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The Yukon Healthy Living Study (YHLS) is a territory wide survey which aims to capture the physical activity patterns and preferences of Yukoners with a focus on outdoor, unstructured recreation. This survey focuses on ways people like to be active, motivators and barriers to activity; and facilities and other resources that support active lifestyles in Yukon communities. Understanding healthy living from a cultural and rural perspective provides opportunities for programs and services that support community priorities and preferences in meaningful and relevant ways.  

This survey is being done in collaboration with Recreation & Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY). RPAY is a non-profit society dedicated to empowering Yukoners and their communities to adopt active, healthy lifestyles.   

Collaborating Organizations

• YSPOR
• Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY)
• Yukon University
• Yukon Government, Sport and Recreation
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Public Health Agency of Canada

The Project

The YHLS began in 2009, and also ran in 2016 and 2021. The 2025 YHLS will build off previous versions to understand what physical activity in the territory looks like post-pandemic and takes into consideration ways that residents of the Yukon keep moving in their daily lives through activities like hunting, wood chopping/hauling, and active transportation. The information from previous YHLS surveys has been used by RPAY to create programs that directly address community needs. This includes the Winter Active for Life Equipment Library which was accessed by 935 Yukoners in 2024. This program enables eligible groups to borrow equipment, including skis, boots, snowshoes and kick sleds, empowering them to participate in winter activities that might otherwise be inaccessible.  

This is the first time that YSPOR is supporting RPAY on the YHLS. RPAY chose to collaborate with YSPOR because of our commitment to meaningful and respectful research and our understanding of the unique health context of the Yukon. Isabelle Schwarz is the Research Assistant working on this project. She is being supported by YSPOR’s Scientific Director, Michelle Leach.

Information for this project will be collected through a questionnaire. RPAY prioritizes support for rural and First Nations communities, and this project will help understand the best ways RPAY can continue to support those communities through their programming. While the survey will be available online, the research team will also be visiting communities across the territory in order to build connections and support people to take the survey in person. Paper copies will be available for those who prefer them.  

This project has been supported by an advisory group composed of community members with lived experience who work in the recreation space, a Yukon First Nations Elder, YSPOR staff, RPAY staff, and representatives from the Yukon Government. While developing the survey we had many impactful conversations where members shared their personal and professional insights on recreation and survey development. Through listening and collaboration, we made many edits which evolved the survey to be more culturally safe, meaningful, and relevant to all residents of the Yukon. This advisory group will continue to support the project as we proceed with recruitment and analysis over the summer and fall. To support input and awareness, the survey was presented to the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN). Production of the survey was made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. 

Using the information from the 2025 YHLS, RPAY will be able to tailor their programming to support Yukoners in the ways they like to be active. RPAY and other groups in recreation may also be able to use this information to advocate for continued or increased support for recreation programming in the territory. When producing and sharing results from this work, the priority will be to present the data in a way that is meaningful and useful for First nations governments, townships, local authorities in unincorporated communities, and other groups, so they can use it to support their own programs and services.  

Knowledge Dissemination

Other events the survey team has attended to date include:

• Canada Day & Dawson City Music Festival (Dawson City)
• Association of Yukon Communities Annual General Meeting (Haines Junction)
• First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Gathering of the People Health Conference (Mayo)
• RPAY Event (Old Crow)
• Ross River Annual Career Fair (Ross River)
• Arts in the Park Market (Watson Lake)
• Recreation Expo (Whitehorse)
• Fireweed Market (Whitehorse)

Next Steps  

As of May 12^th, the survey has gone live and will remain open until September 2025. Following collection of answers, analysis will be done, and results and recommendations will be shared.  

Please email yhls@yukonu.ca with any questions regarding the project.