Another in a line of notable Yukon figures has left us.

Peter Jenkins, a three-term MLA for the Klondike riding, died over the weekend in a Vancouver hospital at the age of 77.

“The Yukon Party is very sad to learn of the recent passing of Peter Jenkins,” party leader Currie Dixon said in a statement this morning.

“Peter was a three-term MLA for the Klondike and served as the Yukon Party’s interim leader from 2000-2002,” he recalled.

“The Yukon Party is greatly indebted to Peter for almost single-handedly keeping the party alive during those difficult years when he was the sole Yukon Party MLA.

“Peter was a pillar of the community in Dawson City where he served as mayor, and a prominent member of the business community. He and his late wife Karen cared deeply about Dawson City and its people and were involved in numerous charitable endeavors,” Dixon added.

“Our condolences go out to his family, and all of his friends and colleagues in Dawson City.

“Peter was one of a kind, and he will be missed by many.”

The legislative assembly also posted a statement on his passing.

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

“Jenkins was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the  general election of September 30, 1996. He was re-elected in the general  elections of April 17, 2000 and November 4, 2002 and was the member for Klondike until October 9, 2006.”  

Jenkins was a member of cabinet from Nov. 30, 2002 to Nov. 27, 2005.

He served as minister of Health and Social Services, minister  responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board, and minister of Environment.  

“I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends on  their loss,” said Speaker Jeremy Harper.  

Darrell Pasloski, the former premier and Yukon Party leader, said today, “My thoughts are with the Jenkins family after hearing about the passing of Peter on the weekend.

“Peter was a friend and someone who I could always count on for sage advice or to crack a joke.

“He played a big role in ‘holding down the fort’ during some lean years for the party, and helped set the stage for the party’s future successes,” Pasloski added.

“In his ministerial roles he made decisions that will have benefits for Yukoners for generations to come.

“Peter was a force of nature, not only in politics, but in the community of Dawson and throughout the territory, the business community, and the community-at-large.

“Tammie (Pasloski’s wife) and I extend our condolences to the Jenkins family, and to his many friends and colleagues.”

Jenkins was the longtime operator of the Eldorado Hotel in Dawson City.

He first ran for the legislature in 1989, but lost to NDP cabinet minister Art Webster, who is also a former mayor of Dawson.

In that vote, Jenkins’ campaign manager was future Liberal premier and independent senator Pat Duncan.

Prior to that, he served as mayor of Dawson City from 1980 to 1994.

He made news nationally in the 1980s for registering for cable TV service under an assumed named then distributing the signal free to Dawson residents.

Jenkins served as Health minister and deputy premier until Nov. 28, 2005 when he resigned from the party and cabinet.

Jenkins said at the time this was because “the heart and soul of my community has been ripped out by the inefficiencies of government at the municipal level, the territorial level.”

However, the government had been under public pressure to insist that Jenkins repay about $300,000 in outstanding territorial business loans.

Jenkins sat as an independent MLA in the assembly until dissolution, and chose not to run in the 2006 election, which re-elected the late premier Dennis Fentie and the Yukon Party government.

Jenkins ran for another term as mayor of Dawson City in the 2009 municipal election, defeating incumbent John Steins by seven votes.

He was defeated in the 2012 municipal election by Wayne Potoroka, who is now retiring as mayor.

Premier Sandy Silver said,“the territory has lost one of its longest serving leaders with the passing of former Deputy Premier of the Yukon and Mayor of Dawson City Peter Jenkins. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones during their time of grief.

“Peter was first elected as Mayor of Dawson City in 1980, and continued as an elected official for three decades. He served in a variety of roles such as Environment Minister, Health Minister and Leader of the Yukon Party.