By Patricia Betts – Before I started this internship in May 2025, I had never been west of Strathroy, Ontario, a small town just west of London, Ontario. I grew up doing trips doing trips to Canada’s Atlantic provinces, where my Dad’s family is from. I have traveled to several countries and studied and worked in many Canadian cities. So, when the opportunity arose to work in Whitehorse, I seized it. I flew from Ottawa to Vancouver, and then from Vancouver to Whitehorse. On that second leg of the trip I was in awe as we flew over the mountains, having never seen the Rockies. It took me several weeks to get used to being surrounded by mountains (I am still frequently in awe). It also took some time to get adjusted to the midnight sun. When I turn my light out at 10pm, I can sit in bed and read from the light coming in from the window until I close the black out curtains to sleep. It all brought a strong sense of adventure and discovery as I started exploring the beauty of Canada’s North West with seemingly endless trails, rivers, and mountains.
Flying over the Rockies
From day one at the Yukon Human Rights Commission (“the Commission”), I was welcomed by all the team. On my first day we did ice breakers in my first weekly Monday morning team meeting and I started reading through policies and training modules. I did a course on Yukon First Nations, legal counsel recommended podcasts and articles on trauma informed lawyering, and colleagues invited me to join them after work for weekly trivia. By the end of my first week I had shadowed a handful of inquiries, meetings with members of the public who are seeking information on human rights in Yukon and on the Commission’s complaint process. Over time I was trained to do these meetings on my own. Some of these were simple cases with relatively simple questions, someone asking how to submit a human rights complaint with the Commission or what the Commission’s process looks like or what the legal definition of discrimination is. But after doing a couple of inquiries it became clear to me why the investigation stage of a complaint is so important.
The Commission positions itself as a neutral party in the initial stages of the complaint process, offering legal information (but not advice) to both complainants and respondents alike, without taking sides. While I did not investigate any complaints, in participating in inquiries with complainants and respondents it became clear to me that human rights are not black and white. What looks like a clear instance of discrimination in one light, is a completely justifiable act in another. There can also be cases with disputed facts where a complainant says one thing and a respondent says another.
Sometimes inquiries can be hard. Not just in terms of answering difficult questions, but discussing difficult and emotional situations with people in vulnerable and unpleasant situations. I have found that this is the hardest part of the job. Other tasks, such as researching policy updates, producing tables of damages, and drafting letters are much less personal and require a lot less emotional involvement. So while I have been developing important research and legal skills, I am also developing my emotional intelligence and having to learn to take care of mental health while doing the work that I enjoy.
One of my favourite places to escape to. This was just a five minute walk from where I lived. In the background you can see Haeckal Hill.
I find I often need some reflection time after my inquiry days. On these days, I find it helpful to take a long walk in the woods near where I live. Sometimes I talk on the phone with a loved one, sometimes I walk and listen to music or a podcast, and sometimes I just walk and take in the sights and sounds of the forest and river around me. I find this helps me to stay grounded and allows me to recharge. This allows me to give the best of myself in my work and in my personal life so I can continue doing what I love without burning out. One of the most important lessons that I am learning is that I need to take care of my own mental and physical health to be able to feel fulfilled in the work that I am doing and to do it well.
Left: View of Downtown Whitehorse from the trail at the top of the Black Street Steps; Right: Another favourite spot to reflect