Major water main break in Dawson City, Yukon, floods historic bar amid -40 C weather

People watch as a vintage truck is driven in the Canada Day parade in Dawson City, Yukon, on Sunday July 1, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

DAWSON CITY — Dawson City, Yukon, is reporting a major water main break, flooding a historic bar, as temperatures plunge to -40 C amid a recent cold snap.

Dawson’s public works department says residents might lose or have very little water pressure as workers try to repair the damage that happened Thursday at the city’s 3rd and 4th avenues.

The Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation shared a notice on social media asking residents to conserve water.

Environment Canada weather data shows temperatures in the town of about 1,600 residents reached -40 C the night the damage was reported.

Third Avenue is home to The Westminster Tavern and Lounge, also known as “The Pit,” a bar dating back to 1898 with a distinctive pink facade.

The establishment says in a post on Facebook that it received “considerable” damage and will be closed for an unspecified amount of time to assess and repair the damage.

• READ ALSO: More workers, heaters headed to Manitoba First Nation struggling with frozen water

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2026.