Yukon NDP announce 5 more candidates for 2021 territorial election
March 15, 2021
The Yukon NDP has announced 5 more candidates for the 2021 territorial election.
Ian Angus, for Lake Laberge, is a safety officer, former firefighter and rescue technician. He has been a volunteer for Yukon Quest, BYTE, and the Board of Directors of the Northern Cultural Expression Society.
“I think that too many people are getting left behind right now,” said Angus. “It shouldn’t be this hard to make ends meet. We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the people who already have a lot. That means putting workers and small businesses ahead of large corporate profits.”
Chris Clarke, for Klondike, is a dedicated community member supporting all kinds of efforts to help make her community more resilient, more compassionate, and more fun.
“Living here has taught me the value and importance of honesty and integrity in relationships as the key to growing a healthy community,” said Clarke. “In looking to the territory as a whole, I am inspired and confident in Kate White’s leadership. With Kate as Premier, Yukon society as a whole will benefit from a genuinely respectful, collaborative government. I’m honoured to be part of her team.”
Kaori Torigai, for Copperbelt South, is a long-time member of the Yukon’s arts community. She has worked in the public, non-profit, and private sector. She has owned a business, and was the driving force behind the Yukon Beer Festival until 2018.
“This Liberal government could have gotten so much done for people. But they didn’t deliver,” said Torigai. “Real climate action, tackling the housing crisis, better wages – it’s all doable. We just need a Premier who wants to do it. I think that’s Kate.”
Amy Labonte, for Watson Lake, is a mom and the founder of Cystic Fibrosis Yukon. Since her son’s diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, she’s seen firsthand the challenges families face accessing the services and healthcare they need.
“As the parent of a chronically ill child, I know what it feels like to fight for the healthcare and support your family needs,” said Labonte. “When I met Kate, I felt like someone was finally fighting for me. I want a government that looks out for people like that. We’re going to deliver it.”
Ron Davis, for Whitehorse West, is a small business owner. He has run his food truck, The Gravy Train, for the last 6 years.
“I really see the need for change now more than ever,” said Davis. “Our small businesses, our workers, these are the foundations of our community. Kate White and the movement she is building are committed to building a bright future for all Yukoners.”
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Media contact: 604-837-1774
Candidate bios:
Ian Angus (he/him): Ian is the Safety Officer for the Property Management division of the Yukon Government. He has worked as a professional firefighter and rescue technician and served as part of both the 56th Field Artillery Royal Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and the United States Marine Corps. He has volunteered for a number of groups including the Yukon Quest, BYTE, and the Board of Directors Northern Cultural Expression Society.
Ian has witnessed first hand the struggles small businesses in his district are facing, and knows we need to prioritize small businesses over large-corporate profits. He cares deeply about ensuring people can access affordable housing and medical and mental health programs and supports, and that families should feel secure in the Yukon. He firmly believes people need to have a voice, but more importantly, an ear willing to listen.
Ian lives in a dry cabin in Grizzly Valley. In his spare time he rebuilds canoes and is a drummer in the Midnight Son Pipe and Drum band. Ian is originally from the Delaware First Nation in Ontario and was adopted into the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. He now considers two First Nations his family.
Chris Clarke (she/her): For 35 years Chris has contributed to community development, health and public education. She has worked as an organizer, fundraiser, manager, facilitator, collaborator, producer, researcher, writer, and media maker on numerous community projects.
As a guest and a citizen in her home Klondike riding, she has come to appreciate our responsibility to acknowledge and correct the wrongs of the past and looks to and is guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and fundamentally the umbrella and final self-government agreements on how to move forward in a good way.
Chris is forward thinking, problem-solving, innovative, creative, resourceful, and action-oriented. She works with people to build and strengthen community and is genuinely interested, willing, and capable of advancing society towards a sustainable future.
Kaori Torigai (she/her): Kaori has lived in the Yukon for 22 years. Although Kaori grew up mostly in small town Saskatchewan, she has since lived overseas, on the west and east coast of Canada, and various points in between. Her education includes degrees in Environmental Science and Geology, and an advanced diploma in digital mapping and image analysis. She has worked in the public, non-profit, and private sector including mining exploration and reclamation, has owned a business, and was the driving force behind the Yukon Beer Festival until 2018. She has volunteered with community theatre groups, and loves working as an actor and costume designer. She is passionate about finding solutions to problems and working out feasible ways to make that happen. She strongly believes that with Kate’s leadership, decisions can be made to make a real and positive change for the Yukon.
Amy Labonte (she/her): Amy was born in Watson Lake. She spent her early life living in social housing, the daughter of a single mother who waited tables at night and earned a business administration degree during the day. When she was old enough, she moved to Fort Nelson, where Amy worked in a number of jobs including as a hot shot on the oil patch and as the only female cab driver in town. Amy’s son Seamus received a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis after his birth which led them both back to the Yukon.
In 2012 Amy founded Cystic Fibrosis Yukon and since has been a fierce advocate for her son as well as all Canadians living with cystic fibrosis. In the past nine years Amy has spent her time rounding up volunteers, helping her team plan fundraising events, going door to door to spread awareness, and has trekked through the Andes mountains up to Machu Picchu to raise awareness and funds to help save her son’s, and other people living with CF’s, lives.
Amy now works as an administrative assistant at Whistle Bend Place care home.
Ron Davis (he/him): Ron Davis works with GP Distributing and has run a small business food truck, The Gravy Train, for the past six years. He is a strong believer that small businesses are crucial in communities and has run numerous fundraisers for local causes through his own business.
For the past seven years he has worked with his partner Kristin as an advocate with the Community Midwifery Association, now known as the Yukon Association of Birth Choices. In the past he has also volunteered with the MLCS Marsh Lake Community Society.
Ron’s first job in the Yukon was with the Whitehorse General Hospital. Through that job he worked with the Public Service Alliance and the Yukon Federation of Labour travelling across the country to advocate for young workers.