|title=Wood St. School}}</ref> (programs are attended by students drawn from the high schools)
* Individual Learning Centre<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/individual_lc/index.html|title=Whitehorse Individual Learning Centre|work=yesnet.yk.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> (for students who have had trouble in the regular school program and are not attending school)

===Post-secondary education===
* [[Yukon University]] confers bachelor's degrees, diplomas, certificates as well as trades and vocational training and adult basic education. It is the only university based in Northern Canada.

== Media ==
[[File:CFWH in Whitehorse.jpg|thumb|Broadcasting studio for [[CFWH-FM]], which broadcasts programming from [[CBC Radio One]]. CFWH-FM is one of seven radio stations based in Whitehorse.]]

===Broadcast===
====Radio====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Branding
!Format
!Owner
!Notes
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 92.5
|[[CJUC-FM]]
|The Juice
|Community Radio
|Utilities Consumers Group
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 94.5
|[[CFWH-FM]]
|[[CBC Radio One]]
|[[Talk radio]], [[Public broadcasting|public radio]]
|[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|Part of [[CBC North]]
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 96.1
|[[CKRW-FM]]
|The Rush
|[[Adult contemporary music|Hot adult contemporary]]
|Klondike Broadcasting
|
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 98.1
|[[CHON-FM]]
|–
|[[Community radio]]
|Northern Native Broadcasting
|[[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] community radio
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 100.3
|VF2356
|Golden Horn
|[[Community radio]]
|Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce
|[[Tourist information]] radio service
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 100.7
|[[CIAY-FM]]
|Life 100.7
|[[Religious broadcasting]]
|New Life FM
|
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 102.1
|[[CBUF-FM|CFWY-FM]]
|[[Ici Radio-Canada Première]]
|[[Talk radio]], [[Public broadcasting|public radio]]
|Association Franco-Yukonnaise
|Community-owned rebroadcaster of [[CBUF-FM]] ([[Vancouver]])
|-
|[[FM broadcasting|FM]] 104.5
|[[CBU-FM|CBU-FM-8]]
|[[CBC Music]]
|Assorted music, [[Public broadcasting|public radio]]
|[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|Rebroadcaster of [[CBU-FM]] ([[Vancouver]])
|}
[[File:Facade of Whitehorse Star Building - Whitehorse - Yukon Territory - Canada.jpg|thumb|upright|Building for the ''[[Whitehorse Daily Star]]''. The ''Daily Star'' is one of three newspapers operating in Whitehorse.]]
Whitehorse is also served by CIY270, a [[Weatheradio Canada]] station broadcasting at 162.400&nbsp;MHz on the [[Weather radio|weather band]].

====Television====
Local cable provider [[NorthwesTel]] hosts three local television channels: Community Cable 9,<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehorse Community Cable 9 Weekly Schedule|url=http://www.nwtel.ca/personal/tv/community-television/channel9/|publisher=[[NorthwesTel]]|access-date=2011-03-25|archive-date=2011-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301031329/http://www.nwtel.ca/personal/tv/community-television/channel9/|url-status=dead}}</ref> an advertisement slide-show channel and a public service channel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Community Television|url=http://www.nwtel.ca/personal/tv/community-television/|publisher=[[NorthwesTel]]|access-date=2011-03-25|archive-date=2011-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315192659/http://www.nwtel.ca/personal/tv/community-television/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[CBC Television]] operated an affiliate in Whitehorse, [[CFWH-TV]], from 1968 to 2012. Initially served using the Frontier Coverage Package until [[Anik (satellite)|Anik]] satellite broadcasts became available early in 1973; this transmitter was shut down on July 31, 2012, due to budget cuts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/media-centre/2012/04/04/|title=April 4|work=radio-canada.ca|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-384.htm|title=ARCHIVED – Revocation of licences for the rebroadcasting stations CBIT Sydney and CBKST Saskatoon and licence amendment to remove analog transmitters for 23 English- and French-language television stations|first=Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|last=(CRTC)|website=www.crtc.gc.ca|date=17 July 2012}}</ref>

