Bessie Lawrence (d. 1986)

Bessie Lawrence was brought up in North Surrey, British Columbia. She and her husband moved to the Yukon in the early 1950s when Cliff Lawrence was hired to work in maintenance camps along the Alaska Highway. They first lived in Destruction Bay where Bessie found work at a lodge. She was a correspondent for an Army publication called The Highwayman. Later in Beaver Creek she wrote community news for The Whitehorse Star newspaper. In Teslin she wrote the highway section of the Women’s Institute’s “History of Teslin” publication. Bessie was an active member of the organization and in 1975 she was the president of the Teslin Community Club.¹⁾

In 1981, Cliff and Bessie Lawrence were inducted into the Sport Yukon Hall of Fame for their activities supporting many Yukon sports. They were active in recreation projects including the Destruction Bay Curling Club, the Beaver Creek and Teslin skating rinks, and the Teslin ball diamond. They organized sports for children living along the highway. They were prime movers in the establishment of junior curling in Beaver Creek and Teslin. They spent countless hours teaching, coaching, travelling and inspiring others.²⁾