McDonald says recognition is shared by many in the North

Former government leader, volunteer president of the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society and current president of Northern Vision Development, Piers McDonald has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Former government leader, volunteer president of the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society and current president of Northern Vision Development, Piers McDonald has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

“It’s obviously a great privilege,” he said in an interview this morning, noting his nomination by two of his co-workers was unexpected.

The announcement was made Tuesday, about three weeks after McDonald got a call from the Governor General’s office informing him he is among the 26 Canadians to be appointed as Officers in the Order of Canada this year.

Officer is the second highest level awarded in the order. Five Companions, 43 Members and one honorary Officer have also been named to the order, which recognizes a lifetime of service.

While McDonald suggested the appointment is more of a recognition of what’s been happening in the territory over the last 30 or so years due to the work of many, Northern Vision vice-president Trevor Harding and director Rich Thompson told a different story.

Harding, who served with McDonald in the legislature, pointed to McDonald’s long record of public service before noting that it was McDonald’s work on the Canada Winter Games that pushed it “over the top” and prompted him to begin working on McDonald’s nomination to the Order of Canada.

At the same time as the company was growing substantially under McDonald’s lead, the former government leader was spending an additional 30 to 40 hours each week volunteering in his role as Games host society president, Harding and Thompson pointed out in an interview from

Northern Vision’s Calgary office this morning.

It was during the petroleum conference in Calgary in 2005, that Harding learned just how much work McDonald was putting into showcasing the territory for the rest of the country as the Games approached.

Launching the Games at the event with Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie and Northwest Territories Premier Joe Handley, Harding emphasized how important it was to McDonald to make the sporting competition a truly pan-northern event, rather than simply a Yukon-specific affair.

“It just illustrated for me what it was about,” Harding said.

Similarly, Thompson has also learned of McDonald’s “passion for the North” and community spirit through both the work of Northern Vision Development and in watching McDonald’s work on the Games in making sure it was a world-class event.

It was through his work that the Yukon was showcased well in what was the most media attention the territory has seen since the Gold Rush, Harding said.

While his co-workers at Northern Vision Development point specifically to his work, McDonald shared the recognition with many who’ve worked hard over the last 30 years to foster growth in the North.

McDonald noted he’s been fortunate to be part of that work.

“Certainly, there was a lot going on in the years I led the government,” he said.

Along with the Canada Winter Games, McDonald said he’s pleased to have been part of land claims settlements which occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the territory’s Human Rights Act and many other developments during his political career from 1982 to 2000.

McDonald spent three years representing Mayo in the NDP opposition until 1992 when he moved and became the NDP MLA for McIntyre-Takhini and served in Tony Penikett’s government.

In 1996, McDonald was elected as the territory’s government leader.

After his political career ended with the loss of the 2000 election, McDonald went on to the private sector, eventually developing Northern Vision Development in 2004.

The nomination to the Order of Canada came as a surprise to McDonald, he said.

Both Harding and Thompson said they tried to keep the nomination low key, which wasn’t always easy.

Fentie , who had served in McDonald’s government as an NDP member at the time, national Canada Games chair Larry Smith and Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief Mike Smith all responded to the request for three references. But as more Yukoners learned of the nomination, more and more stories of McDonald’s contributions to the community were submitted without Harding or Thompson even asking for them.

“We surprised Piers with this,” Harding said.

After being contacted by the Governor General’s office close to a month ago and being asked if he would accept, McDonald said he was pleased with the vote of confidence and told officials “it was fine by me”.

“I obviously have friends,” he commented this morning.

As McDonald continues his work with Northern Vision Development, he hopes to continue to be in the midst of community work. He’s hopeful company projects will change the face of the Whitehorse waterfront as it moves toward more development in the coming years. He also notes there’s a number of “other things” he’ll continue to be involved with.

A formal ceremony for the 75 new appointments to the Order of Canada will be held in Ottawa later this year or in early 2009.

While McDonald is the only Yukoner to be appointed to the order this year, he shares the honour with 28 other Yukoners who have been appointed to various ranks over the years.