Whitehorse is being rendered as a miniature set by a Toronto-based artist for Little Canada part of a broader project to bring the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut to life in pint-sized form for Oct. 16.
The Little Canada team travelled to Whitehorse to collect stories, photographs and first-hand impressions, aiming to build a miniature exhibit that reflects the city’s past and present. They met with locals to better understand Whitehorse’s evolving identity and cultural roots.
Artist Damien Webb said the miniature exhibit is designed to capture Whitehorse’s spirit through colour, texture and storytelling. Earth tones, greens and vibrant building hues contrast a wintry backdrop, while interpretive signage helps convey the city’s character beyond its physical form, he said.
“We’re trying to collect all of these stories and all of these bits and pieces so that we can tell everything that Whitehorse has to offer,” Webb said.
He described Whitehorse as warm, worn and alive, a place shaped by generations of hardworking hands and layered histories. The city’s character inspired his design work on the miniature exhibit, which Webb said echoes the soul of the city.
The Little Canada team told the News they visited the Yukon Transportation Museum and the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, and had an opportunity to view the historical photographs lining the walls of the Hougen Centre’s second floor.
The Whitehorse miniature exhibit has been a year in the making, beginning with research and design work before tools hit the table, Webb said. Construction itself spanned nine months, shaping a scaled-down version of Whitehorse.
Read and/or listen to the entire Yukon News article here, and check out Little Canada’s interview with YTM Executive Director Sean Ridder above!