A strong Yukon economy needs vibrant and growing community businesses. Providing tailored support for entrepreneurs and business development helps small businesses innovate, grow and thrive.

“Yukon’s economic growth and sustainability rely on local community businesses and entrepreneurs, which employ hard-working Northerners. We will continue to invest in small businesses across the North and Arctic, whether they’re just starting out, looking to grow or striving to extend their reach into new markets. Small businesses are the economic engine of their communities and we are continuing to support diverse and resilient communities with investments such as these in the emerging culinary sector.”

The Honourable Dan Vandal
Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor

“Yukon’s small business sector is stronger when we have diverse leaders at the helm. Through today’s announcement, our government is proud to support Whitehorse-based businesses as they expand their food production products and services. We will continue to support and invest in businesses like Yukon Provisions and Sunrise Nutrition to grow and diversify our vibrant local economy.”

Dr. Brendan Hanley
Member of Parliament for Yukon

“Across the Yukon, small businesses play a significant role in the Yukon's economy and in shaping our culture and character. Local business people work hard to provide quality goods and services to their neighbours, play a vital role in creating jobs and help to drive our territory’s economic growth.  Our government is proud to work with partners such as the Government of Canada to support initiatives like these. I look forward to following the success of these businesses as they shape the Yukon’s culinary landscape. 

The Honourable Ranj Pillai
Yukon Premier and Minister of Economic Development

“Sunrise Nutrition meal kits are an idea that has grown from working with and talking to community members across the territory. These meal kits are going to be a refreshing new way for people to save time and effort, and to feel empowered, in the kitchen. I am so inspired by all of my small-business cheerleaders, and the overwhelming support that has been offered by CanNor for this project and in building my business. I cannot wait to get meal kits into the homes of Yukoners.” 

Joline Beauregard
Owner, Sunrise Nutrition

“We are incredibly grateful to CanNor for the support allowing us to expand our production of packaged foods. CanNor has allowed us to update and modernize our packaging and production line in order to provide more locally made and processed foods to the Yukon.” 

Sydney Oland
Owner/Operator, Yukon Provisions

• Yukon Provisions is a woman-owned food manufacturing, café, and shared production space located in the industrial area of downtown Whitehorse. Their operations include a lunch counter and café, bean to bar chocolate production, small batch ice cream and gelato production, and agricultural processing. The space is shared with five other small food businesses.

• CanNor funding of $35,000 from the Jobs and Growth Program to Yukon Provisions supported project activities such as contracting a designer, manufacturing, and launching new packaging for various products, purchasing new packaging equipment, retrofitting the packaging area, and launching a new online store and ordering system.

• Sunrise Nutrition is a self-identified LGBTQIA2S+ and disabled person-owned, nutrition and food services business operating in Whitehorse since 2020. The business will create a new product offering of take-home meal kits complete with recipes and supporting groceries, and an overall scale-up of their business with a new marketing initiative and e-commerce platform.

• Project activities by Sunrise Nutrition supported by CanNor funding of $70,681 from the Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth) program include leasing a commercial kitchen space to run a test pilot of the meal kits, purchasing kitchen supplies, hiring staff, and contracting for the development of project marketing and branding and investing in an e-commerce platform. This project is anticipated to create two new jobs and expand one job in Whitehorse.

• The now-closed Jobs and Growth Fund provided funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. This included supporting activities that strengthened business capacity including scale-up and market expansion, the development of  emerging areas and creating diversification opportunities to build sectors, such as food production. The program also supported under-represented entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs.

• The Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth) program makes foundational investments in economic infrastructure, sector development and capacity building to help position Northerners in the territories to take advantage of Canada’s innovation economy.

Associated links

• Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
• Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth)

Carson Debert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor
Carson.Debert@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Barbara Abramchuk
Communications Advisor,
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
barbara.abramchuk@cannor.gc.ca

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