Yukon Chatter Bug

While living in Toronto, it was very rare (and I mean rare) to meet someone you knew when going downtown. Once I bumped into a friend on a subway platform, and that in itself was a story to be told. We were both shocked at meeting each other.

In Whitehorse, it’s the other way around. Maybe that’s why I always feel so refreshed after Thursday’s trip to the Market. Today I met:

• A friend and colleague I’ll be working with this year
• My boss
• A friend of the family
• Parents of kids I’ll be teaching this year
• 5 kids I’ll be teaching this year
• Several acquaintances (4)
• A couple of friends
• And the biggest surprise: FAWN

We’ve never met face-to-face, and in an e-mail I sent this morning, I mentioned we should get together to meet for coffee, since we only live a short walk from each other. Her and Michael have posted pictures here and there of each other, and I immediately recognized her when I saw her, and let me tell you, she is very pregnant, very glowy (if that’s a word), and very gorgeous. Have you ever met someone whose eyes have two colours? I couldn’t help but to stare at her eyes. Don’t take this the wrong way, please, but I know beauty when I see it.

Nice to meet you Fawn!

If you’re a fan of Star Wars, hurry on down to Annie Rhiannon’s blog, The Little Pinch of Salt. She writes a great story about her father who used to do artwork for album covers back in the ’70s. He recently re-discovered fame when a magazine article pointed to one album cover depicting a Roman soldier, which supposedly inspired Lucas’ Darth Vader.

The best part is that no one knew who the dressed up figure on the album was, so when he came across the article, he wrote to the magazine to tell them.

In the comments section, Rhiannon even reprints part of the letter her father sent which includes even more juicy details about the photograph.

Everyone wants to have fun. So, come on down to this year’s fun-filled evening to help raise funds for the 2008 grads. We are a group of nine students graduating from the BEd program at Yukon College. Come on down!

Update: There will not be a 50/50 draw due to licensing requirements. [05/22/08]

Okay, so you’ve heard my raves and rants about service in Whitehorse. It’s often hit and miss. Last Friday night, Dave and I went out for a celebratory dinner. I just finished my four year long studies, and we were also celebrating six months of marriage. A nice dinner was in order. We decided to try Chief’s Steakhouse, partly on the recommendation of Michael’s Meanderings.

Like Michael, I like my steak medium, so I generally order medium-rare, as most restaurants tend to overcook steak. Well, I got what I ordered, and I didn’t send it back to the kitchen. My filet mignon was like butter melting in my mouth. When Dave began to cut into his T-bone, the meat came apart with his fork, so tender it was.

The side of vegetables was perfect. Freshly cut broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots cut into large pieces and steamed to perfection. These and the pan-fried potatoes brought me back to my mother’s cooking. Nothing better than a home-cooked meal.

The food was simply delicious, and I plan on returning to try other things on the menu. We had smoked salmon as a starter, and a wonderful merlot called NK’NIP (pronounced in-ka-meep), named after the Osoyoos Indian Band that makes it.

The service was everything I could’ve asked for, and then some. The waitress (whose husband is part owner of the restaurant) was friendly, smiled – somewhat hard to come by in Whitehorse restaurants – and made us laugh more than once. She was definitely on top of her game, and we certainly appreciated it. The restaurant was very busy also, another good sign.

Like Michael, I strongly recommend you try this restaurant if you haven’t already. And if you like it, blog about it. Good service deserves the word to be passed on. The food and service at Chief’s added to our special occasion.

The biggest time wasters in elementary schools are transitions. Changing from one subject to another, moving from one classroom to another, and coming in and out for recess are some examples of the many transitions that happen in a typical school day. Teachers are always looking for ways to make these transitions go smoothly and get students engaged as soon as possible.

Last week, there was a visitor at our school who literally emptied it in record time. Students rushed so fast out of the school, you could’ve sworn there was a fire. Yes, lights were flashing in the parking lot, but they weren’t from a fire truck. It was the Christmas garbage truck with no one other than Santa at the wheel. You’ve probably seen it around Whitehorse, with the truck decorated with Christmas lights, these stuck on with bright red and green duct tape.

Thank you to “Santa” who made the kids’ day and volunteered his time to come way out to our school to say a big “Ho, ho, ho.” Maybe we should hire him all year long.

Santa’s Garbage Truck

Santa is Leaving

If, like me, you’ve had to renew or apply for a new passport recently, you probably know that the regulations about who can sign as your guarantor have changed. It makes so much more sense now.

In the past, you guarantor had to be a professional that met certain qualifications. I’m curious if my old doctor in Toronto would have been able to recognize me outside of the context of her office. Considering the process Canadians need to undergo in order to obtain a passport, short of getting an anal probe, it simply makes sense to allow someone holding a valid passport to verify your identity.

