The Government of Yukon is commemorating the territory’s 125th anniversary by awarding 125 medals to Yukoners who embody the values of leadership and reconciliation and contributed significantly to the wellbeing of the territory.
Today’s announcement celebrates the first 25 of the 125 recipients. Over the course of the next month, another 25 recipients will be announced each week.
These medals recognize Yukoners from all walks of life and a variety of sectors, including public service, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, arts and environmental stewardship. To honour these outstanding Yukoners, each medal features original artwork created by Carcross/Tagish First Nation artist Violet Gatensby. The artwork, Resilient Hearts/Insightful Vision, was designed to celebrate Yukoners who have demonstrated strong foresight and work ethic to foster a future where all generations can heal and thrive.
The Government of Yukon engaged with the leaders of the Official Opposition and Third Party, as well as the Commissioner of the Yukon to gather nominations. The public was also asked to submit nominations for consideration, which were reviewed by an advisory committee. In addition, a further 125 medals are being distributed to Yukon First Nations leadership to recognize members of their communities. Yukon First Nations and the Council of Yukon First Nations will be announcing the recipients of their medals at a time of their choosing.
As initiatives to mark the Yukon’s 125th anniversary draw to a close, the Government of Yukon celebrates the Yukoners of today who are helping to build a bright future for the next 125 years.
Congratulations to the Yukon 125 medal recipients. Recognizing the diverse achievements of these outstanding Yukoners is an opportunity to reflect on what makes the Yukon such an incredible place to live, work and play. It also inspires us to envision the Yukon we want to build over the next 125 years. I would like to thank each recipient for their dedication and contributions, which have helped shape our territory into a place we are all proud to call home.
The Yukon Party congratulates all the deserving Yukoners receiving Yukon 125 medals. As my colleagues and I have presented these medals to recipients, their appreciation for the recognition has been heartwarming. We are honoured to shine a light on these outstanding Yukoners to help mark an important milestone in our territory’s history.
The dedication that the Yukon 125 medalists have shown to our territory deserves to be celebrated. These folks and the groups they represent went above and beyond to serve the causes they love and I thank all of them for sharing their leadership, their care and their devotion to making the Yukon the absolute best place to live.
-
The final artwork was selected for its alignment with the medal themes of leadership and reconciliation and its ability to translate to the medal format and medium.
-
Ms. Gatensby presented the medal design to Yukon First Nations leadership during the Yukon Forum held in Dawson between September 26 to 27, 2023.
-
Public submissions were reviewed by an advisory committee including two Government of Yukon senior leaders (Justin Ferbey and Sierra van der Meer) and two external members (Victoria Fred and Jim Butler).
-
Yukon First Nations are independently managing the selection of recipients for their Yukon 125 medals. For information about these selected recipients, please contact the nominating First Nations government.
- Rod Adams: founder of Nuway Crushing, a company that has grown from a small business to a thriving enterprise with over 50 employees. Under his leadership, Nuway Crushing has donated nearly $2 million to charity since 2000. Rod is recognized for his significant contributions to the private sector and the Yukon community.
- Doris Anderson: a community leader and a key figure in the Yukon Native Women Association, where she has helped facilitate reconciliation and drive the MMIWG2+ movement. Doris has listened to and amplified the voices of families affected by these issues and she passes on traditional teachings to future generations.
- Gary Bremner and Breanne Bremner: this duo captures honest and beautiful portraits at Whitehorse Connects, creating a living history of a portion of the Yukon community that is not reflected anywhere else. Their photos have been widely shared by individuals and used by loved ones in times of grief.
- Kristina Craig: founding member of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, Kristina is a tireless advocate for compassionate, reasoned and evidence-based approaches to addressing complex issues related to poverty and the social indicators of health, influencing and supporting a generation of community advocates.
- Ashley Cummings: a leader on climate action, Ashley bridges the connections between climate change and mental health. She is a fierce advocate for Indigenous youth and climate justice.
- Karen Dubois: played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of three key Yukon arts institutions: the Dawson City Music Festival, the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) and the Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA).
- Stephen Dunbar-Edge and Rob Dunbar-Edge: for their leadership on marriage equality, Stephen and Rob sued the government after it refused to issue a marriage licence before Parliament legalized same-sex marriage. This court challenge paved the way for many other Yukoners.
