4th annual Yukon Innovation Prize winners say they want to disrupt fur industry

This year's winners of the fourth annual Yukon Innovation Prize for social entrepreneurship say they want to turn the fur industry upside down.

Kelly Milner and her team, Yukon Fur Real, saythey hope to grow the fur industry in the Yukon and connect trappers and artisans with the public.

"It's really exciting to be winning the innovation prize for something that is really about the Yukon's oldest industrywhen you think of it that way, I think it's been really interesting and exciting," said Milner.

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She said her team is looking at doing something differentwith the industry.

"Basically, we are taking on the Hudson's Bay Company when we are talking about who our competition is.We are taking on a 400-year-old industry, disrupting it and doing something different."

What does the future hold?

The team now has $60,000 from the innovation prize plus the $10,000 finalist award to get their social entrepreneurship business running.

Trapper and member of the team,Lisa Preto,said she wants to buy pelts from local trappers andhelp artisans create fur products that can be sold to consumers.

"We won't actually have a brick-and-mortar shop, we will go more for pop-up shops," she said.

"Perhaps with partnerswe will pick up the furs directly from trappers, send them out to tanning and then [do]the actual delivery of goods to the public."

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According to a press release from Yukon College, Yukon Fur Real was chosen as the winner because ofthe project's rural focusand itspotential to disrupt the existing fur market and revivea traditional economy.

"Economic diversification and innovation is key to a vibrant Yukon economy," Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai said in a statement.

"I am proud to see projects like Yukon Fur Real being recognized, and given the chance to make positive changes in the lives of all Yukoners."

There were 29 submissions for the prize this year, four of which were short-listed. The three other finalistseach received $10,000.

"Yukoners are incredibly creative in crafting inventive solutions to northern challenges," Harry Borlase, director of Cold Climate Innovation at Yukon College said in a statement, adding that this was a very competitive year.

Last year's winners were Elise McCormack and Joanne Sherrard of Dawson City with Aurum Birch Sap Skincare. The two are now working toward selling skincare products made from local birch sap. The company's website is under constructionand currently says "Great things are coming"

Theprize was created by the Cold Climate Innovation centreand the territorial Department of Economic Development.