Yukon First Nations Healing Centre

CitySpaces was hired by the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) to develop a Business Case for a Yukon First Nations-led Healing Centre focused on trauma and substance use. To inform this work, our team engaged with organizations and Indigenous communities across Canada to learn from their experiences in managing treatment and healing programs. We also collaborated with Yukon First Nations counsellors and individuals with lived experience, as well as those who have accessed treatment both within and outside the territory.

The final Business Case describes the critical need for a Yukon First Nations-led centre, provides program and design information, and capital and operating budgets. Following the Business Case submission, a Letter of Intent was signed between federal and territorial governments and CYFN. The letter “confirms their commitment to collectively work toward the construction and operation of a Yukon First Nations-led Healing Centre.”

CitySpaces was then engaged by the CYFN to develop a Workforce Development Strategy aimed at recruiting, training, and retaining Yukon First Nations staff for the Healing Centre. This work included consultations with healing centres across Canada, including Aqqusariaq, a recovery centre in Nunavut. The Strategy emphasizes education, training, mentorship, and holistic wellness to support the development of a skilled and sustainable workforce for the Healing Centre.

CitySpaces is currently assisting CYFN in securing land and funding for the Healing Centre, while advancing planning and design efforts. Our team is closely collaborating with the Yukon Government and Indigenous Services Canada to identify a site near Whitehorse and coordinate due diligence and permitting. Additionally, we are supporting the Yukon First Nations Healing Centre Trilateral Working Group, which has been established to ensure ongoing collaboration among the three core partners throughout the planning and development phases.