Education from kindergarten to Grade 9 is available at Teslin School. Students go to Whitehorse to complete Grade 12.
Post-secondary education is provided through the Teslin Campus of Yukon College, located in the Teslin Tlingit Council administration building. The campus offers a full academic upgrading program, a variety of short courses and workshops, and specialized programs developed to meet local training requirements such as employment readiness and career development. Other programs may include office management and introductory trades. The campus has videoconferencing capacity and additional courses offered by the college are available to the community.
The community health centre offers daily service and is staffed by two resident nurses; a physician visits monthly. The health centre also provides 24-hour emergency service.
The Yukon government's Department of Health and Social Services provides a social worker. Yukon Family Services Association provides itinerant services from Whitehorse.
The Teslin Tlingit Council offers social services to its members through a Social Programs team. There is a social administrator, traditional counsellors, community health representative, Community Education Liaison Coordinator, and youth worker. Services include temporary financial assistance, in-home care, counseling, and referral. Native courtworker services are provided out of Watson Lake, and the TTC First Nation provides peacemaker courts. Services such as meals-on-wheels and elder care are provided to both TTC and non-Tlingit elders. Pre- and post-natal services, daycare language programs, and traditional parenting workshops are also provided.
Teslin was one of many Canadian communities chosen to participate in two comprehensive nationwide studies: the National Community Planning Project; and Understanding Strengths of Indian Communities in Canada. Results of these studies may be seen on web sites listed at the end of this chapter.
Policing is provided by the RCMP detachment, which is staffed by one corporal, one constable, and one First Nations special constable. Probation officer services are provided out of Whitehorse.
The fire department is run by a chief and 12 volunteer firefighters.
The Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. supplies hydroelectric power from the Whitehorse dam, with diesel generator back-up.
Water supply is from a well at the townsite or from individual wells piped to houses. Sewage service for most housing is provided through a piped sewer system.
Recreation facilities include an arena, playgrounds, a new baseball diamond, community club, curling rink, and a community library. Other facilities operated by the Teslin Tlingit Council include a Long House (cultural centre), healing centre, Heritage Centre, learning centre, and drop-in centre.
Mail is trucked in and out of Teslin four times a week. Local high-speed Internet access is available in the community.
The community has banking services.
Teslin is on the Alaska Highway, which is paved and maintained for all-weather use. It is 183 km from Whitehorse, a driving time of two hours. A 5,500-foot (1700-metre) gravel runway is maintained year-round, and there is float plane access from Teslin Lake.
As a tourism centre, Teslin offers many facilities for travelers and tourists. The George Johnston Museum and the Tlingit Heritage Centre, which have collections of First Nations artifacts and gold rush relics on display, are open in the summer. The area has motels and lodges, an assortment of food services, a general store, campgrounds and RV parks, and various highway services providing repairs, gasoline and propane.
