Because Faro established a wide variety of community and recreational facilities when the mine was in operation, there is a high level of services and well-developed community and recreational infrastructure. A good housing stock, along with extensive community services, can help support economic growth.
Education from kindergarten to Grade 12 is available at Del Van Gorder School. Post-secondary education is provided through Yukon College's Faro Campus, which opened in 1988. The Faro Campus offers both full-time and part-time programs, ranging from academic upgrading to computer studies, early childhood development, office management, employment skills and locally developed programs relevant to community economic development.
Health care is provided through the Faro Nursing Station, which is staffed by community nurses who function as nurse practitioners in collaboration with a doctor. The clinic is open Monday to Friday, except on statutory holidays. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day. A doctor based in Faro also provides services to Ross River and Carmacks.
The Yukon government's Department of Health and Social Services provides a full range of counseling services in Faro. There is an RCMP detachment in Faro. Probation services are provided out of Whitehorse. Territorial Agent services are provided from the Yukon Liquor Corporation facilities in Faro. These services include providing information and forms, accepting various applications, and issuing licences and permits. Canada Post has a full-service postal outlet in Faro. Local dial-up and high-speed Internet access is available in the community.
Faro is served by an agency of the TD Canada Trust bank, located in the Discovery Store. Hours vary. An ATM is available at the store 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A lotteries machine is located inside the store. The Faro Library Board administers the payroll for the public librarian and provides guidance on ordering and purchasing books.
Faro's recreation centre has a gymnasium, seasonal swimming pool, seasonal four-sheet curling rink, squash court, youth lounge and weight room. The town maintains an indoor ice arena that is used for hockey games, figure skating, broomball and other activities during the winter. There are a number of community playgrounds throughout the community. Faro also has a community library.
Faro has a volunteer fire service, volunteer ambulance service and volunteer search-and-rescue service.
The Faro airport has a 4,000-foot (1,231-metre) gravel runway with lights. The airport is staffed seven days a week, provides flight plan filing (through Whitehorse Flight Services), and an aircraft refuelling facility that is accessible 24 hours a day and allows for credit card payments. The airport is adjacent to Johnson Lake, which is used as a float-plane base (6,000 feet/1,846 metres).
Road access to Whitehorse is via the Campbell and Klondike highways. It is 356 km to Whitehorse, a driving time of about four and a half hours. Watson Lake is 423 km away via the Campbell Highway.
The Yukon Energy Corporation supplies hydroelectric power from the Whitehorse hydro facility, backed up by diesel units in Faro.
There are two churches in Faro. The Church of the Apostles holds Catholic and Protestant services and is run by a joint board. The Faro Bible Chapel holds services Sunday at 11 a.m.
Faro's grocery store is open daily with varying hours. The store also rents home videos and provides case-lot orders. There is also a catalogue mail order outlet and an agency of the TD Canada Trust bank.
There is a small hardware store with flexible hours.
Faro has a gas station that also sells diesel and propane. Hours, which vary, are posted.
A local animal shelter, run by a volunteer, also has boarding and kennel facilities.
A local gift, tobacco and convenience store is open Monday to Friday. Hours vary.
A restaurant is located in the hotel. Hours vary. A delicatessen and bakery, which provides restaurant services, is located in the shopping centre. A fine dining room is open for special occasions and catering.
Realty services are available in the community. Faro also has barber services available.