===Print===
Whitehorse's two major English-language newspapers are the ''[[Whitehorse Star|Whitehorse Daily Star]]'' (founded as a weekly in 1900, it currently published three times per week) and the ''[[Yukon News]]'' (founded as a weekly in 1960 by Ken Shortt, published five days a week from 1967 to 1999, and currently prints twice weekly). Other local newspapers include ''[[Yukon News|What's Up Yukon]]'' (a local free music, arts, culture, events, weekly founded in 2005) and a French-language newspaper ''[[L'Aurore boréale]]'' (founded in 1983).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://auroreboreale.ca/apropos/|title=À propos|website=auroreboreale.ca|access-date=2019-01-19|archive-date=2019-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120043443/http://auroreboreale.ca/apropos/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The quarterly magazine ''Yukon, North of Ordinary'' started in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chauvin |first=PIerre |date=2016-11-04 |title=This Yukon magazine is north of awardinary |url=https://www.yukon-news.com/business/this-yukon-magazine-is-north-of-awardinary-6992275 |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Yukon News |language=en}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Emergency services===
Whitehorse contracts out its police service to the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], with the main police station on 4th avenue in the city centre. Whitehorse's ambulance service are run by Yukon Government's Emergency Medical Services<ref>{{cite web|title=Emergency Medical Services|url=http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/ems/index.html|work=YG Department of Community Services|publisher=© Government of Yukon 2011|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> and is staffed by full-time Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) and Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP). Whitehorse's Search and Rescue (SAR) is ensured by a partnership between the RCMP, YG's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) and volunteer SAR teams.<ref>{{cite web|title=Search and Rescue|url=http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/emo/sar.html|work=YG – Department of Community Services|publisher=© Government of Yukon 2011|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> 
[[File:RCMP in Whitehorse.jpg|thumb|right|Offices for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] M Division. Policing in Whitehorse is carried out by the RCMP.]]
Whitehorse has its own fire service, known as City of Whitehorse Fire Department (WHFD) with two fire stations. The first, Station #1, located in the city centre at the corner of Second Avenue and Steele Street, and Station #2 (305 B Range Road) atop "Two Mile Hill" on the west side, with room for three trucks. It was built in 2010 to become a public safety building.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fire Department|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={9ED97345-C9A7-4607-893C-117F689D6B8E}|work=City Departments|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fire Department Background|url=http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/vertical/Sites/%7B77FF5155-2407-453B-BAE8-67D8813B88C6%7D/uploads/%7BB40BE8DD-EA04-469B-8198-EA4C2D83FAF3%7D.PDF|work=APPLICANT INFORMATION PACKAGE|publisher=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2011-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928020843/http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/vertical/Sites/%7B77FF5155-2407-453B-BAE8-67D8813B88C6%7D/uploads/%7BB40BE8DD-EA04-469B-8198-EA4C2D83FAF3%7D.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> The original fire hall located along on the waterfront has been preserved as a historic building and cultural centre. The Fire Department currently operates with thirty-three full-time staff and approximately ten volunteers. Both fire stations are staffed 24/7 through a rotation of four platoons of six firefighters and one dispatcher.

WHFD is equipped and trained to respond to Motor vehicle Accidents, high and low angle rescue, confined space, and static water ice rescue. Haz-mat, swift water and urban search and rescue are not under the department's current capabilities or can only be responded to at awareness levels.  All medical emergencies are responded to by Yukon Government Emergency Medical Services.  All aircraft emergencies are dealt with by the Eric Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport(ENWIA) ARFF fire department with mutual aid agreement activities from WHFD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca|title=Whitehorse, YT : Home|website=www.whitehorse.ca|access-date=2016-06-08}}</ref>  Whitehorse Fire Department is professionally represented by the [[International Association of Fire Fighters|IAFF and the BCPFFA]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iaff.org|title=Welcome to the IAFF Website|website=www.iaff.org|access-date=2016-06-08}}</ref>

Whitehorse Fire Department is the largest municipal fire department in the territory and the only professional one.  Though they are 13% of the total population of firefighters in the territory, WHFD protects 82% of the population, and responds to 84% of fire calls within the Yukon.  WHFD falls under the authority of the Yukon Fire Marshals Office  (FMO) and reports directly to it.  Fire and life safety inspection throughout the City of Whitehorse are conducted by the Whitehorse Fire Department duty crews as well as designated Fire Prevention Officers under the direction of Municipal Bylaw 2000–01 "Emergency Services Bylaw" with authority from the current edition of the National Fire Code of Canada.

Wildland fire crews also operate in the summer to combat the forest fires across the territory. They will lend assistance to crews in B.C., Alberta, and the other territories as needed.

