Pioneer Cemetery Grand Re-Opening 118 years after the original burial ground opened.
The revived site of Pioneer Cemetery was ceremoniously re-opened today as speeches, a ribbon cutting and site tours were all part of the celebration.
Mark Boulerice, the city's Parks Supervisor, was master of ceremony as veteran representation from many organizations who stood proudly in the wake of drastic improvements to the 118 year old burial ground.
City of Whitehorse secured funding through CanNor's Community Infrastructure program. The $500,000 job has been in the works over the past two summers, but in development mode since 2012.
Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell told stories of the crowd's ancestors to begin his speech. Exemplifying why it's important to celebrate history and to the what he calls "The three R's; Respect, Revere and Remember our Elders."

Mayor Dan Curtis Curtis gave kudos to the great partnership that combined City Parks staff, Yukon Order of Pioneers, Royal Canadian Legion, the RCMP Veterans Association and the Downtown Residents Association. He mentioned Jamie Moody of EcoFor who used radar detection to locate what he says was every inch of the cemetery to find unmarked graves.
He also made mention of the Truth and Reconcilliation Call to Action #77 where: "We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation."
A residential school use to sit adjacent to the cemetery.

Red Gossinger of the Royal Canadian Legion told of the time not so far back in 2012 when the disarray of the cemetery caused him to scorn the t as he was laying wreaths on the site of Legions veteransthe three got together and formulated the momentum to bring the concern to DRA and then city council
He hopes in the future we will never let the burial ground of well respected and dearly departed members of yukon reach the state it was in.
Placards on the grounds show the state of the headstones and yard just a few years back

Yukon Order Of Pioneers Gordon Steele, gave respect to Grant Lundy who didn't survive to see the completion. Steele says he was the driving force behind the project.
Over 200 headstones have been identified out of what is believed to be 700 people buried of the pioneering era of Whitehorse.

BC man convicted of manslaughter
Hamilton Boulevard trail cleared as winter pilot project wraps up
Yukon RCMP roll out new navy-blue uniform shirts
Yukon releases final flood maps for Dawson, Klondike Valley, Upper Liard
Inquest into the death of Manui Roux to be held in Whitehorse
Yukon municipalities to receive record $30 million in funding
Yukon expands winter electricity relief for residents
Ross River Dena Council says 'no' to proposed mining on its traditional territory
LSCFN stands firm: 'No mining in the Breadbasket'
Yukon Government accepts responsibility for abuse at Jack Hulland Elementary
Whistle Bend road connector project gets $8.7M boost from federal government
Yukon Government signs deal with Alliance Health for primary care clinic
Man Missing in Whitehorse: Reuben van Klaveren Sought by RCMP
Yukon Government passes health authority act amendment amidst first nations concerns
Selkirk First Nation announces election results
Carcross/Tagish First Nation cuts community safety services amid funding shortfall
Yukon First Nations Outraged Over Clean Energy Act Repeal
The Yukon Employees’ Union is weighing in on the Health Authority Act’s uncertain future
The Village of Haines Junction has announced the launch of a new grant program
Yukon's air ambulance program gets upgrade