An Explorer's Guide to Whitehorse, Yukon

Dateline: October 15, 2024.

1948 - September 24:

First ad as representative for International Harvester, with temporary quarters in Room 11, Whitehorse Inn, manager Alan McGregor.

1949 - January 3:

Moved to the corner of Jarvis and Second, manager Alan McGregor.

1957 - June 20:

    "One of the best examples of how trucks can and do play a major role in the development of highly-successful mining operations is centered around Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
    The Territorial Supply Co. Ltd., Whitehorse, Yukon is jointly owned by United Keno Hill Mines Ltd. and Cassiar Asbestos Corporation. The transport division of these two mines, headed by Nick Gritzuk, Manager, Territorial Supply Co. Ltd., operates a fleet of approximately 125 International trucks in one of the most efficient transport operations in Canada."

1972 - May 10:

Moved to 4210 - 4th Avenue.

1972 - June 5:

Steve Midensky, regional manager of International Harvester construction equipment division from Vancouver, cuts the ribbon at the official opening of Territorial Supply Co. Ltd's new premises in Whitehorse. On his right is anothe rI-H visitor, Gerry Dacre, zone manager for the motor truck division from Prince George. At left is Bill Smoler, sales manager of territorial Supply, and at right is Bill Royds, the company's general manager. -- Yukon photo.

    "Territorial Supply Co. Ltd. had an official grand opening of its new premises on Fourth Ave in Whitehorse Saturday. The Cassiar Transport Division and parts depot has been modernized to incorporate the main offices, showroom and parts department of Territorial Supply.
    The opening was well-attended by the public all day Saturday, and official guests included Stephen M. Midensky, regional manager of the construction equipment division of International Harvester Co. of Canada Ltd. from Vancouver and Gerry Dacre, zone manager of the motor truck division from Prince George.
    'Normally an opening of a business wouldn't seem particularly newsworthy,' said Bill Royds, Territorial Supply's general manager and general superintendent of Cassiar's Transport Division.
    'But this is the first time that a facility of this type has been opened north of the 60th parallel. In the past, the construction and transportation industries in the Yukon may have been hampered by the long delays which were common in getting parts for trucks and equipment.
    'The new depot for Territorial Supply has almost $300,000 worth of parts in stock, and we have a computerized link-up to air shipment, from about $25 million parts inventories at associate warehouses throughout Canada.
    'We not only stock parts for the equipment that we sell, but for many other familiar types of equipment and machinery.'
    Mr. Midensky is well-known in construction equipment circles throughout Canada, and he was impressed with the new facilities.
    'The Yukon doesn't have to take a back seat to any other area in Canada,' Mr. Midensky said.
    'You have here one of the most complete supply depots for construction equipment that I have seen in any part of Canada. This new facility will certainly be an asset to construction companies here in the Yukon.'
    'The trucking industry in the north is coming into its own,' said Gerry Dacre from the I-H Motor Truck Division.
    'With new mines coming in, new roads being built, and the intense activity in oil in the north, I believe that the role played by the trucking industry is going to become increasingly more important to the Yukon in the years ahead.
    'Territorial Supply has up to 23 large trucks at one time, and it has an exceptional stock of truck parts for many makes and models.'
    Territorial Supply Co. occupies about 9000 sq. ft. of space in its new quarters, with servicing facilties taking a further 30,000 sq. ft. The company has been in business for 22 years and has 16 employees, many of whom have been with the company for more than 10 years.'"

1972 - July 26:

First ad showing the building at 4210 - 4th Avenue.

1976 - August 11:

Closure announced.

    "Territorial Supply Co. will close its big garage doors to the public for the last time Sept. 15.
    The company, a subsidiary of Cassiar Asbestos Ltd., made only a tiny profit on $4 million sales last year, and this year slid heavily into the red.
    The closure, which will lay off more than 20 people, means the end of the International Harvester franchise and closure of the salesroom, parts store, maintenance shop and used vehicle lot.
    A sister company, Cassiar Transport, will continue operating from the same buildings, trucking fibre from Clinton Creek to railhead at Whitehorse. This will mean some 25 drivers and mechanics will stay on, but the large service garage will no longer be available to the public.
    Tony Kana, secretary-treasurer of Cassiar, blamed the closure largely on the dropoff in sales. Last year - a 'good year' - showed a profit of $20,931 before taxes.
    Last month, the company sold just one vehicle, a Scout.
    Kana said they had been able to give the staff three months notice, as many would be needed until the end of October to wind up the operation.
    However, they were having real problems disposing of the huge parts inventory, and still had not resolved how to protect existing vehicle warranties.
    Kana said International Harvester wanted to protect their reputation, and might take on the warranties directly from their Burlington, Ont. head office, or even take over some of the Territorial Supply facilities in Whitehorse.
    The company had been unable to find anyone willing to take the International Harvester franchise for Yukon.
    Kana said the decision to close had nothing to do with the current economic climate in Yukon.
    'The handwriting has been on the wall for many months,' he said. 'Costs have skyrocketed and Territorial Supply, which has always been a marginal operation, became a serious drain on our resources.'"

