Completing the process of moving the Yukon capital from Dawson to Whitehorse, a new Commissioner's residence was built there and the Riverdale residential subdivision was developed in 1958, attracting scores of government employees.
Though it is now extinct and regarded as a historical shame, the then-prevailing system for the education of "native" (First Nations) children across Canada separated them from family and familiar culture and boarded them in federally-funded but denominationally-run "Indian residential schools."
In the Yukon specifically, Baptists operated a residential school in Whitehorse during the years Collins served as Commissioner.
Another, in Carcross, was run by the Anglican Church [12] During the Collins tenure as Commissioner, plans were made for the launch of post-secondary teaching and learning in the territory.
As a result, in 1963 the Vocational and Technical Training Centre opened in Whitehorse, soon followed by satellite branches in other Yukon communities.