- Sophia Flather: a language champion who has worked to develop Gwich'in-specific textbooks and courses to help others learn and teach their language.
- Michelle Friesen: a driver for reconciliation at the City of Whitehorse, Michelle advocated for including First Nations art in the chamber and the flying of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta'an Kwäch’än Council flags.
- Steven Hahn: as a flight nurse and paramedic, Steven demonstrated leadership by developing international-standard policies and guidelines, enhancing critical care education and improving communication and care plans in the Yukon. He also advanced remote wilderness medical training for both professionals and non-licensed providers.
- Brandon Kyikavichik: a writer, poet and storyteller known for his dedication to learning from his elders and sharing his vast knowledge about the Gwich’in language and history.
- Karen Lang: a leader in the private sector and has made numerous contributions to the community, driven by a desire to enhance the Yukon’s cultural and social fabric. She and her late husband, Archie Lang, owned and operated several businesses in the territory for over 50 years.
- Martin Lawrie: a dedicated long-term volunteer coach for Yukon youth hockey programs, who organized fundraisers to support financially disadvantaged athletes and ensured participation opportunities for children from the remote community of Old Crow.
- Murray Lundberg: a leader in preserving Yukon history, Murray runs the Facebook page Yukon History and Abandoned Places, which brings the territory’s history to life and serves as an interactive record, making the Yukon’s history vibrant and accessible.
- Grant Macdonald, Q.C.: a senior partner at Macdonald and Company and has been an active trial lawyer in the Yukon for over 40 years. Grant is viewed as a mentor and valuable resource by many lawyers in Whitehorse. He has also been a long-time community volunteer, coach and board member for numerous sports organizations.
- Tony Penikett: as Premier of the Yukon, Tony led the government's recognition of First Nations governance as an integral component of treaty negotiations. Under his leadership, foundational legislation was established, enabling self-government agreements and land claims, including the Education Act, Health Act, Environment Act and Human Rights Legislation.
- Lewis Rifkind: an advocate for a balanced approach to non-renewable resource extraction in the Yukon, Lewis has worked with the Yukon Conservation Society to help understand the complex nature of mining, all with a delightful, quirky sense of humour.
- Deb Ryan: the Manager of Strategic Planning and Alliances for Air North, Deb has been a dedicated community member for decades. She has organized numerous fundraisers and recently partnered with the Canada Goose Resource Centre to distribute parka-making fabric to Indigenous sewers across the Yukon. Deb is known for her deep commitment to the Yukon and its people.
- Dr. Said Secerbegovic: has provided exceptional medical services to Watson Lake and the surrounding areas for almost 50 years. For much of that time, he was the only doctor serving the region and remains highly regarded for his lifetime of service to Yukoners.
- Dr. Katharine Smart: former president of the Canadian Medical Association, Katharine initiated a pediatric program in the Yukon and established a pediatric emergency medical evacuation service across the territory. She collaborated with the Council of Yukon First Nations and local First Nations to offer accessible pediatric clinics in Whitehorse and surrounding communities.
- Tosh Southwick and Davida Wood: co-founders of a company grounded in First Nations values, Tosh and Davida work with Indigenous, federal and territorial governments, private sector businesses and individuals to support Indigenous self-determination and amplify reconciliation efforts that support Nation-building.
- Joe Sparling: founder of Air North, the Yukon’s Airline, and known for offering the best in-flight service in the country. Together with the Vuntut Development Corporation, Joe operates the airline for the people of the Yukon, providing an excellent work environment for employees and serving as a hands-on, community-minded leader.
- Gordon Steele: made extensive contributions to the political and constitutional development of the Yukon. His work has been pivotal in the negotiation of the Umbrella Final Agreement, Yukon First Nations Final Agreements and the Devolution Transfer Agreement, among other milestones.
- Natalie Taylor: a passionate community volunteer and activist whose work has touched the lives of many Yukoners. She has advanced principles of equity in the non-governmental organization sector and has a long history of volunteerism with organizations such as Girl Guides of Canada and the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle.
- John Van Den Bogaard: founder of Voices Influencing Change, a program that empowers individuals with lived experience of homelessness, poverty and social exclusion through leadership development, advocacy training and peer support opportunities. As part of this work, Jack visits local high schools to promote healthy living and positive mindsets.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Jordan Lutz
Executive Council Office, Communications
867-335-9058
jordan.lutz@yukon.ca