Grant: SPOR SUPPORT Unit Extension

The Yukon SPOR SUPPORT Unit (YSPOR) helps make health research more meaningful, inclusive, and useful for all Yukoners. Hosted by Yukon University and supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and local partners, YSPOR brings together community members, researchers, service providers, policy makers, and people with lived and living experience to co-develop research that responds to real needs across the territory. Our work spans a wide range of partnerships and priorities, from developing community-based mental wellness initiatives and youth-led research, to advancing evaluation frameworks across government services and supporting research that strengthens health systems and addresses key social determinants of health such as housing, abortion, recreation, and access to care. YSPOR's advisory groups and collaborative projects help ensure that the right voices are at the table, including youth, Elders, people with lived experience, decision-makers, and sector leaders who guide research toward actionable and equitable outcomes. Guided by the principles of respect, reciprocity, and collaboration, YSPOR creates space for Ethical Space, where diverse ways of knowing and doing, including Indigenous and western knowledge systems, are valued equally. Through mentorship, training, and co-design, we build local capacity so that Yukoners can meaningfully participate in shaping health research and policy. We also make research accessible through our Knowledge Translation Service, infographics, podcasts, and summit that turn evidence into action. By fostering strong partnerships across health, social, and community systems, YSPOR is strengthening person-centred, partner-oriented research that leads to better decisions, and better health, for all Yukoners.