Wilfred Charlie (d. 2005)

Wilfred Charlie lived in Carmacks. His knowledge of the land and wildlife was legendary. Anytime the community had initiative to teach the kids about the area, Charlie was involved.¹⁾ In 1969, Wilfred won a dog sled race with the fastest time for the annual fifteen-mile dog sled race at the Whitehorse Winter Carnival in 1969. Instead of a dog sled, Charlie used an old work toboggan with no runner for him to stand on. He said he didn't need a brake but rules are rules, so he found an old stove piece to use. He placed third in the race and there was no prize so Bob Erlam, publisher of the Whitehorse Star, gave him $25 and offered to sponsor him with a sled for the next year's race but he forgot. As the race approached, a Catholic priest who drove Erlam to the races every year asked him where the sled was and Erlam ran around to someone in town who made sleds. “Iron Man Charlie” used that sled year after year to come in first and make his way into the Guinness Book of World Records. Finishing the race was no problem but there always seemed to be some situation at the beginning. One year a dog got away and took off down Main Street.²⁾

About 1990, Charlie became a Canadian Ranger and was decorated more than once for his military service. He had long-service awards and an award for his work in a High Arctic Ranger expedition. He was in his early sixties when he passed the fitness test for firefighters. He is remembered for his wonderful sense of humour and skill as a storyteller. Mourned by his widow, Dawn Charlie, and many friends and family.³⁾