Yukon who is who

Yolanda Burkhard, nee Giametto. (1930 – 1998)

Yolanda Giametto was born in Kriens, Switzerland. After her father died, she and her mother travelled to Dawson to visit her mother’s friend John Muss. The family settled in town and Yolanda married Frank Burkhard. They placer mined near Dawson and settled at Flat Creek where they operated a sawmill in 1954.¹⁾ In the 1960 and 1970s, Yolanda worked as a city clerk until she was fired by then-mayor Colin Mayes in 1975. She ran for mayor and defeated Mayes in the 1976 municipal election. She was Dawson’s first woman mayor.²⁾ Dawson celebrated its 75th anniversary during her term and Yolanda played a key role representing the town nationally and internationally. She moved to Whitehorse in 1978 and worked in the mining recorder’s office. She travelled extensively in the Yukon and filled in for recorders who were on vacation or on leave. After her death, Klondike MLA Peter Jenkin rose in the house to pay her tribute, calling her an outstanding individual who stood true to her word and had a heart of gold.³⁾