Taylor House Office of the Commissioner of Yukon

Taylor House Office of the Commissioner of Yukon

Historic sites restoration and reproduction specialist Gisli Balzer works on restoring an original interior door for the Taylor House. All photos: Government of Yukon

Taylor House In 2015, the Office of the Commissioner moved to the Taylor House. Located on Main Street in Whitehorse, this large log home was built in 1937 as a residence for Bill and Aline Taylor. Bill was the oldest son of Isaac Taylor, who founded the Taylor and Drury mercantile business with William Drury in 1899. Aline s family were among the early francophones in Whitehorse. The exterior of the house is much the same as when it was built. Aline designed the house, with its distinctive mansard roof, using ideas from magazines. The house shows numerous architectural influences, predominantly American Arts and Crafts and Colonial Revival styles. An eclectic design is typical of Yukon houses of this era. The Taylors hired Frank McKay, an experienced log builder, to construct the house. They cut the logs themselves about 15 kilometres north of Whitehorse in May 1937. All of the fixtures, materials and furnishings were purchased from Taylor and Drury Ltd., the family business. The setting and location of the Taylor House echo the residential ambiance that was once an integral part of Main Street. It is a landmark in the historic downtown area of Whitehorse. The Taylor House, Whitehorse.

Office of the Commissioner The Commissioner of Yukon is appointed by the Governor General of Canada, for a term of no less than five years. The role of the commissioner has evolved through the years as the territory assumed greater control over its governance. James Morrow Walsh was appointed the first Commissioner of the Yukon District in 1897. At that time, the Yukon was a judicial district of the Northwest Territories. The Yukon Act was passed by Parliament in 1898, creating the Yukon Territory and establishing the Office of the Commissioner. One month later William Ogilvie became the new territory s first commissioner. The commissioner was responsible for the administration of the territory; this included everything from schools and hospitals to territorial taxes. He was advised by a council of members who were also appointed by the federal government. By the 1960s, the federal government began to appoint northerners to the Office of Commissioner; previously, they had all been Ottawabased bureaucrats. In 1979, a ministerial letter resulted in many of the commissioner s powers being taken on by the elected Yukon Council. The duties of the commissioner now resemble those of a provincial lieutenant governor. Responsible government is well established in Yukon, and elected representatives govern the territory. In 1979, the government appointed Ione Christensen, the first female commissioner and first Yukon-born person to hold the post and in 1995, Judy Gingell became the first Aboriginal person to be appointed commissioner. The commissioner is invited to participate in the national conferences for provincial lieutenant governors and territorial commissioners that are convened by the Governor General. If the office of the premier becomes vacant due to a resignation or death, the commissioner is responsible for ensuring that the post is filled. This is also the case if the government resigns following an election or a non-confidence vote occurs in the legislature. The commissioner is a patron of many Yukon non-profit, community, military and cultural associations, and of public service organizations. Above: Commissioner s Awards are given each year for Public Volunteer Service; Bravery; and Outstanding Youth Achievement.

The Honourable Angélique Bernard Commissioner of Yukon Angélique Bernard was sworn in as Yukon s 26th Commissioner on March 12, 2018. She is the first Francophone Commissioner in the history of the territory. Madame Bernard arrived in the Yukon in 1995 for a four-month translation internship with the Bureau of French Language Services. After graduating from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts (Specialization in Translation), she returned to Whitehorse in the fall of 1995. From 1996 to 2001, Madame Bernard worked as a development officer with Les EssentiElles, a non profit organization that represents the interests of Yukon s French-speaking women. From 2000 to March 2018, she operated her own translation firm. From 2010 to 2017, she was President of the Board of Directors of the Association franco yukonnaise. For 20 years, she acted in and produced numerous plays in French and hosted Rencontres, a weekly francophone radio show on CBC North. From 2000 to 2005, she was a member of the National Board of Directors of the Canadian Women s Health Network. She was President of the Whitehorse Women s Soccer Association in 1998 99 and an athletics coach with the Yukon Special Olympics in 1996 and 1997. Madame Bernard has been widely recognized for her community involvement and dedication to Francophone rights. The Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne recognized her as one of the top 100 women who have had the biggest impact on Canada s Francophone community over the last 100 years. Born in Brossard, Quebec, in 1972, she is married to David Comchi and they have two young boys. The family enjoys camping, biking, playing soccer, tennis and travelling.

