Faro’s small-town healthcare struggles continue to mount as residents face another setback in their access to local medical services. The territorial government confirmed this week that staffing shortages will prevent the Faro Health Centre from resuming its full operations, leaving community members with limited healthcare options for the foreseeable future.
“We’re essentially trapped in a healthcare desert,” says Lorne MacDonald, a longtime Faro resident who now drives his wife 180 kilometers to Ross River for routine checkups. “When you live in a remote community, you expect certain challenges, but basic healthcare shouldn’t be one of them.”
The health centre, which serves approximately 400 residents in this former mining town, has been operating on reduced hours since January. According to Yukon Health and Social Services, recruitment efforts have failed to attract enough nurses and support staff to restore full-time emergency and clinical services.
Deputy Minister Stephen Samis addressed the situation in a community letter obtained by Mediawall.news, acknowledging the frustration while outlining temporary measures. “We understand the critical importance of local healthcare access for Faro residents and are implementing interim solutions while redoubling our recruitment efforts,” Samis wrote.
These stop-gap measures include twice-weekly visits from a traveling nurse practitioner and monthly physician clinics – provisions many residents consider woefully inadequate for a community where the nearest hospital is in Whitehorse, nearly four hours away by car.
The staffing crisis in Faro reflects broader healthcare challenges across Canada’s northern territories. Recent data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows rural healthcare facilities in the territories face vacancy rates averaging 31% for nursing positions, nearly triple the national average.
For elderly residents like Marjorie Petersen, 72, the situation creates genuine hardship. “I’ve lived here since the mine was running,” she told me during a community coffee gathering at the local recreation centre. “Now I’m wondering if I’ll need to leave the home I’ve had for decades just to be near basic medical care.”
Community leaders have pressed the territorial government for solutions beyond the standard recruitment campaigns. Faro Mayor Leonard Faber points to successful models in other remote communities. “Nunavut has implemented housing incentives and northern living allowances that actually work. We need similar thinking applied here rather than the same approaches that haven’t produced results.”
The territorial legislature recently debated emergency measures for communities like Faro. Yukon Party MLA Stacey Hassard, who represents the Pelly-Nisutlin riding including Faro, called the situation “a failure of planning and priorities” during Question Period last week.
“When we talk about healthcare equity, we need to acknowledge that rural Yukoners are being left behind,” Hassard said. “The current government promised healthcare solutions for all communities, but Faro residents are seeing the opposite.”
Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee defended the government’s approach, citing nationwide healthcare staffing challenges while promising enhanced recruitment efforts. “We’re exploring all options, including improved compensation packages and working with the federal government on rural healthcare initiatives,” McPhee stated.
Census data reveals Faro’s demographic challenges that make healthcare access particularly critical – 22% of residents are over 65, significantly higher than the territorial average of 13.8%.
For local business owner Sheila Prokopchuk, who runs the town’s only pharmacy, the health centre’s limited hours create impossible situations. “I’ve had people come in panicking because they need medical attention when the centre is closed. I’m not a doctor – I can provide basic first aid advice, but that’s not enough in a real emergency.”
The Yukon Medical Association has expressed concern about the situation, noting that limited access to primary care often results in more serious conditions developing unchecked. Dr. Ryan Warshawski, president of the association, emphasized the domino effect. “When communities lack consistent primary care, we see increased burden on emergency services in Whitehorse and poorer health outcomes overall.”
Community advocates have organized a working group to develop local solutions. Former nurse and Faro resident Elizabeth Skookum is coordinating efforts to create a community-supported housing option for healthcare workers. “We need to make Faro attractive to medical professionals, and that means addressing the practical barriers to living here.”
The territorial government has promised a comprehensive rural healthcare strategy by early next year, but residents remain skeptical after previous commitments yielded minimal improvements.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the healthcare gap continues to accumulate. Local teacher Martin Creswell recounted how his neighbor’s minor medical issue escalated due to delayed care. “By the time he could see someone, what should have been a simple treatment had become complicated. That’s the reality we’re living with.”
As winter approaches, concerns intensify about emergency response during severe weather when road travel becomes hazardous or impossible. Volunteer fire chief David Miller notes that his team is often the first response for medical emergencies. “We’re trained in basic medical response, but there are situations where you absolutely need a medical professional. Those golden minutes matter.”
For now, Faro residents continue their patchwork approach to healthcare – carpooling to appointments in other communities, scheduling non-urgent care around the limited clinic hours, and hoping emergency situations align with staffing availability.
“We’re resilient because we have to be,” says MacDonald, “but nobody should have to wonder if basic healthcare will be available when they need it. Not in Canada.”
