The City of Dawson and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation are asking residents to help name the main building of the new Dawson City Recreation Centre. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2026, and ideas must work in both English and Hän, the traditional language spoken in the area.
This is a chance for the community to play a direct role in shaping a facility that will serve everyone. The City of Dawson Parks & Recreation says the name should reflect something important, like the local landscape, history, culture, or the building’s purpose. The contest prize is a one-year membership to the new centre or $360 in recreation program credit.
The naming contest comes as construction moves forward on the $72.2-million facility. A land blessing ceremony was held before work resumed in spring 2026. The new centre will replace the aging Art and Margaret Fry Recreation Centre, which has had serious structural damage from thawing permafrost.
When finished in spring 2028, the centre will feature a skating rink, curling sheets, a fitness centre, an indoor play space, and much more. Seeing a new name chosen by the people who will use it, in both English and Hän, fits with the strong partnership between the municipality and the First Nation throughout the project.