===Energy grid===
[[Yukon Energy]] operates four conventional hydroelectric generating stations: Whitehorse Dam (40 MW), Aishihik Lake (37 MW), Mayo A (5 MW), and Mayo B (10 MW), which provide the bulk of generation for the Yukon Energy grid. An additional 39 MW of diesel generation is maintained for supplemental back-up.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Facilities|url=http://www.yukonenergy.ca/energy/facilities/|publisher=Yukon Energy|access-date=2012-12-31|archive-date=2013-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115145342/http://www.yukonenergy.ca/energy/facilities/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Additionally, Yukon Energy operated two wind turbines near Whitehorse, which were decommissioned in 2018. Four new turbines are under construction and expected to begin feeding electricity into the grid during the winter of 2023/2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=New wind turbines going up on Whitehorse's Haeckel Hill |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-new-wind-turbine-haeckel-hill-kdfn-1.6895629 |access-date=5 August 2023 |publisher=CBC |date=3 July 2023}}</ref>

===Health care===
[[File:2017 RPAP visit to Whitehorse, YT (32661165213).jpg|thumb|[[Whitehorse General Hospital]] is the only hospital in the city.]]
The first "[[Whitehorse General Hospital|White Horse General Hospital]]" (WGH) was built in the downtown area in 1902 with a 10-bed capacity. During [[World War I]] beds increased to 30, 10 beds were added in 1943, then 20 beds in 1949, and an operating wing was added in 1951. In 1959 the hospital was rebuilt on the other bank of the Yukon River, across from its previous location, but decision making was still based in Ottawa (National Health and Welfare, Medical Services Branch).<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.whitehorsehospital.ca/wghabout/history/|work=About Us|publisher=Yukon Hospital Corporation|access-date=2011-03-26|archive-date=2012-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321194308/http://www.whitehorsehospital.ca/wghabout/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The downtown area has several private medical, dental, and optometry clinics.

In 1990, the Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC) was created in order to prepare the transfer of powers regarding the hospital from the Federal Government to the Yukon Territorial Government. In April 1993 management of WGH was officially transferred to the YHC following a collaboration with the Yukon government and Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN, then CYI). Construction of the present building lasted from 1994 through 1997. As of 2021, Whitehorse General Hospital contains 56 beds, [[Emergency medicine|emergency care]] services, and several medical imaging technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Hospitals {{!}} Yukon Hospital Corporation |url=https://yukonhospitals.ca/en/about-us/our-hospitals |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=yukonhospitals.ca}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Air===
Whitehorse is served by the [[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport]]. It has, as of 2022, scheduled service to [[Vancouver]], [[Kelowna]], [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]], [[Dawson City]], [[Old Crow, Yukon|Old Crow]] and [[Inuvik]]. Seasonal scheduled service is provided to [[Yellowknife]] (nonstop), [[Ottawa]] (via Yellowknife), and [[Toronto]] (via Yellowknife). The airport was developed as part of the Northwest Staging Route in 1941–42 and has two long paved runways. A wartime-era hangar served as a terminal building from about 1960, and was replaced in December 1985 with a modern terminal. [[Air North]], a scheduled passenger and cargo airline operating [[Boeing 737]] jetliners and [[ATR 42]] turboprops, is based in Whitehorse.<ref>{{cite web |title=Air North, Yukon's Airline |url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/default.aspx |website=www.flyairnorth.com}}</ref> Alkan Air provides charter and medical services and also operates a flying school.

[[File:Alaska Highway Bridge.jpg|thumb|Bridge of the [[Alaska Highway]] crossing over the [[Teslin River]] at [[Johnsons Crossing]]]]

===Roads===
Surface access to Whitehorse is provided by a network of highways, including the international [[Alaska Highway]] connecting the Yukon with Alaska, British Columbia, and [[Alberta]] highway networks.

Whitehorse has been described as "pearls on a string", with its residential, industrial, and service subdivisions located along the main thoroughfares that carry traffic within city limits, with large gaps of undeveloped (often hilly) land between them. The [[Alaska Highway]] is the primary roadway, with branch roads reaching additional subdivisions. One such branch road, signed as "Highway 1A" and following Two Mile Hill Road, 4th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, and Robert Service Way, is the main access to downtown, Riverdale, and the Marwell Industrial Area.

