Robert Arthur King (1955 – 2007)
Robert King had polio when he was in Grade 9 and spent several months recovering but remained a natural athlete. He was Canadian motor-bike road race champion in the late 1970s and received his first head injury. He got another, much worse one, on the job years later. Robert was also a championship curler and his team, with brother Chris (Edmonton), won the 1974 junior championship and competed in the junior world championships twice. His sister Cathy is a three-time Canadian curling champion and has competed in the Scott's Tournaments of Hearts several times. Robert had a great effect on labour issues in the territory by putting pressure on the Worker's Compensation Board, government, and politicians from all parties. In 1995, King was instrumental in forming the Yukon Injured Workers Alliance. The group had a tremendous lobbying voice. King also helped from the territories independent workers' advocate office which opened in 1997. King drowned in Lake Laberge on Canada Day.1)