the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Alaska,” says Potvin. The project benefited greatly from strong local partnerships, including with Yukon First Nation governments. “A large amount of the fuel, aggregates, and trucking were provided by Yukon First Nation–owned companies,” says Potvin. “That was exciting and really contributed to the project’s success.” Distance from major cities was still a logistical challenge, demanding careful planning and flexibility from all partners to minimize disruptions. “Despite Whitehorse’s connectivity, we still had to be strategic in our scheduling and supply management,” Potvin adds. Fred notes that changing weather patterns were an emerging factor in the airport’s infrastructure planning. “A decade or so ago, Whitehorse only had a couple of freeze-thaw cycles a year,” Jay explains. “Now we’re getting more of those cycles, especially in the shoulder seasons, which makes the pavement move and crack.” To counteract this, the design team included additional drainage systems beneath the runway. “Before reconstruction, we installed sub-drains around the perimeter to get as much water out of 59 JAN 2026 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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