Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Chuck Tobin

TOP ACHIEVERS HONOURED – The students receiving the 2018-2019 Governor General’s Academic Award are seen here Wednesday at the commissioner’s annual levee.'

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Photo by Chuck Tobin

WORDS OF WISDOM – Doug Bell, a war veteran and former commissioner and newspaper publisher, addresses the audience Wednesday at the Commissioner’s New Year’s Levee.

Territory celebrates first inductees into the Order of Yukon

Stature was on stage New Year’s Day at the annual commissioner’s levee with the ceremony to induct the first members into the Order of Yukon.

By Chuck Tobin on January 3, 2020

Stature was on stage New Year’s Day at the annual commissioner’s levee with the ceremony to induct the first members into the Order of Yukon.

The Order was created last year to recognize outstanding Yukoners.

The legislation decreed that Commissioner Angélique Bernard be the first inductee as Chancellor of the Order.

Bernard then presented induction medals to 10 distinguished Yukoners of integrity who have contributed to the territory in many different ways.

Before being named commissioner in March 2018, Bernard worked with the French-speaking community and Special Olympics Yukon, and served as president of the Whitehorse Women’s Soccer Association.

The other inductees are:

• Doug Bell – former commissioner, newspaper publisher and columnist;

• Ione Christensen – a lifelong Yukoner who served as commissioner, senator and the mayor of Whitehorse;

• Patricia Ellis – a writer and historian who has written books on the Yukon’s past, including The Squatters of Downtown Whitehorse;

• Judy Gingell – a respected elder with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation who has dedicated her life to asserting Indigenous rights and who is a former commissioner and former chair of what was once known as the Council for Yukon Indians;

• Percy Henry – a respected elder of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in who served as the First Nation’s chief in the past and was involved in the early negotiations of Indigenous land claims in the territory;

• Gary Hewitt – a local curler and coach who has dedicated his time to the curling community in many different ways over the last 40 years;

• Rolf Hougen – a renowned businessman and philanthropist who founded the Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. in 1980;

• Dave Joe – one of the first Indigenous lawyers in the territory who represented the interests of First Nations through the land claim negotiations and beyond;

• Sam Johnston – a Teslin Tlingit elder and former chief who was elected to the legislative assembly and became the first Indigenous speaker of a legislature in Canada; and

• Lyall Murdoch – a musician and entertainer who formed the Frantic Follies in 1970.

Commissioner Bernard presented several other awards.

• Joseph Mewett was given the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his involvement with the Royal Canadian Legion and Cubs and Scouts;

• Ron Tait was given a Commissioner’s Bravery Award for saving Randy Taylor from drowning in Marsh Lake;

The Commissioner’s Public Volunteer Service Award was given to:

• Leona Corniere for her work in helping families and caregivers build skills so that they can have brighter futures;

• Jacqueline MacLaren for her continuing involvement in the Committee on Abuse in Residential Schools, which she helped create;

• John Mitchell for his many aspects of volunteering for his community of Dawson City; and

• George Skookum for his involvement as player, coach and organizer of softball and hockey teams in the community of Carmacks.

Several secondary students were also presented with the Governor General’s Academic Award for achieving the highest grades in their schools.

The levee took place at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

Comments (8)

Up 11 Down 0

Atom on Jan 6, 2020 at 8:38 pm

I know of a few 'everyday' folks in the communities who take care of people who have been left behind by the system due to wealth or circumstance. It's the most selfless and heartwarming thing to witness. And these individuals don't do it for money or recognition and would likely recoil at the thought of being publicly recognized.
Good on the folks who have been recognized. There are really a lot of deserving folks out there.

Up 7 Down 5

Yukonet71 on Jan 6, 2020 at 7:14 pm

BnR, you seem to have a severe reading comprehension issue. Do you see anything in my statement that says the award was specifically posthumous? I said many if not most Yukoners who DESERVE it are already in the graveyard. And as far as newbies go I can think of many deserving Yukoners since the 1950’s, most whom have already passed on. Have you been here since the 1950’s newbie?

Up 6 Down 8

BnR on Jan 6, 2020 at 2:40 pm

Yukoner71, I wasn’t aware that the award was specifically posthumous.
You seem to be so well informed, could you please provide the link to the legislation that would support your claims?
And while you’re at it, please provide us with a list of those amongst the deceased you feel more worthy of the award.
Newbies...... Good grief.

Up 16 Down 0

Groucho d'North on Jan 6, 2020 at 1:40 pm

@Yukoner71
Nominate the people you believe are deserving for this recognition. It all begins with names being put forward with a small explanation to why they should be honored this way.

Up 14 Down 15

Yukoner71 on Jan 5, 2020 at 2:48 pm

I don’t know how they chose the people for this award. I can think of so many other special and deserving Yukoners over the decades without whom this territory wouldn’t have become the special place it is. How do you justify giving these awards to a few people who happen to still be among the living? The graveyards hold the majority of Yukoners who deserve this honor and if you’re going to give ‘Orders of Yukon’ out there should be posthumous medals given those people’s descendants.

Up 18 Down 4

Groucho d'North on Jan 5, 2020 at 11:15 am

I am very pleased to see the humble people who make a real difference for our communities getting the recognition they deserve.
To each of you: Thank you for your service and contributions to the Yukon and its people.

Up 11 Down 10

Lorraine Besner on Jan 3, 2020 at 7:20 pm

It was great! My granddaughter won the governor award for academics

Up 20 Down 6

joe on Jan 3, 2020 at 5:03 pm

Before being named commissioner in March 2018, Bernard worked with the French-speaking community and Special Olympics Yukon, and served as president of the Whitehorse Women’s Soccer Association.

And then you become Commissioner and then you get to be the first inductee as Chancellor of the Order.

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