Also, if you need to get a passport photo done, go to a “professional” photo finisher, like Photovision on Main St (I couldn’t find a link). While waiting to submit my application at the federal building, a woman sitting next to me mentioned that it was her third time in, because her photo kept being rejected. The clerk confirmed to me that Photovision in Whitehorse have a lower rejection rate than places in town like Wally World and Shopper’s. They probably charge a higher rate ($20), but it’s worth not having to return because your photograph doesn’t meet the passport office’s specifications.

Oh, and you can’t smile on your photo anymore. So expect to see a mugshot, no matter how hard to you try to look normal.

Whatever you do, don’t mail it in. Go to Human Resources in the federal building and they’ll check everything first, take payment, and send it off for you.

My biggest challenge was trying to get to the office before they close at the ridiculous early hour of 4pm.

Enjoy!

In Arizona, a 13-year-old boy was suspended for for drawing — on paper — a gun on his homework. In 2000, four kindergarten boys were playing cops and robbers at recess using their fingers as “guns”; they were subsequently suspended for three days. These and other stories have led me to wonder whether things are any different in the Yukon. So, I decided to pay a visit to a local school to see for myself.

Upon entering the school, I was immediately threatened by a black-masked figure with a flowing cape, brandishing a long rapier. He wasn’t packing heat, but I’ll bet he’ll be suspended.

Trying to find someone with authority to mete out the suspension, I barely escaped a beheading by a Knight Templar in the principal’s office.

Grateful that I had escaped with my life twice, I decided to stay away from the office and make my way down to the gym, where a flurry of activity got my attention.

Instead of being in class, students filled the gymnasium. In one corner, a crowd egged on two students going at each other with pillows. A bystander was recording the whole incident on his cell phone.

A few feet further, suction-cup guns were being aimed at a boy moving about in a cage-like enclosure. The target was the skull-shaped mask being worn by the kid.

In yet another area, students were wielding hunting rifles, trying for a “kill.” Farm animals were scattered about on a flat board and the ammunition was a coin rolling down a slot on a carved wooden hunting rifle. Thankfully there was a sheriff sitting nearby. Surely he had the authority to take care of these gun-toting kids. But wait! He was the one encouraging the whole thing. Isn’t there anyone in this school that sees this behaviour for what it is?

I’d had enough of this and made my way to the nearest exit, which meant going through the girls’ change room and out the other side. As I hurried through the door, I suddenly heard muffled screams. A grizzly discovery awaited me: the change room was a scene reminiscent of a chainsaw massacre. I found myself in the dark, where flashes of light illuminated walls, ceiling, and floors splattered with blood. Trying to paw my way out of there, something (or someone) jumped out at me from a dark corner. I finally managed to find the exit where I needed a moment to regain my composure. We’re way past suspensions now, expulsion is in order!

By the end of day, the school would have been emptied had suspensions been given out. Instead, everyone had a great time. Kids had been talking about this event from the beginning of school in August and couldn’t wait for this day of Hallowe’en festivities. I’m guessing they’ll be talking about it for a couple of months to come.

Funny thing, I didn’t see any kids fighting at recess, nor any punches thrown. What I did see was a group of kids working the whole day before to set up the gym, and working through recess and lunch the day after to clean up. They were scrubbing walls using lots of elbow grease, while chatting about the day before. Could it be that there is a healthy way of letting kids just be themselves and have a bit of fun? No one condones violence, but could it be that because of news headlines, we have pushed the pendulum to the extreme?

Since the general public has learned that the famous Discovery Bar (or Taku Arms) is closing its doors, things within the pub have started disappearing. The owner, Ed Isaak, had all kinds of antique memorabilia – musical instruments, bottles, artwork, and even an old tricycle – plastered all over the ceiling and walls, and a few weeks ago, staff started noticing items going missing. I think the last straw was the disappearance of a couple of bar stools. Yew…I wouldn’t want to see those under blue lights during a crime scene investigation.

These disappearing acts prompted the owner to start taking things home early. So, in the last couple of weeks, if you were to walk inside, you’d notice bare walls and ceiling. Even the bell was taken down, as it appeared that someone was contemplating walking out with it. What a shame. The brass foot rail surrounding the bar was also taken off, so imagine how funny it must look from the bartender’s perspective seeing people almost lose their balance when expecting the rail to be there.

Anyway, last night was the the last opportunity for Yukoners to say their goodbyes to the place. I wasn’t there, but I’m sure it was bursting at the seams. I’m looking forward to hearing stories of how things went, and I wonder if, just if, people managed to find anything worth stealing. It’ll be interesting to see where all these items will reappear. Yes, what a shame.

Have you heard about customer service in Whitehorse? Most comments I’ve heard aren’t very positive, but apparently, there’s a drastic shortage of service workers in town. That surely doesn’t help our customer service situation.

