Florence Margaret Demeule

January 14, 1950 - August 9, 2022

Funeral Services for the late Margaret Demeule will be announced once finalized.

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Elaine Keenan Bengts 

October 3, 1958 - August 8, 2022

Elaine Keenan Bengts died at home in Yellowknife Monday after a valiant battle with cancer. Among those grieving her loss is her husband Peter, Amanda (and Corey) Appelt, Lauren Bengts (and Tyler Andrews), Stacie (and Devon) Stocker, 6 grandchildren, and her siblings, Vaughn (and Hilda) Keenan, Leanne (and Glenn) Tait, and Rena (and Mike) Buhler. She is predeceased by her parents Jeanne (Boulanger) Keenan and John (Jack) Keenan.

Elaine was born on October 3, 1958, in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. She grew up in Sherwood Park, Alberta. In 1969, Elaine’s family moved to Yellowknife, NWT, “for two years”. She went on to spend 50 years of her life in Yellowknife growing up, raising a family, practicing law, and contributing to community.

Inspired by her dad, Elaine earned her law degree from the University of Alberta, and was called to the NWT bar in 1983, and, after articling and practicing with a local law firm, opened her own practice. In her law practice, she was ferocious. Once having taken up the cause of a client, she fought for them strenuously. She was stubborn, direct, incredibly hard working, often spending long and arduous hours preparing for court examinations and motions. She was fearless in court, standing firm for her clients even when challenged by judge or opposing counsel. She was known as a bulldog and her representation for standing up and fighting for her clients.

Fighting for the right thing was also a hallmark of her long tenure as the NWT and Nunavut Information and Privacy Commissioner. She served more than two decades as the NWT’s Privacy Commissioner and strongly believed that our democracy depended on the vigilant protection of privacy rights and the accountability of public institutions.

Elaine was active in various committees of the Law Society of the NWT, as well as the Canadian Bar Association. For a time, she represented the NWT on the Family Law practice committee of the CBA and chaired the CBA Women’s Law committee. She was nationally respected for her work and her commitment to the profession and the people she served. She was recognized with the CBA’s Doug Miller Award for her contributions to the Canadian Bar Association.

Elaine’s grit and determination were not limited to her professional life. She was active in the leadership of northern sport including as a board member of Sport North, dignitary for the Arctic Winter Games, and involved with Volleyball NWT. In her younger years she played slow pitch with the Legal Eagles.

But her most significant contribution, by her own telling, was the work she did as a parent volunteer, board member, and then President of the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club. Through her leadership the Gymnastics Club raised funds to build the gymnastics facility in the Multiplex. Elaine’s fundraising efforts included leading a group of four families in pledging their homes as security against the gym’s mortgage – without which the gym could not have been built.

Elaine also served as a member of the board of the Yellowknife Community Foundation from 2018 to 2022.

As a mother of three girls, Amanda, Lauren and Stacie, Elaine had her hands full at home as well. She lived vicariously through her girls. Their successes were her successes. And she was always there to provide love and counsel when they needed it. Her girls gave her 6 grandchildren – with a 7th on the way -- who became the sunshine in her late years: Araya, Paisley and Oakley (Amanda), Jaxon, William and Sadie (Lauren).

Elaine retired in 2021 and had been looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren and at her summer home in PEI.

Elaine succumbed to cancer on August 8, 2022.

A memorial service will be held at St. Joseph School gymnasium on Saturday August 13 a 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Yellowknife Community Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.

Send messages of condolences to the family at messages@mckennafuneral.com

Thomas Richard Williams

February 12, 1962 - August 6, 2022

A husband, a father, a daduk, a brother, a friend, a leader, and a coach passed peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 4:00am at the age of 60.

Tom was a proud Métis born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories on February 12,1962 to Ron and Agnes Williams (nee Mercredi): the youngest son/second youngest of 6 siblings.

The Williams family moved throughout the north living in various communities up and down the Mackenzie Valley. Tom would proudly say that he learned to walk in the muddy streets of Aklavik in his rubber boots.

Tom was a man of many hats, who always stood by his morals and integrity, to help make the north a better place for all the people. Aside from serving 50 years in the crease, Tom served roughly 29 years with the Government of the Northwest Territories (14 years as a Deputy Minister), 8 years with the Gwich'in Tribal Council, and 2 years as a private consultant.

Tom loved his family. He was a family man that had a heart of gold. In 1986, on advice from his father Ron, Tom went to Inuvik on a job interview with the Dept. Personnel (at the time) and landed the job. After settling into Inuvik, Tom quickly created many memories with lifelong friends and continued his passion for hockey and coaching.

Tom met Pamela in Inuvik in 1989 and they married the following year 1990 along with the birth of Aurora Bernadette in July.  That same year in August Tom, Pam, and Aurora then moved to Fort Simpson; where James Thomas Ronald was born Christmas Eve 1991.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Pamela; Children: Aurora Kotokak (Byron), and James Williams (Linna); seven Grandchildren: Jacob, Zachary, Tristan, Peyton, Tommie Kotokak, and Jimmy & Jane Williams; Aunty Jane & Dragon Family; Siblings: Ronnie, Jack (Paivi), David (Grace), Susan Vodnoski (Joe), Andrea McInnes, and Jack Bellamy; numerous in-laws, and nieces & nephews.

Tom joins his parents Ron and Agnes Williams, and sister Betty Jane Bellamy.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 @ 1:00pm at the St. Patrick Co-Cathedral Parish, with the burial at the Lakeview Cemetery to follow. Reception at the Elks Lodge 314 at 3:00pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kids Sport, or to your local community minor hockey association.

Christopher Brightman

December 3, 1949 - July 14, 2022

The late Christopher Brightman's burial took place on Friday, August 5th, 2022 at Lakeview Cemetery, Yellowknife. 

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George J. Mantla

November 12, 1964 - August 2, 2022

The late George Mantla will be returning to Behchoko for a Funeral Service and Burial at a date to be determined.

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Edward Kevin Jonas McLeod

April 18, 1998 - July 29, 2022

Funeral Services for the late Edward McLeod will be announced when finalized.

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Jamie Landry

December 28, 1982 - July 30, 2022

A Visitation for the late Jamie Landry will take place at the McKenna Funeral Home August 1st from 11:00am - 2:30pm.

Funeral services will be announced once finalized.

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Edward Erasmus

July 17, 1952 - July 29, 2022

Visitation for the late Edward Erasmus will take place at the McKenna Funeral Home on Monday August 1, 2022 from 3:00 - 6:00pm.

The late Edward Erasmus will be returning for prayers to St. Michaels Catholic Church in Behchoko on Tuesday August 2nd.  

Funeral Mass will take place on August 3rd, 2022 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Behchoko with burial to follow in the Behchoko Cemetery

Send messages of condolences to the family at messages@mckennafuneral.com