Yukon College eyes Haines Junction lot for expansion

Officials from Yukon College were in Haines Junction Wednesdaytalking about ideas for a large piece of federal land, just outside the community.

Haines Junction mayorMike Crawshaysays the "blue-skying" exercise included working with the existing research station at Kluane Lake.

"The more you start thinking about it the more the opportunities are just endless, but there's enthusiasm for the project, I guessthat's what Yukon College is looking for," he said.

In the past, the 32 hectare sitehas been usedfor theKluaneNationalPark's headquarters, and an experimental farm before that.

The discussions includedusing the land for projects conducted by the innovation centres at the college campus in Whitehorse and the carpentry program.

Crawshay saidanother idea could be a school for local governance at the site.

Yukon College president Karen Barnes says it could be looking at offering programming, such as northern research projects, and trainingwithin two to three years

"We have so many programs that use the outdoors for field camps and field study and culture camps and because there's such a big piece of land there, there's so many opportunities," she said. "There's forest, there's mountains nearby, plus it's so close to the services of the village."

Crawshay saidthe villagesupports the college's initiative.

The chief and council of the Champagne Aishihik First Nation were also briefed by college officials.

Crawshay says the federal government estimates the land is worth $1.6 million.