John Almstrom

John Almstrom was born in Whitehorse to Marjorie and Ed Almstrom. John graduated from F.H. Collins Secondary School and then University of British Columbia where he took courses in international relations. His Masters’ studies at Rice University in Housten were in military history. He enlisted in the 72nd Regiment in Winnipeg and had tours of duties with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry in Winnipeg, Cyprus two times, and Calgary two times. He was a peacekeeper in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel from 1982 through 1984. He held staff jobs in Ottawa and was the director-general of reserves and cadets in Whitehorse in 1992. In 1994, Col. John Almstrom became a political officer with the United Nations under Yasushi Akashi, special representative of the secretary-general of the UN.¹⁾