Piers McDonald (b. 1955)
Piers McDonald was born in Kingston, Ontario. He came to the Yukon as an underground miner and was a labour leader and vice-president of the Yukon Federation of Labour. He was elected as a Yukon New Democrat (NDP) representing the Mayo riding in 1982. He was elected again in 1985 and became a member of the Yukon Executive Council.1)
As Minister of Education from 1985 to 1992, McDonald supported the passage of the Yukon College Act, the construction of Ayamdigut campus in Whitehorse, and saw Yukon’s community campuses expand to Carmacks, Haines Junction, Old Crow, Pelly Crossing, Teslin, Faro and Ross River. He initiated the research role of the College, the Northern Studies program, and several university transfer programs.2) McDonald’s initiatives included the Native Teacher Education Program; the opening and paving of the South Klondike Highway; the transfer of private-sector municipal airports and the Alaska Highway to the Yukon Government; and the establishment of the first Yukon home ownership programs and homesteader policies. 3)
In 1992, McDonald ran and won in the new riding of McIntyre-Takhini, but the New Democrats were defeated by John Ostashek’s Yukon Party. Tony Penikett resigned as Leader of the NDP and McDonald succeeded him as leader of the official opposition. McDonald and the NDP won in the 1996 election with the largest majority in Yukon history and McDonald became the Premier of the Yukon. This was a time of First Nation land claim and devolution negotiations. World metal prices declined and one in ten people left the Yukon.4)
The Liberals won the election in 2000. McDonald lost his seat in McIntyre-Takhini and he resigned as party leader in April 2000. He became a founding member of Northern Vision Development in 2004 and was Chief Executive Officer until 2009. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors.5)
In 2007, McDonald was named Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year and was named the Yukon Commissioner’s Volunteer of the Year for his leadership during the Canada Winter Games. In 2008, McDonald was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his ongoing role in northern economic development and his lifetime of service to the Yukon. In 2011, Queen’s University presented McDonald with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for his work in education, indigenous land claims, and devolution. 6) Piers McDonald became Yukon College’s new Chancellor, takin over the role from Geraldine Van Bibber. The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the College.7)