Rural Health Worker Shortage Worsens in Yukon

The rural town of Faro, Yukon, faces a severe shortage of health workers, with the Faro Health Centre temporarily closed for a month due to staffing issues. Mayor Jack Bowers expressed concern that this shortage could have deadly consequences for community members. According to Bowers, the aging population in Faro, with over one-fifth of residents aged 65 and up, makes the community more vulnerable to the health-care crisis. The town's average age of 42 is higher than the territory-wide average. The shortage has also led to service reductions and closures in other Yukon communities, including Ross River and Pelly Crossing.

Key Takeaways:

• The Faro Health Centre has been temporarily closed for a month due to a lack of staff, with no nurse to staff the centre.
• The town's aging population, with over one-fifth of residents aged 65 and up, makes them more vulnerable to the health-care crisis.
• The average age of 42 is higher than the territory-wide average.
• The Faro Health Centre serves a town of about 600 residents, with an additional 100-200 people staying in out-of-town camps.
• The Yukon's community nursing vacancy rate stands at 27 per cent, with Ross River and Pelly Crossing experiencing similar health centre closures and service reductions.
• Mayor Jack Bowers has received "all kinds of calls and emails" from concerned community members and believes the shortage is a result of the health-care crisis throughout Canada.
• The Yukon government has acknowledged the issue and has taken steps to address it, including providing posters to advise community members of the closures.

Statistics:

• 27 per cent: The current community nursing vacancy rate in the Yukon.
• 1 in 5: The number of people living in Faro who are aged 65 and up.
• 42.5 years old: The average age of the people living in Faro, higher than the territory-wide average.
• 600: The population of the town of Faro, not including out-of-town camps.
• 100-200: The estimated number of people staying in out-of-town camps in Faro.
• 356 km: The distance from Whitehorse to Faro, making travel to the regional capital for medical care challenging.

Sources:

• Interview with Mayor Jack Bowers, Aug. 19
• Interview with Nigel Allan, communications for the Yukon Department of Health and Social Services, Aug. 15
• Notice from the Town of Faro on Facebook, Aug. 15
• Notice from the Town of Faro on Facebook, Aug. 6
• "2021 Census of Population," Statistics Canada
• "Yukon Bureau of Statistics," March 2025
• "Yukon News," Copyright 2025