Alkan Air announced a donation of $200,000 to the Yukon Hospital Foundation on Tuesday morning to support mental wellness in the territory.

Alkan Air has sponsored the Northwestel Festival of Trees since the event’s inception in 2003. 

The company has now pledged $40,000 per year over five years to support the foundation’s Building Better Together campaign to raise $2 million for the new 12-bed Mental Wellness Unit at Whitehorse General Hospital.

That facility is slated to open in July 2024, reporters were told by project director Karen Girling during a quick tour of the facility.

It’s being built directly above the emergency department, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million.

“The entire Alkan Air team is committed to the Yukon Hospital Foundation and its fundraising efforts to help improve Yukoners’ quality of life and access to health care and mental wellness supports here in the territory,” said Wendy Tayler, Alkan Air’s president and CEO.

“We are very proud to be part of all our community has achieved by coming together over the past two decades with a common vision for our hospitals, and are excited to help set the stage for continued fundraising success for another 20 years.” 

The 2023 Alkan Air Grand Ball at the 20th anniversary of the Northwestel Festival of Trees will be held Dec. 2 at the Yukon Convention Centre.

It will cap off 10 days of festival events and fundraising initiatives.

“Alkan Air values the critical work accomplished by Yukon health care teams,” added Tayler.

“We look forward to gathering throughout the festival, culminating with the 2023 Alkan Air Grand Ball, and encourage all Yukoners to participate as they can and most of all, enjoy the joy and magic of the festival and the giving season.”

Tammy April, the foundation’s board chair and Northwestel Inc.’s vice-president of customer experience, said the foundation “extends our sincere appreciation to Alkan Air for their generosity and dedication to Yukoners’ future health and well-being. 

“Partners like Alkan Air continually demonstrate the strength of our community and the sheer power of how working together benefits Yukoners.”

For more information about the 2023 Alkan Air Grand Ball and Northwestel Festival of Trees’ events taking place from Nov. 23 to Dec. 2, please visit https://yhf.ca