Yukon Gathering Place

Press Release Updated: July 7, 2024 at 9:14 pm MST

Chu Níikwän LP (CNLP), the Development Corporation for the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, is excited to lead the design and construction of the Yukon’s first purpose-built convention center. The ‘Yukon Gathering Place’, to be located on the traditional water-front lands of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, will be the prime venue to supply and attract the expanding national and international convention market to the Yukon. The proposed site holds significant meaning to the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, as traditional caretakers of the land, and is an ideal location to build a state-of-the-art meeting facility and host visitor today and into next generations.

The Gathering Place is a strategic development by the Yukon Convention Bureau (YCB, in partnership with the Yukon Government (YG), to supply the expanding market for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in the Territory. The YCB has modeled the community economic impact from an expanded MICE market at around $20M/year after 5yrs of successful operations of The Gathering Place.

The selected site is beside the river where the land holds a deep history of bringing people together for dialogue and commerce. The Gathering Place will be located immediately to the north of the current Kwanlin Dun Cultural Center, and borrows its style, form and color from the river and land surrounding the site. Design intent is to accommodate 750 attendees for a formal diner, and 1,000 in a theatre style or for a concert performance. The space contains several breakout rooms and is versatile to support performing arts and art displays. The precinct design strongly upholds a cultural theme and protects the pedestrian centric street with shared-street eatures and focus to businesses enhancing the visitor experience. The design team is working to complete the schematic design and high-level cost estimate by the Fall of 2024, and should the Funders authorize the project the venue will open its doors prior to moose hunting season 2027.

The design and construction philosophy holds true to the First Nation culture and leadership value toward collaboration and community. The project demonstrates reconciliation through direct and responsible engagement by the business arm of a local First Nation in projects of high community value and impact, in addition to upholding values to multiculturalism, inclusion and diversity in the Yukon.

Gunałchîsh, Mähsi’ cho, Shäw níthän, Sógá sénlá, Thank you

“Whitehorse, Yukon - Chu Niikwan LP is thrilled to announce the planning of ‘The Gathering Place’ a state-of-the-art facility designed to become the premier destination for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions market from outside the region. This is important for our nation because it brings gatherings 'back to the river' and we are happy to share our land with visitors. With a commitment to innovation, community development and a strong value proposition, Whitehorse is poised to become a leading destination for business, tourism, and cultural activities.”

- Rick O’Brien, CEO, Chu Niikwan LP