Yukon Coroner's Service investigating death at Whitehorse shelter housing unit

The Yukon Coroner's Service is investigating after a person visiting a housing unit above the Whitehorse emergency shelter died Thursday.

Chief Coroner Heather Jones confirmed in an email that the death was reported to the service but wrote that it was too early to "determine the cause of death… or to even suspect the cause." 

The Yukon RCMP responded to the scene and is assisting with the coroner's investigation. 

Jones said no further details would be released at this time. 

Meanwhile, the Connective Support Society, which operates the emergency shelter and the housing units at 405 Alexander St., said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened" to confirm that a person "passed away while visiting a tenant" of one of those housing units. 

"We are following Connective policies and procedures in response, including a thorough review of the incident," communications director Kim Pettersen wrote in an email. "We will continue to work with the Coroner's office and RCMP, while supporting the family of the deceased, Connective staff, and other service users at 405 Alexander at this difficult time."

The person is at least the second to die in a housing unit above the shelter in recent months. Carmen Melancon died of a suspected overdose while also visiting a unit in December, leading her family and First Nation to call on the Yukon government to "fire" Connective.

Jones said her office has investigated 12 deaths of "unnatural cause" that have occurred at or 'been in association with" the shelter since February 2020, including Thursday's. Overdose deaths, she said, would be included under "unnatural."