Revised- Former Yukon premier Tony Penikett was just as surprised as anyone when he was told he was joining the Order of Canada.

Penikett, who now lives in Vancouver, received a most unexpected phone call just before Christmas telling him he had been nominated for a place in the Order, which represents one of the highest honours in Canada.

Even more startlingly, he was also told he was being appointed.

“I was totally surprised,” he said in an interview with the Star last Wednesday afternoon.

“Then I was very curious to know who nominated me, but they don’t tell you that.”

Penikett, 75, said he was sworn to secrecy about his appointment, so he wasn’t able to pass along the good news before it was officially announced Wednesday morning.

After a stint as a Whitehorse city councillor in the mid-1970s, Penikett began a long run as the NDP MLA for the former Whitehorse West riding in 1978. He was selected as the Yukon NDP leader in 1981.

He left the Yukon in 1995, three years after his two-term NDP government had been defeated by the Yukon Party, led by the late John Ostashek, in a general election.

Penikett took a position working with the Saskatchewan government in policy management. From there, he moved into academia, teaching at a number of universities.

In 2000, he founded his own consulting agency, and has continued to dabble with it ever since.

Up until the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to his roots in the Yukon regularly, although he said he kept his nose out of closely covering the current political situation.

The author of several books spends most of his day – as much as eight hours – writing. He walks for another two hours or so daily, a routine he said he finds comforting and tranquil.

“Of course I’m writing books that no one in particular wants to read,” he said with self-deprecating humour.

He was appointed to the Order as an officer, largely on his history of public service, mediation and education.

His government was described as a “reforming administration” in the Governor-General’s notes, and he remains proud of what he and his team were able to accomplish in their terms in office.

“His contributions as a teacher, negotiator and public servant, for his human rights activism” were the reasons for his selection, according to a news release from the Governor General’s office. 

Penikett pointed to his history of working with the Yukon First Nations, social issues such as mental health and human rights, where his government was able to make reforms and advancements.

He wasn’t a political neophyte by any means when he was elected to govern, having worked with the federal NDP and then-leader Ed Broadbent for some time in the 1970s.

His team and caucus may not have been quite as experienced, Penikett said, but they were talented and enthusiastic.

Half of his initial government members were Aboriginal, a sea change from the traditional makeup of an administration.

The first election of the NDP in May 1985, Penikett said, represented a “generational change” from previous governments.

“It was a happy accident linked with a good caucus,” he said of the first election win.

He regrets only not holding off on the general election of 1992, when the NDP lost, for a few more months to finish up some of the work the government was doing with First Nations self-government agreements, he said.

The only other Yukon NDP regime since Penikett’s time was Piers McDonald’s 1996-2000 government.

Penikett was one of 61 people (13 of them officers) named to be appointed to the order.

Due to the pandemic, none of the new members will attend the usual formal investiture ceremony.

No date has been announced for his formal admission.

Whitehorse resident Art Webster served as the NDP renewable resources (now environment) and tourism minister under Penikett from 1989 to 1992.

“He is one of best bosses I ever worked for,” Webster told the Star this morning.

Premier Sandy Silver released a statement last Thursday afternoon.

“I would like to congratulate former premier Tony Penikett on his appointment to the Order of Canada,” Silver said.

“This is a well-deserved honour for Mr. Penikett in recognition of his many contributions to Canada as a negotiator, public servant, teacher and human rights activist.”

The land claim’s Umbrella Final Agreement, completed under Penikett’s time in office, “is a landmark framework for First Nations land claims and self-governance in the territory,” Silver added.

“In his role as a legislator, public servant, advisor, educator, academic and author, Mr. Penikett has shown generations of Yukoners and Canadians alike the value and results of hard work and determination, all while maintaining a great sense of humour and compassion.”

To this day, the premier said, “Mr. Penikett remains a strong advocate for the North and continues to help all Canadians understand the complex history and challenges of northern living. On behalf of all Yukoners, congratulations to Tony Penikett.”