Nurse in the Yukon

The Public Health Nurse lives at Whitehorse but has to journey to all parts of the Yukon.

Yukon Public Health Nurse (unidentified).

Rosemary Gilliat

To cabin homes and schools, the Yukon Public Health Nurse travels to give injections to the children.

Rosemary Gilliat

To cabin homes and schools, the Yukon Public Health Nurse travels to give injections to the children.

Rosemary Gilliat

A long drive on dusty highways takes her to an isolated cabin where she tries to persuade the trapper to go into hospital for treatment. He invariably finds that he is too busy.

Rosemary Gilliat

At home, she relaxes with a friend who teaches at Whitehorse High School.

Rosemary Gilliat

Fellow motorists are always ready to help the nurse on her lonely journeys.

Rosemary Gilliat

Her road leads over the wooden bridge at the settlement of Carcross.

Rosemary Gilliat

by Rosemary Gilliat

The Public Health Nurse who works for the Territorial Government must be capable and self-reliant. This nurse looks after the health of the white and [Metis] population, while another takes care of the Indian people. she lives at Whitehorse but has to make journeys to all parts of the Yukon, usually travelling by road, alone, sometimes by air, and occasionally taking a patient ‘Outside’ for treatment.

This article was originally published in The Beaver, Winter 1955, pp.44-49.