Yukon who is who

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Bette Colyer (1920 – 2006)
	
Bette Colyer was born in Nova Scotia. She attended Acadia University in the 1930s and later earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Toronto while raising six children. She worked in journalism and radio and was the head Aeronautical Research Librarian at the National Research Council during the Avro Arrow project. The Yukon Government hired her in 1961 as the first Regional Librarian and she established the territory’s public library system.(("In Memoriam - Betty Colyer." //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 20 January 2006.)) 

When she came to Whitehorse, the IODE was operating a tiny lending library as a volunteer service. Bette worked on long range plans for a Whitehorse library and in 1966 a modern building was opened as the cornerstone of today's libraries. She established the Martha Louise Black Reading Room with a collection of rare northern books. Her plans included the development of an archives program which led to the establishment of the Yukon Archives in 1971.(("In Memoriam - Betty Colyer." //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 20 January 2006.))

Bette circulated books to communities without formal libraries like Takhini, Canyon Creek, Champagne, Tungsten, Swift River, Brooks Brook, and Whitehorse Corrections.((Jassica Simon, “World of Words: The Rugged History of Yukon Libraries.” //WhatsUpYukon,// Issue 2009-10-22, 2024 website: World of Words: The rugged history of Yukon libraries - (whatsupyukon.com) )) She travelled to the communities to encourage local people to become volunteer community librarians. She started a book mobile in the early days and contributed a daily children's story time on CBC called //Once Upon a Time.//(("In Memoriam - Betty Colyer." //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 20 January 2006.))

Bette and her husband moved to Edmonton in 1967 and later to Churchill and Ottawa. She retired back to Nova Scotia in 1977 and remained a lifetime supporter of libraries and a lively storyteller and reader to the end of her days.(("In Memoriam - Betty Colyer." //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 20 January 2006.)) 

Bette Colyer received a posthumous Heritage Award from the Yukon Historical & Museums Association in 2006.