Commissioners/Senior officials of the Yukon Territory Name Title Date Charles Constantine Dominion Agent 1894 (May 26) 1897 (May 27) Thomas Fawcett Dominion Agent 1897 (May 27 Aug. 17) James M. Walsh Chief Executive Officer 1897 (Aug. 17) 1898 (July 4) William Ogilvie Commissioner 1898 (July 4) 1901 James H. Ross Commissioner 1901 (March 11) 1902 (Oct. 16) Zachary T. Wood Acting Commissioner 1902 (Oct. 16) 1903 (March 4) Frederick T. Congdon Commissioner 1903 (March 4) 1904 (Oct. 27) Zachary T. Wood Acting Commissioner 1904 (Dec. 20) 1905 (May 27) William W.B. McInnes Commissioner 1905 (May 27) 1907 (Jan.) Alexander Henderson Commissioner 1907 (June 17) 1911 (July) Arthur Wilson Administrator 1911 (July) 1912 (Feb.) George Black Commissioner 1912 (Feb.) 1918 George Norris Williams Administrator 1916 (Oct. 13) 1918 George P. MacKenzie Gold Commissioner 1918 (April 1) 1924 Percy Reid Acting Gold Commissioner 1924 (Nov. 17) 1925 (March 31) Percy Reid Gold Commissioner 1925 (April 1) 1927 George Allan Jeckell Acting Gold Commissioner 1927 (July 10) 1928 George Ian MacLean Gold Commissioner 1928 (April 1) 1932 George Allan Jeckell Comptroller 1932 (June 30) 1936 (Dec. 2) George Allan Jeckell Controller 1936 (Dec. 3) 1947 John Edward Gibben Controller 1947 (Sept. 20) 1948 (July 12) John Edward Gibben Commissioner 1948 (July 13) 1950 Andrew Harold Gibson Commissioner 1950 (Aug. 15) 1951 Frederick Fraser Commissioner 1951 (Oct. 15) 1952 Wilfred George Brown Commissioner 1952 (Nov. 15) 1955 Frederick Howard Collins Commissioner 1955 (June 8) 1962 Gordon Robertson Cameron Commissioner 1962 (May 1) 1966 James Smith Commissioner 1966 (Oct. 15) 1976 (June 30) Arthur M. Pearson Commissioner 1976 (July 1) 1978 (Oct. 31) Frank B. Fingland Interim Commissioner 1978 (Nov. 1) 1979 (Jan. 19) Ione Christensen Commissioner 1979 (Jan. 20) 1979 (Oct. 9) Doug Bell Administrator 1979 (Nov. 8) 1980 (Dec. 19) Doug Bell Commissioner 1980 (Dec. 31) 1986 (March 27) Ken McKinnon Commissioner 1986 (March 27) 1995 (June 11) Judy Gingell Commissioner 1995 (June 12) 2000 (Sept. 30) Jack Cable Commissioner 2000 (Oct. 1) 2005 (Nov. 30) Geraldine Van Bibber Commissioner 2005 (Dec. 1) 2010 (Dec. 16) Doug Phillips Commissioner 2010 (Dec. 17) 2018 (Jan. 31) Angélique Bernard Commissioner 2018 (March 12) present Adapted from Linda Johnson, 2012. At the Heart of Gold: the Yukon Commissioner s Office 1898 2010. Whitehorse: Legislative Assembly of Yukon

Each June, the Commissioner s Ball is held at the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City to celebrate Yukon s birthday.

For more information Office of the Commissioner 412 Main Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2B7 phone: 867-667-5121 toll-free: 1-800-661-0408, ext. 5121 fax: 867-393-6201 e-mail: commissioner@gov.yk.ca www.commissioner.gov.yk.ca Above: The Commissioner s Residence in Dawson City, now a National Historic Site. From 1898 until 1953 Dawson City was the territory s capital.