Earl Louis Mackenzie (1942 – 2008)
	
Earl Mackenzie was born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia to parents Alvin and Stella Mackenzie. He came to the Yukon in 1958 and drove truck and heavy equipment for General Enterprises. In 1962, he worked for Leo Proctor building the Robert Campbell Highway between Ross River and Watson Lake. He worked on a winter road at Chapman Lake off the Dempster Highway freighting supplies for Socony-Mobile Oil. In 1967, he married Lynn Oelrich in Whitehorse. In 1974/75, he taught heavy equipment operating at the Yukon Vocational and Training School. The Mackenzie family moved to Dawson in 1976 and Earl started a business with Clayton Midgett hauling stove oil from Whitehorse to Dawson. ELMAC Petroleum was established by 1978 and it included the Gas Shack on Princess Street and fuel delivery to the gold fields under Gulf Canada. The company became Mackenzie Petroleum around 1980.((“Earl Louis Mackenzie: 2022 Person of the Year Award.” Transportation Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, 2023 program.))   

In 1981, the Gas Shack moved to a bulk fuel plant in Callison Industrial Park and became Petro Canada’s most northerly distributorship. Earl hauled one of the first B-trains in the Yukon for the company. In 1989, he was one of the first to use a four-axle pup and was able to increase his hauling capacity by 10,000 litres. By 1988, Earl formed Bonanza Aviation with Marco Giovanoli to supply mining camps with groceries, equipment parts, crew changes, and the occasional drum of fuel. In 1992, Earl created Kluane Freightlines to service Dawson and the surrounding area. He took mail and liquor contracts and interlined with other companies in western Canada to provide supplies for miners and remote Yukon communities.((“Earl Louis Mackenzie: 2022 Person of the Year Award.” Transportation Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, 2023 program.))   

Earl Mackenzie was a vital part of the Dawson community, donating his time and money, giving sponsorships, and coaching sports teams. He belonged to the Yukon Order of Pioneers, was a volunteer firefighter, ambulance attendant, and served on the city council. In 1986, he was awarded Citizen of the Year. In 1992, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation recognized Mackenzie Petroleum for exemplary service and support to their citizens. In 1994-95, Earl received the Businessperson of the Year award from the Yukon Chamber of Commerce. Earl sold the businesses to Chief Isaac Incorporated in 2000.((“Earl Louis Mackenzie: 2022 Person of the Year Award.” Transportation Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, 2023 program.))