Dawson City Citizen's Forum

Pictured is the playground and location for the new hospital. On the left is the back of the Dawson Museum and the Nursing Station is seen on the right.

Rumor has it that Minister Lang is appealing to Mayor Jenkins to permit the immediate demolition of the playground to facilitate preparing the ground for hospital construction next spring.

The only thing wrong with the request is that it would contravene existing bylaws that require a plan for the new construction and deposit of money before any wrecking can take place.

Dawsonites, please take control of your town and don't allow the Territorial Government to ram their politically motivated projects down your throats!

Museum on the left, Nursing Station to the right.....
And the condemned playground front and centre!!!!

> Museum on the left, Nursing Station to the right.....
> And the condemned playground front and centre!!!!

Who said it was condemned? Kids still play there.

Keep the green space and put the hospital elsewhere.

but wasnt it you and council that signed off on yukon govt plans to use the park in the first place? dont they already have persmission?

> but wasnt it you and council that signed off on yukon govt plans to use the
> park in the first place? dont they already have persmission?

In November 2008 town council endorsed by letter a request by YTG Dept. of Health to expand the existing nursing station into the playground on the condition that the playground be relocated.

This letter has been used to justify building the hospital on that location when in fact there was no thumbs up given to build a stand alone two story hospital. A hospital was never discussed, only an expansion of the existing health care facility.

However, the letter did not and cannot excuse the requirement for a development permit. This must be observed and our bylaws respected. This means that a plan must be submitted.

Further, there has never been a public meeting held where citizens could ask the Territorial Government and our MLA to justify this location.

I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of smaller hospitals over the last year. I recommend that the hospital planners have a look at the health centre/hospital in Stewart, BC. It was originally built when the community was more Dawson-sized. Their building's foot print would probably match that of our playground. However, I think the playground location is problematic as there are so many residences in the immediate area and it doesn't permit easy access for the ambulance as it forces the paramedics to drive through residential areas. Is there no room in the old YTG yard? What about where the sewage lagoon had been planned? Or would that also spark a referendum? I think it is marvellous that the hospital plans are moving ahead at long last but when we have a chance to improve the location for the benefit of the neighbours, have safe easy access for the ambulance, and keep a playground, why wouldn't we consider that?

Just my 2 bits.

- Aedes

A meeting was held where YHC discussed the 4 options given to them, and the pros and cons with each location. As for the playground, ask the Daycares if they are allowed to take their wards there....the answer will be no. And has been for years. And the fact that we get a whole new playground doesn't seem to be considered. Just waiting for the City to inform YTG where to construct it. A lot of opinions are seeming to be expressed without the full knowledge of the situation. Maybe some more research on your part is needed.

> A meeting was held where YHC discussed the 4 options given to them, and the
> pros and cons with each location. As for the playground, ask the Daycares
> if they are allowed to take their wards there....the answer will be no.
> And has been for years. And the fact that we get a whole new playground
> doesn't seem to be considered. Just waiting for the City to inform YTG
> where to construct it. A lot of opinions are seeming to be expressed
> without the full knowledge of the situation. Maybe some more research on
> your part is needed.

The public meeting held by the Yukon Hospital Corporation at the request of the city was to inform Dawsonites about the proposed facility and what services will be offered.

The many questions from the floor asking to justify the location were deflected and dismissed by Corporation Chair Craig Tuton. Suggesting that they were offered the location by government and had no further input.

The disconnect here is that the public at large was never consulted nor had the chance to directly ask our MLA or the minister to justify the location in an open forum, especially within the context of our Heritage Bylaws and green space issues.

This should be a matter of public record.

Forget about the playground. Everyone knows it's dangerous and should have been replaced years ago and it is great to get a new one AND a new hospital. Nobody has been trying to 'Save the Playground'. Some merely feel that space should be recreational as it has been historically, whether as green park, playground or whatever and simply not developed as a large structure.

The principle at hand is who runs this town. Is it Mayor and Council as just elected by the people or the Territory by decree? If Council wants it to go there, just follow the law and get on with it. If they don't want it there, go elsewhere. The Territory and it's politician(s) should be serving this town, not running it. That's the job of Town Council.

May I add, politicians are elected to do a job and set policy and have opinions etc etc but please, for the love of God, will you all just start showing a little respect for each other and stop fighting? I tire of all of your bickering.

By the way, Vigilo Canis, in case you haven't figured it out, was in a position to know way more about this project than probably anyone else so doesn't need to do any more research.

> Pictured is the playground and
> location for the new hospital. On the left is the back of the Dawson
> Museum and the Nursing Station is seen on the right.
>
> Rumor has it that Minister Lang is appealing to Mayor Jenkins to permit
> the immediate demolition of the playground to facilitate preparing the
> ground for hospital construction next spring.
>
> The only thing wrong with the request is that it would contravene existing
> bylaws that require a plan for the new construction and deposit of money
> before any wrecking can take place.
>
> Dawsonites, please take control of your town and don't allow the
> Territorial Government to ram their politically motivated projects down
> your throats!

The hospital might just be constructed to the current playground for a medical improvement. Anyway, the playground must relocate first before the construction of the new hospital to secure the playground. The people there could do something about it.

---
SEO Services