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- calendar_today November 10, 2026
Yukon Spa Expands Into Primary Health Care
A Dawson City business, Yukon Spa, is set to deliver some publicly insured primary health care services starting next month, marking what Yukon's health minister calls a "new model" for the territory. While the initiative is welcomed by the government, it has prompted debate among local health professionals about the best approach to improve patient care.
Background: From Spa to Health Care Provider
Yukon Spa opened its doors in 2024, offering a range of wellness services that included a café, dental hygiene, and massage therapy. Co-owner Mike Ellis, a nurse practitioner, said the business was always envisioned as a holistic health center. With a new contract from Yukon's Department of Health and Social Services, Yukon Spa will now provide primary care to 200 patients as part of a pilot program starting in December. These services will be covered under public health insurance.
Holistic and Accessible Care
Ellis explained that Yukon Spa aims to deliver the same level of treatment available in a traditional clinic or hospital, but in a different, less institutional setting. “What we're trying to do is offer a choice,” Ellis remarked, noting some residents face challenges or trauma associated with conventional medical environments.
In addition to primary care, Yukon Spa is collaborating with Reach Nexus and the Ayaangwaamiziwin Centre to provide testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, as well as flu and COVID-19 swabs. The spa is equipped with a lab-standard PCR machine funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Enrollment is open to any Yukon resident with a valid health card, with up to 200 places available for the initial intake.
Government Support and Pending Details
Yukon Health Minister Brad Cathers expressed support for the initiative, identifying it as part of ongoing efforts to enhance health care access. “It's a bit of a new model, so it has taken a number of months just to work together on the details,” Cathers said, adding that final specifics are still being completed. Only services officially insured under Yukon’s public health system will be included in the program.
Ellis emphasized that the spa's offering is not intended to replace services at the Dawson hospital, but rather to provide an additional option to residents.
Concerns from the Medical Association
The Yukon Medical Association (YMA) has raised concerns about the approach. Former YMA president Dr. Derek Bryant suggested the model could "introduce an area in the system where care could potentially break down," because it operates separately from other primary care settings. Bryant advocated for greater integration and team-based care, where doctors and nurse practitioners work together in centralized locations to support one another and coordinate treatment.
Bryant noted that Dawson City already has four local doctors collaborating in the clinic, emergency department, and long-term care facility. He described this current setup as a "centralized, coordinated program" offering universal primary care access in the community.
Community Response and Patient Hopes
Local resident Sue Lancaster, who lives with multiple sclerosis, is hopeful that Yukon Spa’s new services will help restore access to infusion therapy she previously received at the Dawson hospital. After the hospital discontinued her treatment, she was required to make frequent trips to Whitehorse, which became challenging. Lancaster now plans to enroll as one of the initial patients at Yukon Spa, eager for the possibility of having vital treatments available locally again.
Source: cbc.ca.