The city's road network is adequate, although it is congested during rush hours, and discussions occasionally occur as to how it might be better managed, such as by designating one-way streets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YESAB Registry |url=https://yesabregistry.ca/projects/56647d97-2129-4afc-aa3f-c7a3f10ba876/comments |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=yesabregistry.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Whitehorse Daily Star: 'More people equals more traffic,' city reminded |url=https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/more-people-equals-more-traffic-city-reminded |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Whitehorse Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

===Public transit===
{{main|Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley}}

[[File:Trolley with flags (7041438277).jpg|thumb|The [[Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley]] is a [[heritage streetcar]] service that operated from 2000 to 2018 and again 2024.]]
[[Whitehorse Transit]] provides bus service on weekdays from about 6:40 am to 10 pm, and on weekends and holidays to about 8 pm. For passengers who have difficulty using the transit buses, there is a Handy Bus Service.

There is a waterfront tram, known as [[Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley|the "trolley"]], which provides transport along a short rail section along the Yukon River in the Summer; it is leisure- and tourist-oriented, operated by a non-profit society, and not integrated into the municipal transit system. It runs from the Roundhouse to Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre (the Northern stretch between Roundhouse and Spook Creek Station was included until 2018, but the City administration has removed necessary train tracks since) on a small portion of the tracks formerly belonging to [[White Pass and Yukon Route]].

Other than that, Whitehorse presently has no active railway service.

The White Pass Railway offers seasonal service between [[Skagway, Alaska]] and [[Carcross, Yukon|Carcross]], {{cvt|72|km}} south of Whitehorse.

====Water====
The Yukon River is essentially navigable from Whitehorse to the [[Bering Sea]]. At {{cvt|640|m}} above sea level, the river at Whitehorse is the [[Extreme points of Earth#Highest attainable by transportation|highest point on earth]] that can be reached by watercraft navigating from the sea. Currently, no passenger or freight services use the river at Whitehorse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Information Covering River Transportation System |url=https://www.alaskarails.org/historical/river/index.html |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.alaskarails.org}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
* [[Juneau, Alaska]], [[United States]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juneau.org/clerk/Sister_Cities/CBJs_Sister_Cities.php|title=The City and Borough of Juneau Homepage|work=juneau.org|access-date=November 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504094524/http://www.juneau.org/clerk/Sister_Cities/CBJs_Sister_Cities.php|archive-date=May 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Lancieux, France]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Lancieux, France Sister City Program|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/lancieux|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141027190415/http://www.whitehorse.ca/lancieux|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2014|work=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2014-10-27}}</ref> since 2000.
* [[Ushiku]], [[Japan]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Ushiku, Japan Sister City Program|url=http://www.whitehorse.ca/ushiku|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141027190337/http://www.whitehorse.ca/ushiku|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2014|work=City of Whitehorse|access-date=2014-10-27}}</ref> since 1985.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ushiku mayor bids thanks, farewell to Whitehorse|url=http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/ushiku-mayor-bids-thanks-farewell-to-whitehorse/|access-date=2011-03-19|newspaper=[[Whitehorse Star|Whitehorse Daily Star]]|date=9 August 2005}}</ref>

Historical sister city partnerships:

