Yolanda Burkhard | |
|---|---|
| Mayor ofDawson City,Yukon | |
| In office 1976–1978 | |
| Preceded by | Colin Mayes |
| Succeeded by | Vi Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Yolanda Giacometto (1930-10-27)October 27, 1930 Switzerland |
| Died | March 31, 1998(1998-03-31) (aged 67) Whitehorse,Yukon, Canada |
| Nationality | Swiss-Canadian |
| Spouse | Frank Burkhard (m. 1951) |
| Occupation | City clerk |
Yolanda Burkhard (née Giacometto; October 27, 1930 – March 31, 1998) was aCanadian politician who served as mayor ofDawson City,Yukon from 1976 to 1978.[1] She was the first woman ever elected mayor of the community;[2]Ione Christensen was elected as the first woman mayor ofWhitehorse on the same day.[2]
Born inSwitzerland,[1] she was raised there until the death of her father, and then travelled to Dawson City with her mother on what was initially planned as a visit to a family friend.[1] The family ended up settling in the town, where she married Frank Burkhard in 1951.[1] In the 1960s and 1970s, she worked as the city clerk for Dawson City's municipal government, until being dismissed from her position by then-mayorColin Mayes in 1975.[1] She subsequently worked as a bookkeeper for the local museum,[3] and successfully challenged Mayes in the 1976 municipal election.[1]
In 1977, she took a trip toBendigo,Victoria, Dawson City'stwin town inAustralia, to attend the Australian National Gold-Panning Championship.[3]
She stepped down as mayor in 1978, moving to Whitehorse and taking a job with the mining recorder's office,[1] and was succeeded as mayor by Vi Campbell.
She died on March 31, 1998, in Whitehorse.[1] Following her death, MLAPeter Jenkins gave a tribute speech in theLegislative Assembly of Yukon on April 2.[1]