Gerald Leon “Gerry” Couture (1939 -2019)
Gerry Couture was born in Rossland, British Columbia to Yvonne and Joe Couture.1) Couture served in the Canadian military, was a commercial pilot, a competitive dog musher, a homesteader, farmer, hunter, fisher, and placer miner.2)
In 1969, Couture was the project manager for the construction of Ray Conant’s fly-in lodge on Tincup Lake. Construction required about 450 logs and Couture hauled them along Tin Cup Creek to the site using his four sled dogs. The logs were peeled and Jimmy Enoch and Thomas Joe plus three helpers constructed the building with great quality and speed. Couture became a partner in the business. The first two seasons were very successful and then the lodge was closed in 1972.3)
Couture served seventeen years as the Canadian delegate to the Yukon River salmon negotiations under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. He helped to establish the Fish and Wildlife Management Board and served for thirteen years on the board including serving as chair, twelve years with the Salmon Sub-committee, reviewed the old Yukon Placer Authorization, and helped to develop the new Placer Regime. Gerry served as YCS's mining coordinator until his retirement. The first annual Gerry Couture Stewardship Award was presented at the Society’s open house in December 2009.4) An anonymous donor provided the medal and a $1000 prize for an individual chosen for their outstanding personal dedication to natural resource conservation and management in the Yukon. The award was inspired by Couture’s fearless persistence in the face of adversity, and his creativity, innovation, and curmudgeonliness.5)