RIDING PROFILE | Whitehorse Centre — Tamara Goeppel, Doug Graham, Liz Hanson

About the Whitehorse Centre riding 

Formerly known as Riverside, Whitehorse Centre covers the city's downtown core, and is in the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün and Ta'an Kwäch'än First Nations.

Historically, it consisted of mostly single-family homes, many original structures from the 1940s and '50s. Over the past decade, however, there's been considerable gentrification of the downtown, with construction of several high-end condominiums and townhomes. This has not only increased the number of voters in the riding, but also changed the demographics: the voter in Whitehorse Centre is far less likely to be blue-collar than at any point in the past.

Incumbent Liz Hanson — leader of the Yukon NDP — won this riding by a landslide in 2011, capturing nearly two thirds of the vote. This time she's being challenged by two high-profile contenders: Liberal Tamara Goeppel, and Yukon Party candidate Doug Graham. 

How did they vote in 2011? 

Electors on list: 1249

Voter turnout: 67.7%

• NDP (Liz Hanson) 62.1%
• Yukon Party (Marian Horne) 23.9%
• Liberal (Patrick Singh) 12.3%

The CBC contacted all candidates to ask why they were the best person to elect in this riding, and how would they improve it.

Tamara Goeppel — Liberal

Tamara Goeppel is an entrepreneur who was born and raised in the riding and is a first-time candidate. She has a Masters of Business Administration and owns a Whitehorse travel agency.

"Whitehorse Centre is a diverse riding. Although the centre of our capital city, it also has many social challenges. Many suffer from untreated mental health and addiction issues, many elders and seniors have pressing needs not met and the private sector is facing an ongoing erosion of the economy.

"Over the past 10 years, there have been no measurable improvements; the same people are being left behind. We need to end homelessness, close social gaps and improve our health care system. We also need to protect and support a vibrant private sector. Good jobs and a stable economy bring a balanced prosperity that can provide better care. 

"I have lived all my life in this riding, listened to many people and experienced social issues, health and business needs first hand. I want to end the status quo, to make positive change happen and to be the new voice of Whitehorse Centre!"

Doug Graham — Yukon Party

Doug Graham was first elected to the legislature in 1978, and has been the MLA for Porter Creek North since 2011, serving as health minister and education minister. He was also a Whitehorse city councillor for many years. 

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"I have many years of experience in both territorial and municipal politics, including 11 years as city councillor, which has given me a very good understanding of the downtown core.

"My goals for the riding include working with the City of Whitehorse on projects such as improving the trail network in the downtown area, continuing to improve and develop the waterfront, and look at creating an alternate access to downtown from Robert Service Way.

"I would like to increase opportunities for housing, particularly through retaining the old town area as single-family, and working with the City to open up the 5th Avenue area for high-density housing. In addition, I will continue to work with both the City and the RCMP to reduce the incidence of crime in the downtown core as a whole."  

Liz Hanson — NDP

Liz Hanson has been leader of the Yukon NDP since 2009, and MLA for Whitehorse Centre since 2010. A social worker by profession, she's also the former director-general of the department of Indian Affairs and the former chair of the Yukon Federal Council. 

"I represent one of the most diverse ridings in the territory, with people here from all corners of the territory, throughout Canada and across the world. Because of this diversity, it is important that the MLA here has experience working with people and organizations as diverse as the people they represent.

"One benefit of being leader of the NDP has been that I have been able to spend a lot of time listening to people and organizations and helping them navigate the complexities of this government. I have heard the frustrations people encounter when trying to work with government. This is why you will hear a lot from me about fairness in government.

"I think we need an MLA who will reset our government and its relationship with its citizens. This is why I hope to return to the legislature as your representative for Whitehorse Centre."

The CBC will profile all candidates, by riding, in the lead-up to voting day, Nov. 7.