George Black

(this piece will be unveiled in late April 2021)

George Black was at the centre of Yukon politics and law for half a century. As a young lawyer from New Brunswick, he came to the Yukon during the Klondike Stampede in 1898, and co-discovered gold on Livingstone Creek.

George moved to Dawson City to practice law in 1900 and became active in local politics. He was elected to the territorial council three times (1905-1911) and, as Commissioner of the Yukon, he governed the Territory from 1912-1916.

Appointed Captain in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, he recruited 225 Yukon men to volunteer with him during World War I, and was wounded at the Battle of Amiens in 1918.

George represented the Yukon in Parliament six times, serving more than 25 years between 1921 and 1949. He was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1930 to 1935.

George and his wife Martha, who served a term in Parliament, were a political force. It was often said there were two parties in the Yukon: the Liberals and the Blacks.

Commissioned by Margaret & Rolf Hougen, O. C.