* [[Echuca, Victoria|Echuca]], [[Australia]], November 1977 – September 2008<ref>{{cite news|title=Item 12660|url=http://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/hardcopy/111708_189939.pdf|access-date=2011-03-19|newspaper=Shire of Campaspe – Minutes|date=16 September 2008|archive-date=2016-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411030026/http://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/hardcopy/111708_189939.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Byron Baltimore]], [[National Hockey League]] player
* [[Dahria Beatty]], Olympic cross-country skier
* [[Zachary Bell]], Whitehorse-born Olympic cyclist 
* [[Pierre Berton]], author and television host, born in Whitehorse
* [[Ivan E. Coyote]], spoken word performer and writer, born in Whitehorse in 1969
* [[Dylan Cozens]], professional hockey player for the [[Ottawa Senators]]
* [[Stéphanie Dixon]], para-athlete <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yukon-news.com/sports/stephanie-dixon-honoured-with-appointment-to-order-of-canada/|title=Stephanie Dixon honoured with appointment to Order of Canada – Yukon News|date=5 January 2018}}</ref>
* [[Randy Hahn]], play-by-play commentator for the [[San Jose Sharks]]
* [[Stephen Kozmeniuk]], musician who created the band [[Boy (Canadian band)|Boy]], music producer/composer who has worked with [[Madonna]], [[Kendrick Lamar]], and others
* [[Archie Lang (politician)|Archie Lang]], represented the [[Electoral district (Canada)|electoral district]] of [[Porter Creek Centre]] in the [[Yukon Legislative Assembly]] from 2002 to 2011
* [[Jeane Lassen]], Olympic weightlifter
* [[Paul Lucier]], Yukon's first [[Senate of Canada|senator]]
* [[Dawn Macdonald]], poet
* [[Sarah MacDougall]], Swedish/Canadian singer-songwriter, resides in Whitehorse
* [[Gavin McKenna]], Hockey player currently playing for [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey|Penn State University]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] and is widely considered the number one prospect for the 2026 [[NHL entry draft]]
* [[Audrey McLaughlin]], the first woman to lead a represented political party ([[New Democratic Party (Canada)|NDP]]) in Canadian federal politics, who has resided in Whitehorse since 1979
* [[Scott Moffatt]], singer and guitarist
* [[Joey Moi]], music producer, songwriter, and captain of the Big Loud Beauties
* [[Aaron Olson]], basketball player
* [[Gurdeep Pandher]], Bhangra dancer 
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]], actor whose credits include ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' and ''[[Dollhouse (TV series)|Dollhouse]]''
* [[Tony Penikett]], mediator and negotiator who served as the third premier of Yukon from 1985 to 1992
* [[Jim Robb (painter)|Jim Robb]], watercolour painter
* [[Sonjaa Schmidt]], Olympic cross country skier, first Canadian woman to win a gold medal at the [[Nordic Junior World Ski Championships]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Sonjaa Schmidt |url=https://olympic.ca/team-canada/sonjaa-schmidt/ |website=Team Canada |date=19 December 2025}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Scoffin]], Youth Olympic bronze medalist in curling
* [[Robert W. Service]], known as The Bard of the Yukon for his poems [[The Shooting of Dan McGrew]], [[The Cremation of Sam McGee]] and many other depicting the [[Klondike Gold Rush|Gold Rush]] and the special atmosphere of the Klondike.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://robertwservice.blogspot.fr/2013/03/robert-services-bust-in-whitehorse.html|title=Robert W. Service (1874–1958) Yukon Bard & Adventurer: Robert Service's Bust in Whitehorse|work=robertwservice.blogspot.fr|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> Whitehorse City Council which paid tribute to Robert Service with several monuments: Robert Service's Road, a Bust near where he lived, a Memorial Desk at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Main Street and various celebrations through the sister city relationship with the town of [[Lancieux]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://robertwservice.blogspot.fr/2013/10/jumelage-whitehorse-lancieux-september_25.html|title=Robert W. Service (1874–1958) Yukon Bard & Adventurer: Jumelage Whitehorse-Lancieux, September 27th 2013|work=robertwservice.blogspot.fr|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Amy Sloan]], television actress
* [[Peter Sturgeon]], National Hockey League player
* [[Frederick Trump]], cofounder of the Whitehorse Hotel and grandfather of [[Donald Trump]]
* [[Martyn S. Williams]], mountain and wilderness guide who is the first person in the world to lead expeditions to the three extremes, South Pole (1989) North Pole (1992) and Everest (1991)
* [[Greg Wiltjer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/birthplaces.cgi?id=2525 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418015432/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/birthplaces.cgi?id=2525 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-18 |title=Sports-Reference |publisher=Sports-Reference |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> basketball player

Notable politicians include the first female mayor of Whitehorse, in 1975, [[Ione Christensen]], whose family had moved to Whitehorse in 1949.

==See also==
{{portal|Canada}}
* [[List of municipalities in Yukon]]
* "[[Bob Smart's Dream]]", a 1906 poem by [[Robert W. Service|Robert Service]] that speculates about the Whitehorse of the future.
* ''[[This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse]]'', a 2001 album by [[Lucyfire]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.whitehorse.ca/ www.whitehorse.ca]
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Whitehorse}}

{{Geographic location
 | Northwest = ''[[Ibex Valley, Yukon|Ibex Valley (unincorporated)]]''
 | North = [[Carmacks, Yukon|Carmacks]]
 | Northeast = ''[[Ross River, Yukon|Ross River (unincorporated)]]'' <br /> [[Faro, Yukon|Faro]]
 | West = [[Haines Junction]]
 | Centre = Whitehorse
 | East =
 | Southwest =
 | South = ''[[Mount Lorne, Yukon|Mount Lorne (unincorporated)]]''<br />[[Carcross, Yukon|Carcross]]
 | Southeast = ''[[Marsh Lake, Yukon|Marsh Lake (unincorporated)]]''<br />[[Tagish, Yukon|Tagish]]
}}
{{Canada capitals}}
{{Subdivisions of Yukon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Whitehorse| ]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in Yukon]]
[[Category:Cities in Yukon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1898]]
[[Category:Yukon River]]