Maurice Byblow, a former territorial cabinet minister who helped forge the Yukon New Democrats into a powerful governing force, died Feb. 11 in Whitehorse. Cancer claimed the businessman and educator at the age of 73.

Byblow was first elected to the Yukon legislature in 1978. It was the year party politics formally took root in the territory, but the farm boy from Saskatchewan ran as an independent to represent the Town of Faro.

He served for two consecutive terms in opposition to the territorial Conservative Party that held sway in those early years.

The son of immigrant parents from Ukraine, Byblow teamed up with the New Democrats for his second run at office in 1981. He was successful in his bid to join party leader Tony Penikett, who had also been elected in 1978 and who would go on to become government leader in 1985.

Piers McDonald, who would become an NDP government leader in 1996, also shared the opposition benches with Byblow in the early ’80s.

In fact, when Byblow chose not to seek re-election in 1985, he was brought on to serve as McDonald’s executive assistant.

Four years later, he was elected to represent Faro for a third time and was chosen by Penikett to serve in the second NDP cabinet.

“I was very sad to hear of his passing,” McDonald said in an interview Monday. “He was a fair guy and always up to the challenge.

“I always remember him as being optimistic about things, even when things were stacked against him,” said his former friend and colleague.

Bylow moved to Faro in 1971 with his then-wife, Lin, and two sons. Faro was still in its infancy as a new mining town but would become a cornerstone of the territory’s economy for years to come.

Byblow served the public in various fashions, including sitting on the municipal council and different boards and committees. He also continued to pursue his passion for education.

In 1975, he received his Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts degree.

It was during his early years as an opposition MLA that Byblow established and chaired a Yukon Education Task Force.

“Maurice has always had a deep respect for the education system and a desire to improve the performance of kids in school,” McDonald said.

In addition to his commitment to community and education, McDonald said, Byblow was an entrepreneur who pursued several business opportunities over the years, beginning with his investment in the Faro Hotel.

“He was always doing 10 things at once,” McDonald added.

Penikett told the Star Tuesday evening his memories of Byblow are many.

“When (territorial court judge) Roger Kimmerly left the bench to run for the NDP in Whitehorse South Centre in 1981, Maurice recognized that, with strong support from the United Steelworkers in his Faro constituency, the NDP had a strong base in Faro, and he joined our caucus in the legislature,” Penikett recalled.

“His decision made history, because for the first time, the NDP with three seats became the official Opposition.”

In 1985, eight New Democrats formed the new minority government, propped up by the late Roger Coles’ Liberal party.

After serving as McDonald’s aide, Penikett said, “Maurice himself became an excellent minister of those departments in 1989.

“Among my memories of Maurice, beyond his firm loyalty and solid reliability, was his good humour,” the former premier said.

“Once we were all at an NDP convention in Regina. Joking with Maurice about his Ukrainian prairie heritage, we all announced that we would like to go for supper at his family’s farm at Ituna in eastern Saskatchewan.

“Suddenly a fleet of those giant cars—the prairie scooters beloved of farming folk—arrived to transport us out to the farm, where we were met by creaking tables of cabbage rolls, and perogies, sausages and so on.

“This marvelous and unforgettable feast plus Byblow family hospitality overwhelmed us,” Penikett remembered.

Several weeks ago, he added, Art Webster, another caucus colleague and former Tourism minister, “shared with me reports on how much, as retirees, Maurice and he enjoyed supply teaching in Yukon schools.

“Everybody who knew Maurice Byblow will mourn his passing from a cruel cancer and miss this man who gave so much to the Yukon Territory,” Penikett said.

Former Faro mayor Murray Hampton said Tuesday afternoon he remembers Byblow for his “general interest in the community.”

He recalls the late MLA as having been a hard worker for his constituency, and an instrumental figure in the development of a country residential subdivision in Faro.

Hampton also remembers Byblow for arranging a series of “Keep Yukon Clean” highway signs to be spread across the territory when he was highways minister. A few remain to this day.

“Every time I see one, it reminds me of him,” Hampton said.

June Hampton, Murray’s wife, called Byblow a friend of the couple’s, who, with other members of his family, looked after the Hamptons’ children.

She remembers the day when he and brothers Harvey and Bob arrived together in the brand-new Faro half a century ago.

“He always tried to make things better for Faro in everything he did,” June said.

“Even after he first went to Whitehorse, he was always there for us (Faro residents).”

Jim McLachlan, Faro’s former Liberal MLA, assessed his ex-political adversary this way: “He was certainly a formidable political opponent in Faro during the late 1970s and 1980s for anyone to overcome.”

Nils Clarke, the Speaker of the legislature, released this statement:

“The Yukon Legislative Assembly is saddened to hear of the recent passing of former member of the legislative assembly, Maurice Byblow.

“Maurice Byblow was first elected to represent Faro in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the general election of November 20, 1978 and served until May 12, 1985 at which time he retired.

“Mr. Byblow was re-elected to represent Faro in the general election of February 20, 1989 and served until October 18, 1992. Mr. Byblow was sworn in as a cabinet minister on February 23, 1989.

“I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends on their loss.”

A celebration of Byblow’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

By JIM BUTLER and CHUCK TOBIN