Yukon who is who

Duncan Sinclair

Duncan Sinclair was born in Whitehorse to parents who met in the north after Duncan’s father returned from serving in the Second World War. His father was a Scot and Duncan learned to play the bagpipes with the Midnight Sun Pipe Band. He learned the ukulele and then took guitar lessons with Ray Park of The Canuks. He played the saxophone through high school and then played clarinet at the University of British Columbia’s music program. He graduated with a double major in music and political science and later earned a Master’s in public administration at Queen’s University. When Duncan returned to the Yukon, he neglected his music until Rachel Grantham persuaded him to play clarinet during a production of the musical Annie. Later he joined the Big Band and played saxophone.¹⁾

In 1979-80, Duncan served on the Whitehorse City Council and was a member of the Yukon Arts Council. He was part of the group that started the Yukon Historical and Museums Association and got the Guild Hall going. They dreamed of a Yukon Arts Centre and set up an organization called Arts Canada North and in 1992, with support from the Yukon Government, it became a reality. Sinclair has been involved in the development of Yukon cultural mainstays including the YAC board, Jazz Yukon, Music Yukon, and the Yukon Arts Foundation. Sinclair has also worked for decades in the Yukon Government and retired in 2002 as the director of the Yukon Development Corporation.²⁾

In 2019, the Western Canadian Music Alliance awarded Duncan Sinclair the Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award. It is an award given to those who have made a significant impact on the music industry through their mentorship, training and/or leadership.³⁾

In 2020, Sinclair was in his 11th year as president of Jazz Yukon that in 2019 presented or co-produced over forty-five events in six Yukon communities. That year, Homes Routes/Chemin Chez Nous created a podcast featuring Duncan Sinclair.⁴⁾