Dogs! featuring Frank Turner & John Firth

Frank Turner grew up in Toronto and graduated with a Master’s of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. In 1973 he lost a coin flip and instead of going to Mexico he ended up in the Yukon. He built a cabin on Squatters Road and his pet dog, Cheeko ended up getting pregnant which led Frank down a sled dog path that included competing in 24 Yukon Quests, becoming (and still) the only Canada-born musher to win the race. He also travelled to Siberia in 1991 and has travelled frequently on the Arctic Ocean.

John Firth is an award winning author of five books on Yukon sport and recreation. He will talk about the many roles that dog mushing has played in Yukon transportation history and tradition – including delivering mail, catching the bad guys and pilfering kegs of beer from the local pub – as well as the history of dog powered sport in the territory – including the characters of the Rendezvous races when they were the centerpiece of the end of winter celebrations.

Join our elders and storytellers as they share tales about life in the Yukon on foot, with dogs and horses, planes, trains and automobiles – even their thoughts about the future. Stories of survival, romance, perseverance, and everyday life. Come and share yours and help us bring history alive.