Former NWT Commissioner Tony Whitford will not only be remembered for his public life, but for his warm personality and passion for volunteerism at all levels.
Whitford, 83, passed away at 5 a.m. Monday at Stanton Territorial Hospital, which he entered in June.
Tony Whitford marches in a Canada Day parade in Yellowknife some years ago. (Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Yellowknife)
A proud Rotarian for decades, Whitford was known for his sense of humor, his willingness to help, and his leadership.
Mark Whitford is Tony’s brother and president of the North Slave Métis Alliance.
“It’s certainly is a loss for the community — Tony loved the community — he made a conscious choice to stay here. He raised his children here, and you know, and him and his wife, Elaine, at the time, so he had a good life,” he said in an interview.
“Sad to see him go. But here’s a guy that came from modest means and ended up to where he was. It was a fantastic career for a fantastic guy. So, I laud him, and I look up to him.”
Mark recalled growing up in Fort Smith, when he noticed there was something special about his kid brother.
When other teenagers were chasing girls and experimenting with booze, Tony was more focused and set an example for Mark. He did live a traditional Métis lifestyle of hunting, trapping and fishing, but he also wanted an education and a career.
“Whoever hears of a kid way back then, especially an Indigenous Metis guy that wants to listen to classical music and stuff. I mean, he did. He liked stuff like that. Everybody else is listening to Buck Owens at the time and I was impressed. You know he, you know, he dressed well, he kept good company,” said Mark.
“He set an example how parents, I think, would want to see their children be and you know, for a lot of parents, they end up in heartbreaking situations, but Tony himself became the leader of the family, and that’s what was lost today, the leader of the family.”
As a young man, Tony worked for Northern Transportation Company on the barges sailing the Mackenzie River and for the power company at the Taltson River hydro dam.
Tony Whitford giving a tour to students in the Legislative Assembly in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of GNWT)
In the early 1970’s, Whitford attended the University of Calgary before moving back north to Yellowknife in 1977, beginning his long career with the territorial and federal governments.
Whitford was first elected to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly in 1988. Over time, he would represent the ridings of Yellowknife South and Kam Lake.
In 2000, he was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. In 2005, he was appointed by the federal government to be Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.
Whitford completed his term as Commissioner in April 2010 and then served as an Honorary Naval Captain of the Canadian Navy.
He was made a member of the Order of the Northwest Territories in 2016.
Whitford married Mary Elaine Whitford (née Sweet) on November 9, 1966. The couple had three children, sons Warren (born June 19, 1968), Blair (born March 6, 1970), and Ian (born March 12, 1971). Elaine died of breast cancer in 2003.
He was a busy volunteer, serving as an auctioneer for many events, including the Rotary Club of Yellowknife’s annual Bike Auction and the Canadian Championship Dog Derby.
“He also provided the club with lots of humor with his corny jokes,” said Lydia Bardak, president of the Yellowknife Rotary Club.
Tony Whitford at Yellowknife’s Tim Hortons in 2019. It was his favourite place to socialize. (Photo courtesy of Tony Whitford/Facebook)
“He had a really, really good sense of humor and participated in all projects that we did, even in his later years, if he wasn’t able to haul lumber and pound nails at the Rotary Boardwalk. He’d show up with treats from Tim Hortons for us all. So, he participated in whatever way he could.”
Joe Handley was the 10th premier of the Northwest Territories, serving from 2003 to 2007.
He recalls Whitford’s cheerful personality and devotion to the community.
“Yeah, he’s just a friend to everybody – always, smiling, always cheerful. The last time I saw him, he was in a wheelchair, but still a big smile on his face,” he said in an interview.
“He didn’t just go for the lofty positions … after he was out of politics, sometimes you’d be driving down the street or the road toward the airport, and there would be Tony walking along picking up the empties out of the ditches. And it wasn’t that he needed to pick them up. It just that he felt it wasn’t right to have so many empties and this was before the recycling became a business.”
In 2009, Whitford set up a scholarship in his wife’s name with the Yellowknife Community Foundation.
The Elaine (Sweet) Whitford Scholarship Fund supports residents of the Northwest Territories who are pursuing post-secondary studies in the fields of social work or nursing. First priority will be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry who have lived in the Northwest Territories for at least one half of their lives>
Whitford was interviewed by the Foundation in 2018 and he spoke about Elaine’s legacy.
“Mind you, she couldn’t know we were going to establish a scholarship, but her thoughts and wishes were translated through me. I knew what she would have wanted; She would have wanted to continue helping Aboriginal people and Northerners advance their education and this scholarship could be part of that.”
The 20th Assembly’s Speaker Shane Thompson stated in a release that Whitford was known for his dedication to the people of the Northwest Territories, as well as his extensive community work.
“On behalf of the Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly, I extend my deepest sympathies to Tony’s family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know him. Tony’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of our Assembly, and his contributions to public life are unmatched” stated Thompson.
“Tony was a cherished presence in our halls. His frequent visits, full of warmth, stories, and laughter, brought a special light to the Assembly that we will deeply miss. I know I speak for staff and Members when I say that his absence will leave a void in our hearts. His Speaker Robes, displayed in the Great Hall, will stand as a lasting tribute to the legacy of service and kindness he left behind, reminding us always of the man he was. He served our Territory with dignity and humility, and his warmth, kindness, and community spirit will be remembered for years to come.”
The flags at the Legislative Assembly building have been lowered to half-mast, and Whitford’s Speaker portrait will be displayed in the Great Hall to honour his memory.
A public viewing is this Friday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral starting at noon, with a Catholic mass starting at 1 p.m.
A state funeral is being planned for next month.
EDIT NOTE: Speaker Thompson’s comments were added from a release issued Tuesday morning; Whitford lived at home until June; and funeral arrangement information came from a family member on Wednesday.
