Canada Goose Expands Its Resource Centre Program to the Yukon With 70,000 Metres of Fabric

WHITEHORSE, YUKON – on Friday, December 9, Canada Goose hosted a Resource Centre Event with Air North, Yukon’s Airline.

Throughout the morning, Indigenous sewers, seamstresses, and parka designers from Whitehorse, Yukon, and its surrounding communities were invited to choose from 70,000 metres of premium Canada Goose fabrics and materials. Just in time for the holiday season, this event provided the community with the supplies to create coats, mitts and other items for themselves, friends and family.

Over the course of five days, a team of volunteers and Air North staff trimmed the rolls of fabric to smaller, easy-to-share lengths. It took just three hours to distribute the materials, first to Elders and then to the public at large, with more than 500 people able to take materials home.

Air North’s team, with the assistance from the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association, coordinated the shipment of fabric to four other communities in the Yukon – Watson Lake, Mayo, Dawson City, and Old Crow – and to Atlin, British Columbia, offering broad access to the Canada Goose materials.

“When I first learned of the Canada Goose Resource Centres in the Eastern Arctic, I knew just how important and meaningful that would be in the Yukon as well,” said Debra Ryan, Air North’s Manager of Strategic Planning and Alliances. “It’s a natural fit for both companies as our Spirit in Action program resonates with the themes of reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and lifelong learning that the Resource Centre events promote. I’m delighted that Canada Goose embraced this partnership, moved by the positivity and excitement of the attendees, and optimistic that this is the start of a long-term commitment to support the talented and diverse community of makers in the Yukon.”

Canada Goose has always been connected to and inspired by the people of the Canadian North, whose practices are rooted in sustainability. The brand is consistently striving to build a connection between humanity and the natural world and through its purpose platform, HUMANATURE, is committed to keeping the planet cold and the people on it warm. For nearly 15 years, the Resource Centre Program has helped Canada Goose work directly with Indigenous communities to create entrepreneurial opportunities and celebrate their craftmanship.

Through this Program, excess fabrics and materials, such as linings, buttons, zippers and trims, are leveraged by seamstresses to continue their traditional ways of sewing with modern technical materials.

To date, Canada Goose has supplied more than one million meters of fabric to over a dozen communities across Northern Canada, including Iqaluit, Cape Dorset and Cambridge Bay.

“Expressing and promoting our culture is an important part of our journey and a key component of reconciliation. Our sewers are one of our voices, sharing our stories, values and respect,” said Chief Pauline Frost of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. “We are delighted to support this project to the benefit of the Vuntut Gwitchin and all of the Yukon’s Indigenous communities. As a major Air North shareholder, and as our home is the Yukon’s only community accessible only by air, it is deeply important and meaningful to us to see this type of partnership with Canada Goose take place.”

“Seeing the Canada Goose Resource Centre Program come to the Yukon is immensely positive for our communities and Yukon Indigenous artists,” said Katie Johnson, Interim Executive Director of the Yukon First Nations Tourism and Culture Association. “The program supports so many in their creative journeys through access to quality materials and fabrics. We’re enthusiastic to see this partnership continue in the coming years.”

In 2020, Canada Goose expanded the Resource Centre Program with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national representational organization for Inuit in Canada. In addition to fabric and materials, donations now include repurposed parkas, many of which are upcycled from the brand’s warranty program, not only delivering warmth to these communities but also helping build a more circular business model.

We are thrilled to bring back in-person Resource Centre events since the pandemic and to be doing so for the first time with Air North,” said Gavin Thompson, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship, Canada Goose. “For generations, Canada Goose has been inspired by the people, communities and landscapes of the Arctic North and we’re proud that this program allows us to reuse excess materials responsibly, keeping the planet cold, while also delivering warmth to these communities.”

High-resolution images from the event can be found here.

About Canada Goose

Founded in 1957 in a small warehouse in Toronto, Canada, Canada Goose (NYSE:GOOS, TSX:GOOS) is a lifestyle brand and a leading manufacturer of performance luxury apparel. Every collection is informed by the rugged demands of the Arctic, ensuring a legacy of functionality is embedded in every product from parkas and rainwear to apparel and accessories. Canada Goose is inspired by relentless innovation and uncompromised craftsmanship, recognized as a leader for its Made in Canada commitment. In 2020, Canada Goose announced HUMANATURE, its purpose platform that unites its sustainability and values-based initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to keep the planet cold and the people on it warm. Canada Goose also owns Baffin, a Canadian designer and manufacturer of performance outdoor and industrial footwear. Visit www.canadagoose.com for more information.

About Air North, Yukon’s Airline

Named Canada’s Best Airline by Tripadvisor in 2020, Air North, Yukon’s Airline offers authentic Yukon hospitality between the Yukon and British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario—in addition to flights within the territory. Thoughtful inflight service, including complimentary freshly prepared light meals and a generous baggage allowance with all fares, has earned rave reviews from passengers. In 2022 Air North made Canadian aviation history by launching the first-ever scheduled service (seasonal) between Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Toronto. Founded in 1977, the airline is 49% owned by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation—and one in 15 Yukoners hold an employment or equity stake in the company. Visit flyairnorth.com to learn more.