Biography

Pat Duncan is a former premier of Yukon, with extensive experience in business and as a public servant in the community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.

From 1996 to 2006, Ms. Duncan served as a member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly in various positions, including as the first female premier of the territory from 2000 to 2002. She was involved in reaching land claims agreements with First Nations in the Yukon and the transfer of power from the federal government to the territory, giving her an in-depth understanding of territorial and federal legislative processes.

Before entering politics, Ms. Duncan worked in small business and served as the executive director of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce. She later became a public servant in the territorial government and the manager of claimant services for the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board. In 2015, she was appointed as the manager of the Yukon Workers’ Advocate Office.

Ms. Duncan has also been an active volunteer in her community. She is heavily involved with sports in the Yukon, including volunteering with the Canada Summer and Winter Games, and serving as President and Treasurer of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club.

Ms. Duncan has represented Yukon on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, chaired the City of Whitehorse Environmental Health Board, served on the Yukon Advisory Council on Health and Social Services, and acted as the Yukon Commissioner for the Girl Guides of Canada. She also served as a lay member of the Law Society of Yukon.

In 1992 she received the Commemorative medal for the 125^th anniversary of Confederation of Canada.

For her outstanding dedication to the public service, Ms. Duncan was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.