Penikett, Tony

The son of a doctor and amateur actor, Tony Penikett began his career as a screenwriter, with two television movies to his credit. But a stint as a mineworker near his childhood home of Dawson City, Yukon, led to union politics and then running a federal campaign in the Northwest Territories.

He was eventually elected five times to the Yukon Legislature, twice as leader of the New Democratic Party that he brought to power from the political wilderness. Those governments set new standards for openness, sustainable economic development, human rights and successful aboriginal treaty-making. <...