With the start of the school year, I needed to get several school supplies which brought me into our local “big” office supply store. For those of you unfamiliar with it, their counters are an upside-down U-shape with a cash register in each corner of the U. I spotted a cashier behind one of the counters (all others were empty), so I made my way to her counter.

I put my goods down and stood there for a moment, waiting to be acknowledged: no luck.

I made noise with my keys: still, no luck.

I cleared my throat (loud enough to be heard): still, no luck.

I said: “Hello-o!” Finally! She looks up, and without moving, simply says, “that cash is closed, you’ll have to come to the other side, then continued with whatever she was doing.
Now keep in mind that the two cash registers are behind the same counter, and it’s just a matter of her taking an extra step or two toward me. But the problem here wasn’t that I had to move my stuff to the other side of the “U”, that wasn’t such a big deal. Afterall, that particular counter was closed. The problem was the feeling of being ignored. So, once I picked up all my stuff to bring to the other side only to be served by the same cashier, I just couldn’t hold my tongue.

I said: “So, do you normally just ignore people who don’t happen to be standing at the right counter?”

“I didn’t ignore you,” she responded.

“I have to say, that’s what it felt like.”

“I thought you were one of our staff,” was her reply.

Now, I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked, staff usually wear bright red polo shirts. I didn’t have a speck of red on me, except maybe my nail polish. She obviously didn’t even look.

I know I may be sounding a bit negative here, but if it was a one time deal, it happens. I could deal with a store that has decent service and the odd bad day. But it wasn’t the first time I’d had this kind of service.

I guess in a way I was partly to blame. I hate box stores and I still found myself going there for the sake of convenience. I stand guilty. I think it’ll be Whitehorse Business Machines for me from now on. Afterall, No One Makes You Shop at Wal-Mart.

You want a more positive story?

During my first year in Whitehorse, I found myself working as a bank teller, which meant being on my feet all day. Since I liked to dress business-like, I needed a good pair of comfortable flat dress shoes. During my lunch break, I took a walk down the block to Shoes “R” Us, where I got an excellent, albeit expensive, pair of flat dress shoes.

Women’s shoe manufacturers tend to like to skip size 9½, which happens to be my size. After size 9, you can rarely find half sizes. As a result, I often end up with ill-fitting shoes. Anyway, to make a long story short, I buy a pair of shoes, and a couple of months later, one shoe is coming apart on one side. I take them in to the store only expecting to have them shipped for repair (because at the time there were no shoe repair stores in Whitehorse). The store owner took one look at the shoes, went to the back to get another pair (one size larger), and brought them back. These weren’t cheap shoes; as a matter of fact, I had never paid so much before for a pair of shoes. However, five years later, I still wear them, and they still look like new.

So, is all customer service bad in Whitehorse? Obviously not. I’ve had excellent service in many businesses: Coffee Tea & Spice, Whitehorse Business Machines, Shoes “R” Us, and The Java Connection to name a few. Unfortunately, the bad experiences tend to stay with us, I think, because they evoke stronger emotion. I’ve heard of studies indicating that when a business deals with a customer service problem quickly and efficiently, the customer in question ends up with a higher level of satisfaction and loyalty than if nothing had ever happened. I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s certainly good practice.

How I wish the world was filled with airline service that compares to that of Air North‘s. Whether you’re in the air, at the ticket counter, or on the telephone, the service provided by Air North is always outstanding. If you have a problem, a question, or a concern, it’s just a matter of picking up the phone and voilà! Whatever needs fixin’ gets fixed.

Before I go on, let me assure you that I have no affiliation with them or any of their employees.

Yesterday, I spent a good part of the afternoon trying to arrange travel to attend my brother’s wedding in northern Ontario. After trying to book the “other” airline’s portion of the flight online a couple of times and getting a message that, “Your request cannot be processed at this time. Please try again,” I decided to call their reservations centre. They would not (or in their words, could not) match the price I had on my screen, despite the fact that the online system wasn’t letting me book the darn thing. They even admitted that, yes, the online system at their end was down. The lower online price was due to my opting to travel without checked-in luggage.

While on the phone, their online system came up again, but of course, the price of the selected flights was now higher. I was in a catch-22 situation. If I booked through the web, I pay much more than my initial quote; if I stay on the phone and let them book it, they can’t give me the initial discount. Regardless of my choice, I was still paying more. GGggrrrr!!! In the end, I decided to book a different day altogether to avoid paying the higher cost.

Coming back to Air North’s service, according to the reservations page on their site, they will do their best to match other prices, and they came through for me. I could go on and on about many instances where they came through, but I think what sums it up is that they have common sense! The people who work there have common sense! How’s that for a first in customer service? If you have a request or a concern, ask yourself if it’s reasonable or if the issue is a matter of common sense. If the answer to either question is yes, then it’s a matter of making one phone call and, voilà, everything’s taken care of.

Please feel free to post your comments about your positive experiences with Air North, because as far as I’m concerned, they deserve it!