Economic Development Strategy

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The City of Whitehorse initiated the development of a new Economic Development Strategy in 2024, following the completion of the City’s previous Community Economic Development Strategy, which guided economic initiatives from 2015 to 2020. The new strategy is intended to help shape the City’s role in supporting a resilient, diverse, and sustainable local economy over the coming years.

To inform this work, the City engaged with stakeholders and rightsholders and conducted a jurisdictional scan to better understand local priorities, challenges, and opportunities. Insights from these activities have contributed to the creation of a draft strategy, which is now in the final stages of review before being presented to Council for consideration.

This page will continue to provide updates on the steps the strategy is going through as it moves toward completion.

The City of Whitehorse initiated the development of a new Economic Development Strategy in 2024, following the completion of the City’s previous Community Economic Development Strategy, which guided economic initiatives from 2015 to 2020. The new strategy is intended to help shape the City’s role in supporting a resilient, diverse, and sustainable local economy over the coming years.

To inform this work, the City engaged with stakeholders and rightsholders and conducted a jurisdictional scan to better understand local priorities, challenges, and opportunities. Insights from these activities have contributed to the creation of a draft strategy, which is now in the final stages of review before being presented to Council for consideration.

This page will continue to provide updates on the steps the strategy is going through as it moves toward completion.

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  • Share In the interest of a free press, can we include media/journalism businesses in the list of businesses that do not require business license? on Facebook Share In the interest of a free press, can we include media/journalism businesses in the list of businesses that do not require business license? on Twitter Share In the interest of a free press, can we include media/journalism businesses in the list of businesses that do not require business license? on Linkedin Email In the interest of a free press, can we include media/journalism businesses in the list of businesses that do not require business license? link

    In the interest of a free press, can we include media/journalism businesses in the list of businesses that do not require business license?

    sokolov asked about 1 year ago

    Hello, thanks for your question.

    “Free press” refers to freedom of expression, not exemption from fees or licensing. While media and journalism are protected in what they can report, they are still subject to standard business regulations. Business licensing applies consistently across sectors, and media businesses are not currently proposed to be exempt.

    The City will be reviewing the Business License Bylaw this year, but at this stage, exempting this sector from licensing fees has not been identified as a consideration.

  • Share Is there a plan to look into the possibility of making all downtown (north of 6th Ave) into mixed res-commercial zoning? (Light commercial). Thanks. on Facebook Share Is there a plan to look into the possibility of making all downtown (north of 6th Ave) into mixed res-commercial zoning? (Light commercial). Thanks. on Twitter Share Is there a plan to look into the possibility of making all downtown (north of 6th Ave) into mixed res-commercial zoning? (Light commercial). Thanks. on Linkedin Email Is there a plan to look into the possibility of making all downtown (north of 6th Ave) into mixed res-commercial zoning? (Light commercial). Thanks. link

    Is there a plan to look into the possibility of making all downtown (north of 6th Ave) into mixed res-commercial zoning? (Light commercial). Thanks.

    Gadi asked 6 days ago

    Hi Gadi, the Economic Development Strategy follows the direction set by the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and the new Zoning Bylaw (2025-37). These documents already define how areas of downtown, including north of 6th Avenue, are zoned, based on past planning work and public input.

    The Strategy does not propose changes to zoning. Its role is to support economic activity within the existing framework. Any change to allow more mixed residential–commercial uses would need to be considered through a future update to the OCP or the Zoning Bylaw, not through the Economic Development Strategy.

Page last updated: 27 Mar 2026, 10:34 AM