James Smith (Yukon politician)

James Smith
Member of the Yukon Territorial Council
In office
1958–1961
Preceded byJack Hulland
Succeeded byJohn Watt
ConstituencyWhitehorse West
Commissioner of Yukon
In office
November 7, 1966 – July 1, 1976
Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson
Pierre Trudeau
Preceded byGordon Robertson Cameron
Succeeded byArthur MacDonald Pearson
Personal details
Born(1919-12-31)December 31, 1919
Revelstoke, British Columbia
DiedApril 14, 2017(2017-04-14) (aged 97)[1]
Spouse
Dorothy Matson
(m. 1947)
Professionbusinessman

James M. Smith OC (December 31, 1919 – April 14, 2017) was the longest serving commissioner of Yukon from November 7, 1966 to June 30, 1976.[2] During his tenure, he was instrumental in the creation of Kluane National Park and Reserve and the designation of the Chilkoot Trail as a National Historic Site of Canada.[citation needed] He was also responsible for creating the Arctic Winter Games along with Northwest Territories commissioner Stuart Hodgson and Alaska governor Walter Joseph Hickel.[3] He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1976.[4]

  1. ^ "Longtime Yukon commissioner James Smith dies at the age of 97". National Newswatch. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  2. ^ "History of Yukon Commissioners". Government of Yukon. Archived from the original on August 28, 2007.
  3. ^ "About the Arctic Winter Games". Arctic Winter Games. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  4. ^ "Mr. James M. Smith". Office of The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2020.