DAWSON HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND HERITAGE BYLAW UPDATE

City of Dawson

Giaimo, M.R. Letourneau, and Narratives, have been engaged by the City of Dawson to revise the Heritage Management Plan (HMP) and Heritage Bylaw (HB). Dawson City, recognized as one of the eight heritage locations in the Tr’ondëk-Klondike World Heritage site, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

A Public Meeting for this project will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 6PM at Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KAIC), Dënäkär Zho Ballroom and a drop-in session will be held Thursday, August 29, 12-1pm, Council Chambers, Dawson City Hall.

The goal of this project is to complete a comprehensive review of the HMP and HB, including design guidelines, and update these to reflect practical and forward-thinking strategies and policies to improve heritage conservation initiatives, while actively involving and engaging the wider community. This will result in a deeper comprehension and sustained preservation of the City’s valuable heritage resources, as well as the establishment of a well-functioning municipal heritage management program. The project includes collaboration with a Working Group made up of representatives from the City of Dawson, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Government of Yukon, and Parks Canada, as well as inputs from a volunteer Advisory Committee to leverage local knowledge and community insights.

Dawson lies within the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, who have lived along the Yukon River for millennia. In 1898, Dawson flourished as a bustling city and the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush with a population of 30,000. Today, Dawson has a population of approximately 2,4000 and each year the area attracts 60,000 visitors who are drawn to its rich gold rush history, vibrant First Nations culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. Dawson is home to a thriving community who contribute to the local economy through various industries such as gold mining, tourism, the arts, and government services.

Image: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey.

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