Heritage Awards

Congratulation to the 2023 Heritage Award Winners!

Ruth Armson (History Maker Award)
John Layman (Posthumous History Maker Award)
Harris Cox (Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award)
Shot in the Dark Productions for Signal Fire (Innovation, Education, and Community Engagement Award)
Yukon Film Society for the Yukon Theatre Neon Sign (Heritage Conservation Project of the Year Award)

To learn more about these and previous recipients, click here.

About the Awards

Do you know someone who has made significant contributions to conserve and celebrate Yukon’s heritage?

YHMA presents awards to individuals, organizations and businesses which have made a special contribution to the conservation or interpretation of some aspect of Yukon’s heritage. Each year, nominations for deserving recipients are invited for the following categories:

Annual Heritage Award: The award will be presented to an individual, organization, First Nation or business for an outstanding contribution to Yukon heritage. The recipient must qualify in one of the following categories:

Outstanding service to the protection, conservation, promotion or development of Yukon’s heritage;
Project, exhibit or initiative that demonstrates outstanding innovation, creativity or impact in the research, documentation, promotion and interpretation of Yukon heritage;
Meritorious service to YHMA; or
Performance of a single action, deed or service that ranks far above the normal in the cause of Yukon heritage.

History Maker Award: The award will be presented to an individual, organization, First Nation or business for outstanding contributions to Yukon heritage. The recipient must qualify in one of the following categories:

Recognized service to the protection, conservation, promotion or development of Yukon’s heritage over a period of many years;
Long-time Yukoner who has made the Yukon what it is today;
Meritorious service to YHMA over a period of many years; or
Recognized in the heritage community as a History Maker

Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award: This award is named after Helen Couch, who was a pioneer of the Yukon and a tireless volunteer for heritage organizations. She was a trustee on the board of MacBride Museum from 1988 to 2001, attended most if not all of the events and supplied home baking for most of them. Helen was also on the Board of YHMA from 1991 to 1992 and from 2003 through 2008. The Yukon heritage community is grateful to Helen for her long and distinguished service as a volunteer. In 2004 YHMA’s volunteer award was renamed the Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award. The award will be presented to an individual for an outstanding volunteer contribution to Yukon heritage. The recipient must qualify in one of the following categories:

Extensive volunteerism to a Yukon heritage organization;
Extensive volunteerism for a Yukon heritage event; or
Extensive volunteerism to YHMA.

Heritage Conservation Project of the Year Award: The award will be presented to the individual, community group, First Nation or business whose work to preserve, restore or rehabilitate a historic property best reflects the principles and practise outlined in the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. This award is sponsored by the Historic Sites Unit, Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture. To be eligible:

The recipient must be the owner or the representative of the owner of the historic property;
The recipient must be the project manager or main proponent of the preservation, restoration or rehabilitation work; and
The property must be listed in the Yukon Historic Sites Inventory.

Innovation, Education and Community Engagement Award: This award recognizes the importance of heritage to the social, cultural and educational fabric of the Yukon. The Yukon’s rich, diverse heritage plays an important role in developing and sustaining healthy, vibrant communities, and this award celebrates the various ways in which knowledge is shared and transmitted between generations and cultural groups. The award will be presented to an individual, organization, First Nation or business who demonstrates leadership, innovative approaches or outstanding contributions in encouraging ongoing education and community engagement with the Yukon’s heritage. To be eligible, the recipient must qualify in one or more of the following categories:

Outstanding or innovative initiative, exhibit, event or project that engages or inspires existing or new audiences with Yukon heritage; or
Outstanding or innovative contribution to heritage education or interpretation through social media, publications, displays, exhibits, or other products or activities that promote heritage conservation.

Nomination Package Criteria

Each nomination should be about 1-2 pages in length and include the following information:

Name and contact information of nominator (including telephone, email and relation to nominee)
Name and contact information of nominee (include organization if applicable–make sure the nominee knows they are being nominated!)
Award category for which they are nominated
Description of nominee and how they meet the criteria of the Award category. Here’s your chance to explain why this person or organization is deserving! Please provide as much relevant information as possible.
1-2 photos of the nominee, project or historic site (these will be used for promotional purposes)

How to Submit Your Nomination

Nominations should be submitted by midnight on January 15, 2024 to info@heritageyukon.ca or by mail to:

Heritage Awards Committee
c/o Yukon Historical & Museums Association
3126 Third Avenue
Whitehorse YT Y1A 1E7

Questions?