Grey Mountain Trail

When BYTE – Empowering Youth Society set out to help and empower young Yukoners in 1998, they decided to do so by facilitating experiential and innovative workshops on topics important to youth. They organized events and other opportunities to provide youth with the necessary tools and skills to lead happy, healthy and meaningful lives.

In partnership with the Yukon Government's Youth Achievement Centre, the City of Whitehorse, and with the support of the Contagious Mountain Bike Club, BYTE is currently facilitating a youth employment project that involves building an 11 km multi-use trail from the summit of Grey Mountain to downtown Whitehorse. This important undertaking was also made possible thanks to funding support from CanNor.

Once complete, this project will allow mountain bikers and hikers to access the summit of Grey Mountain, becoming a crown jewel in Whitehorse's trail network.

The Grey Mountain trail is fast becoming a popular destination with recreational enthusiasts in Yukon. In addition to serving the local population, the trail strengthens local recreational tourism infrastructure, an important component of Yukon's tourism industry.

To make the trail a reality, BYTE has been offering employment to at-risk youth who are facing barriers to employment. This project gives them the opportunity to acquire meaningful work experience in a supportive environment. It provides youth with skills training such as construction, bear awareness, and helicopter safety, as well as safety rights and responsibilities.

BYTE is doing more than simply giving youth on-the-job training. They are also providing life and social skills through coaching and mentoring (e.g. setting up a bank account, drafting a resume, or preparing for an interview) as well as learning how to work in teams and develop a strong work ethic.

The project and the organization have also been also mentioned in multiple media outlets, such as CBC, CHON FM and the Whitehorse Star.