The Yukon features spectacular and accessible wilderness locations, with one of Canada’s earliest snowfalls.

“We offer the Alaska look at a Canadian price,” notes Neil Macdonald, Media Development Manager for the Yukon’s Department of Economic Development. “We have amazing wilderness vistas and are known for our snow and mountains. We have some amazing locations to offer.”

Sandwiched between Alaska and British Columbia with terrain that rivals the size of Spain, the Yukon offers uniquely distinct assets that should warrant a closer look by film and TV production companies.

To start, the region offers tremendous flexibility for incoming crews, boasting more hours of natural light from April to September than any of its southern counterparts. And depending on when you arrive, you can even experience 24 hours of daylight.

“We’re called the land of the midnight sun for a reason,” says Macdonald. “During the summer months our nights go into perpetual twilight in the Southern Yukon. And if you venture north into the Arctic Circle, it’s 24 hours of daylight.”

The Yukon offers breathtaking views of the Northern Lights phenomenon.

In the fall and winter when night does fall, skies are often highlighted by that exceptional phenomenon known as the Northern Lights, which once caused actor Robin Williams to pause production on The Big White to enjoy the pictorial magic.

The Yukon is also home to Mount Logan, the second highest peak in North America and Kluane National Park and Reserve, home to the largest non-polar ice field in the
world.

“We have many glaciers and snowcapped mountains to accommodate snow shoots in the summer months,” Macdonald notes.  “And we’re one of the Canadian locations with the earliest snowfall.”

A unique location to note is the historic Dawson City, epicenter of the Klondike Gold Rush. The area hosts a number of Parks Canada historical buildings and assets available for filming, and the town site is preserved in a 1900s aesthetic.

Dawson City, Yukon.

“It’s a living set,” says Macdonald. “Dawson City has a heritage bylaw where it’s mandatory that buildings retain the look and feel of the 1898 Gold Rush.”

Yukon’s capital, Whitehorse, is ideal for any filmmaker looking for a nondescript setting. “Whitehorse is any town, anywhere,” says Macdonald. “It’s a beautiful city that has a surprising variety of buildings and locales.”

And while the Yukon does not offer production tax credits, Macdonald says its newly announced Media Production Fund “can provide up to 40% of your total Yukon spend. There are also programs to support development where there are Yukon producers attached to the project.”

Polaris, River of Life – The Ghosts of Yukon, Dr. Oakley: Yukon Vet, and a dozen seasons of Gold Rush have taken advantage of the locale, with the UK and Germany serving as top markets. But Macdonald says the Yukon is hungry for more, with an on- the-ground team that is extremely film friendly and can assist potential film and TV
productions in finding the perfect location for their project. “We also have local grip and electric kits and our talented crews bring a ‘can do’ spirit to each production they work on,” Macdonald adds. “The Yukon is a unique option for any production.”