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Much of the beloved persona of late Canadian icon Pierre Berton was tied to his connection with the Yukon. Berton was born in Whitehorse in 1920 and raised in Dawson City. He spent time working in the famed Klondike mining camps while attending university.

Throughout his prolific career as a writer his work included themes and subjects of the Yukon. He wrote books on the gold rush and narrated the National Film Board film City of Gold.

He was instrumental in turning his boyhood home, a non-descript green and white house on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Harper Street in Dawson City, into the Berton House Retreat. The retreat allows professional Canadian writers to live for free and work in the remote location. It is hoped that their experience in the Yukon will influence their work.

The retreat was launched in 1996 when Toronto-based writer Russell Smith became the first participant. It initially began as solely a summer venture but has since expanded to be a year-round endeavour, hosting four or more writers a year. It was established in pursuit of literary excellence and Berton was active in selecting the writers, promoting the program and undertaking fundraising campaigns.

Learn more about The Berton House Writers Retreat