1976 - September 10:

    "Next Wednesday's official closing of Territorial Supply, the International Harvester dealer in Whitehorse, has left question about who will look after parts and servicing on International vehicles here.
    The dealer, a subsidiary of Cassiar Asbestos Ltd., made only a tiny profit on sales of $4 million last year and this year has slid very heavily into the red.
    Tony Kana, secretary-treasurer of Cassiar and the man in charge of closing down the dealership, says about 24 people will be laid off by the end of October. He says that though the company will not be open after Sept. 15, it will take another month and a half to do the final inventory and pack up all the parts left.
    Kana says International has made no commitment yet as to what will be done about warranty servicing and parts after the closure. He believes the company is looking for someone to handle the servicing and parts but has been unable to find anyone.
    'I was really hoping that by now I would be able to make an announcement as to who would be taking over. But if anyone does now, with less than a week to go, it will be a real eleventh hour decision,' he said.
    Dave Hay, manager of International Construction Equipment Division in Vancouver, said today the company hopes to have something settled this weekend.
    'It's certainly not our intention to abandon Whitehorse. I can't say at the present time what we are doing. We certainly have an obligation to our customers to look after warranty and parts service.'
    One of the people who works for Territorial Supply, and who did not want to be identified, says many of those who will lose their jobs are bitter about it. He said they are angry at International for not making any announcement yet and the general feeling is that International 'has made a complete screw-up of the whole thing.'
    Meanwhile, Territorial Supply still has some 25 vehicles on its lot and a huge inventory of parts, all of which are being sold at dealer's cost. The savings range from about $1,000 on the Scout four wheel drives to $30,000 on the TD 25 crawler tractor on the lot.
    Kana says anything not sold by next Wednesday will be shipped back to International Harvester."

1976 - September 24:

    "Contrary to expectations of a few weeks ago, arrangements are not yet complete for someone in Whitehorse to take over parts and servicing operations for International Harvester, whose local dealer, Territorial Supply, closed up shop several weeks ago.
    Ken Forrest, manager of the IH truck division in Vancouver, told The Star today 'We haven't got anything locked down yet.' He said IH is currently negotiating with two Whitehorse outfits and hopes to have an answer by next week 'if the people we're talking to come through.'
    Dave Hay, manager of International's construction equipment division in Vancouver, said today that progress is being made. 'As soon as we have something definite,' he said, 'The Star and the radio stations will be the first ones to know.'
    Hay said that IH is taking its obligations to its customers very seriously, and not rushing into the first or easiest solution. But, he said, 'I would like to think that by next Friday we'll have something definite.'
    Tony Kana, secretary-treasurer of Cassiar Asbestos, which owns Territorial Supply, who is in charge of closing down the dealership, said today that he's had a great number of concerned inquiries from people who own International equipment.
    Kana said his company is paying for these people to call the IH offices in Vancouver to attempt to get some answers. 'They don't seem to be getting satisfaction,' Kana said this morning.
    All of the unsold International stock of trucks, Scouts, loaders and crawlers has been handed over by Territorial Supply to White Pass for shipment back to the south.
    Hay said this morning in Vancouver that the equipment had to be moved from Territorial Supply's yards because of insurance requirements. He anticipated that the equipment would not necessarily be shipped out of Whitehorse because some of it would have to only be shipped back when a new dealer is found.
    The Star discovered this morning that much of the stock has gone to Skagway and will probably sail to Vancouver next Wednesday or Thursday."

1978 - January 9:

Cassiar Asbestos announced that as of July, the asbestos from their mines would be shipped through Stewart instead of Skagway. That put an end to the use of the former Territorial Supply building in Whitehorse by Cassiar Transport.

1978 - February 14:

Cassiar Asbestos announced that the Clinton Creek mine would be shut down in June.

1978 - August:

Dominion Construction of Vancouver took an option on the Cassiar/Territorial Supply property, with plans to build a mall, with Safeway as the primary anchor. Dominion went on the purchase the property, but in May 1979 Safeway backed out and the project died.

1981-1985:

The City of Whitehorse renovated the Cassiar/Territorial Supply building as the Municipal Services Building.

Municipal Services Building, July 12, 2013.

2024 - October:

Demolition of the Municipal Services Building began.