Yukon who is who

Victoria Graham, nee Kinaschuk (1925 – 2006)

Victoria Kinaschuk was born at her family’s homestead in Aran, Saskatchewan to parents Mary and John Justin Kinaschuk. She and Earl Graham were married in 1950 and they eventually moved to Brooks Brook where Earl was lineman for CN Communications. They had three children and were close friends with Les and Pansy Allen and their children. The Grahams moved to Mayo in 1960 where Earl was a lineman and Victoria became the CN switchboard operator on the switchboard located in their home. A new repeater station was built in Mayo and, in 1965, Victoria started work as a clerk in Danny’s Department Store. She and Earl became involved With Elsa Judo Club and started a club in Mayo. In 1968, Victoria became the general manager of Taylor and Drury’s General Store and in 1973 the Grahams bought the store and renamed it Graham’s General Store. A fire in 1974, forced the store to close temporarily and Victoria bought Ruth’s dress Shop and renamed it Mayo Variety Store. She was very generous with gifts to new-borns and donations to the community. Earl retired from Northwestel in 1978 and died in 1979 before he could really enjoy retirement. Victoria closed the Mayo Variety Store in 2001 and retired to Dawson to be closer to family.¹⁾