She was a force to be reckoned with, an advocate who did not back down fighting for better services in her community.

Judi Johnny, who passed away recently at Whitehorse General Hospital at the age of 65, is being remembered for her advocacy.

She’s also being hailed as a constant presence at many community events, ranging from small meetings to annual celebrations around the city. In her motorized – often decorated and flagged – wheelchair, Johnny was part of many events.

“She was determined to take part in the community,” Denise Leschart, who drove for Whitehorse Transit for nearly a decade a number of years ago, said in an interview Monday.

Johnny was one of the regular Handy Bus passengers Leschart drove during her time with the city’s transit service.

Johnny fought hard for improved transit services for those, like herself, who couldn’t use the regular transit service.

While Leschart said “the service still doesn’t meet the needs” of those who use and need it, she also said Johnny succeeded in getting those who don’t use wheelchairs and those who do to talk about the services that are needed.

“She really forced that dialogue,” Leschart said, adding Johnny never gave up on the issue.

“I really admired her tenacity,” she said.

Johnny’s smile and friendly conversation were a regular part of the Handy Bus service when Leschart drove.

Leschart doesn’t mind admitting she and other drivers may have broken the rules here and there for Johnny and other passengers by helping them into their homes with groceries and other goods they may have purchased while out on their errands, Leschart said.

She recalled one day stopping at the bank for Johnny on a cold winter day.

At the time, the Handy Bus being used was an old van, and the temperature outside was below -40.

When she went to use the lift to get Johnny off the Handy Bus and help her into the bank, the lift stopped working.

“I was really concerned,” Leschart said, recalling the struggle to get the lift functioning again.

All the while, Johnny was “laughing away” and talking to passersby who walked by the scene.

Johnny was well-known to many in Whitehorse.

As Mayor Dan Curtis said Monday, he doesn’t really recall not knowing Johnny.

Most recently, he noted, it wasn’t uncommon to hear directly from Johnny when there was something she thought the city could improve on.

“Judi was a really strong advocate in many ways,” he said, commenting her passing leaves a big void in the community.

“She will be sorely missed,” he said, praising Johnny for making Whitehorse a better city.

Curtis took a moment before Monday evening’s city council meeting began to pay respects to Johnny, stating her passing as a “sad loss of one of our elders.

“Even if you didn’t know her, you felt like you did,” he said.

Johnny’s work extended far beyond the borders of Whitehorse.

In 2002, she ran under the NDP banner for the Porter Creek Centre seat in the legislature. While she didn’t win the seat, succumbing to the electoral steamroller of the Yukon Party’s Archie Lang, she remained involved with the party.

NDP Leader Liz Hanson noted Monday Johnny was a familiar, friendly face at many NDP gatherings.

“She was a very independent spirit,” Hanson said.

Johnny also served on a few national groups advocating for women and those with disabilities, Hanson added.

“She made a point of not backing down,” the Opposition leader said.

Both Hanson and Charlotte Hrenchuk, the Yukon Status of Women Council’s co-ordinator, noted Johnny was a First Nations woman with a disability, which gave her a perspective that kept her fighting for many in the community.

A longstanding board member with the council, Johnny had a “real sense of social justice,” Hrenchuk said Monday, admiring Johnny’s determination to keep going despite whatever challenges came her way.

While Johnny is being remembered largely for her advocacy, Hrenchuk also said she’ll also miss her friend’s sense of humour and insight, not to mention her enthusiasm for community gatherings.

“She loved a good celebration,” Hrenchuk said, recalling Johnny as “an unofficial hostess” at luncheons held at the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre.

She also loved spending time with children at various events, taking the time to play and answer questions from the youngsters who asked about her wheelchair, Hrenchuk said.

She echoed the sentiments of Curtis, Leschart and Hanson in stating that Johnny will be missed throughout the community.