Former senator and the first woman to be mayor of Whitehorse, Ione Christensen, has died at the age of 91.
Christensen broke multiple glass ceilings in her decades of public service and later gained international attention for protecting a more than century-old sourdough starter carried into the territory by her great-grandfather during the gold rush.
Her death on Monday was confirmed by multiple Yukon officials, including the current mayor of Whitehorse and the premier.
A fourth-generation Yukoner, Christensen was born in Dawson Creek, B.C., and moved to Whitehorse as a teenager.
A statement from Whitehorse Mayor Kirk Cameron says Christensen beat out seven men in the 1975 election and would go on to be appointed the first female commissioner of the Yukon in 1979 and the first female senator from the territory in 1999.
Yukon Premier Mike Pemberton says in a statement that Christensen paved the way for generations of leaders to follow.
He says she was the first woman in the Yukon named a justice of the peace and the first woman appointed a judge in the juvenile court.
“Beyond her public service, Ione was a cherished part of Yukon life, known for her warmth, her dedication to community and even her family’s sourdough tradition. The starter her great-grandfather brought north during the Klondike gold rush in 1896 has been kept alive through generations and is now preserved in the International Sourdough Library — a fitting symbol of her enduring legacy,” he said.
“Over her long life, Ione broke barriers in politics, law and public service. She opened doors, inspired countless Yukoners and showed the power of kindness, hard work and courage. The Yukon is stronger because of her.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2025
Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press
