On the 8th of April, the owner and operator of the Yukon Soaps Company, Joella Hogan, held a grand opening of the company’s new building in Mayo. The Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation Ranj Pillai attended the celebration in downtown Mayo near the Stewart River.
The new building contains a two-story, 2,000 square foot studio and three rental homes for Yukoners, two of which are designated affordable units. It was designed by Alanna Quock of Regenerative Design and built by Van Fleet Construction, both Indigenous-owned companies.
The new space has been named “Raven’s Landing” to honour Hogan’s clan and to symbolize the place where people gather, rest and create. The location was carefully chosen to reclaim space along the river where indigenous people gathered in the past. Each suite offers all of the amenities a person would need at an affordable rate. The workshop suite will provide Yukon Soaps Company the space needed to meet the increasing demand for its handcrafted soaps as well as provide aspiring entrepreneurs a place to work.
The Yukon Soaps Company was the recipient of $160,000 from the Yukon government’s Housing Initiatives Fund in 2020–21. The Yukon Soaps Company also received about $16,000 from the Department of Economic Development to support the development of their business as they broaden their market reach.
The Yukon Soaps Company has become a strong community pillar and continues to offer Yukoners high-quality products made right here in the territory. This new building will now help people in Mayo have access to more affordable housing, additional employment opportunities and a space to come together to celebrate their traditions. I applaud Joella for her strength and perseverance in creating such a positive anchor for her community.
Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation and the Department of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
I strongly believe that when Indigenous peoples own and operate businesses, not only do they empower the individual but also the community they represent. I am thrilled that my dream of creating a space for my business to grow and community members to thrive has finally become a reality.
Owner operator of the Yukon Soaps Company Joella Hogan
- The Yukon Soaps Company received among other funding:
- $160,000 from the Yukon Housing Corporation’s Housing Initiatives Fund third intake in 2020–21, to build affordable housing units.
- $7,763 from the Department of Economic Development’s Regional Economic Development Fund in 2019, for business planning.
- $8,250 from the Department of Economic Development’s Economic Development Fund in 2021–22, to complete their digital branding, as they prepare to enter new markets.
- The Housing Initiatives Fund includes three streams:
- shovel ready projects in Whitehorse;
- shovel ready projects in communities; and
- project concepts.
- The Housing Initiatives Fund is open to First Nations governments, First Nations Development Corporations, developers, contractors, community organizations and the general public to apply.
- The Economic Development Fund supports projects and initiatives that provide long-term, sustainable economic benefits to Yukoners and Yukon communities. These must:
- support business innovation, sustainability and planning;
- encourage economic diversification through market support; or
- increase business competitiveness through capacity and capital development.
