Northern Lites Speed Skating Club Shines at Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse

Local Athletes Set Records, Win Medals and Make History

June Lynch leading her race // Photography by Josh Schroeder

This year, young athletes June Lynch and Claire Cook of Peace River’s Northern Lites Speed Skating Club made a memorable mark at the Arctic Winter Games, held March 8-15 in Whitehorse, YT.

Winning gold and silver in five competitions in the women under-15-years-old category, Lynch and Cook represented Team Alberta North, which brought home an impressive haul of 13 medals total.

This year’s games hosted nearly 2,000 athletes from across Northern Canada—Northern Alberta, Northern Quebec (Nunavik), the Northwest Territories and Yukon—Alaska, Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) and Northern Scandinavia (Sampi).

To be eligible, participants from Alberta must reside north of the 55 parallel, which is a line running east and west from just south of Grande Prairie.

A group picture at the end of a mixed contingent practice during the games // Photography by Cindy Freeman

Lynch and Cook joined six athletes from Grande Prairie’s Peace Wapiti Speed Skating Club to form Team Alberta North in the Under-15 division.

Reaching speeds of over 40 km/h, these athletes compete in four different individual distances as well as in teams for the 3,000-metre relay event. This year, Team Alberta North set two new records.

Claire Cook and June Lynch // Photography by Owen Cook

Lynch broke her own previous record from 2024, completing the 400-metre in less than 42.91 seconds. And, both June and Claire contributed to the relay team, which sprinted their way to gold, setting a new games record by over four seconds.

While competitive by nature, the games is a place of connection and community. Unlike many sports, speed skaters often form friendships with competitors from other teams. As a result, you see athletes cheering for their rivals and holding joint practices, making the spirit of the games just as important as the competition itself.

Off the ice, with cultural galas and a wide variety of different sports to take in, the Arctic Winter Games is an amazing event for both competitors and spectators.

The opening and closing ceremonies were vibrant, reflecting the unity and spirit of the participants. Held outside, the opening ceremonies included a parade march through Whitehorse. The streets were lined with locals and spectators cheering on the athletes and coaches as they headed to the main stage.

To celebrate an amazing week, a street party was held to host the closing ceremonies. In a historic first, Team Alberta North tied with Nunavut for the Hodgson Trophy for sportsmanship—a proud moment for the athletes and the two provinces!

June atop the podium for the 400m // Photography by Matt Archer

The next Arctic Winter Games are expected in 2029, promising continued opportunities for northern athletes to shine. Until then, the Northern Lites Speed Skating Club welcomes new members of all ages who want to experience the joy of speed skating and join a supportive community.

If interested, email nlssc4pr@gmail.com. Come try a session and become part of this growing sport. Who knows, you might be at the next Arctic Winter Games!

First held in 1970, the Arctic Winter Games is a celebration of sport, culture and northern resilience. This year marked the seventh time Whitehorse has hosted, welcoming athletes and communities from across the circumpolar north.

The event is renowned for fostering friendship and understanding through competition and cultural exchange. Traditions include pin trading and uniform trading at the end of the games.

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Words by Owen Cook | Photography by Matt Archer, Owen Cook, Cindy Freeman, Colleen Munn and Josh Schroeder