s:j_steins
John Steins (b. 1949)
John Steins was born in Ontario to artist father Ilgvars Steins. He graduated from a five-year high school program that prepared students to be commercial artists. He briefly joined an ad firm and then worked to become a singer-songwriter. He arrived in Dawson in 1974.1)
In the Yukon, John was an artist, carpenter, musician, and worked at Diamond Tooth Gerties gambling casino. In 2003, he angered some united States citizens and his Axis of Weasels linocuts were censored on eBay.2)
In 2004, he started the Dawson City forum website to encourage community discussion when the territorial government took control of the municipal government and appointed a trustee. The Dawson City Citizens Action committee lobbied for an election and Steins was acclaimed as mayor in the 2006 election.3)
In July 2009, the Dawson City council was upset when a Yukon News reporter quoted Mayor Steins as saying that local gas stations were gouging their customers. The council passed a resolution to remain neutral on a debate about Dawson gas prices. Steins stated that he would continue criticizing the prices which were thirty cents higher than in Whitehorse.4)
One of the last acts of the 2006-2009 Dawson City council was to give third reading to bylaws that enacted the provisions of the new Zoning and Heritage Management Plan. The bylaws included the Zoning and Heritage Management Bylaw, a Heritage Bylaw, a Heritage Fund Bylaw, a Heritage Advisory Committee Bylaw, and an amendment to the Official Community Plan. The town’s development officer was given more responsibility and a new heritage advisory committee replaced the former planning board. Steins was the driving force on council defending the plan through some difficult debates.5) Peter Jenkins won the election for mayor in the October 2009 election.
In April 2010, the Association of Yukon Communities presented John Steins with the annual Hanseatic Award. The Award honours those Yukoners who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of Yukon municipal government and furthered the goals of the Association of Yukon Communities. Steins was able to shepherd the town back to health after the period of trusteeship. Major issues during his term included the need for a new sewage treatment plant and problems facing the recreation centre.6)
1)
John Steins, 2020 website: https://www.johnsteins.com/john_steins_wood_engraving
2)
, 3)
Wayne Potoroka, “Steins goes from fighting the man to being the man.” Yukon News (Whitehorse), 3 June 2006.
4)
Tristin Hopper, Dawson mayor muzzled.” Yukon News (Whitehorse), 21 August 2009.
5)
Dan Davidson, “Dawson heritage plan receives national award.” Whitehorse Star (Whitehorse), 2 December 2009.
6)
Stephanie Waddell, “Ex-mayor lauded for strengthening his town.” Whitehorse Daily Star (Whitehorse), 22 April 2010.
s/j_steins.txt · Last modified: 2025/02/01 06:56 by sallyr