Gerry Kisoun is succeeding Margaret Thom as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday.
A notice posted to the Prime Minister’s website stated Kisoun, an Inuvialuit-Gwich’in Elder who has previously served as deputy commissioner, will serve a five-year term.
The Prime Minister’s Office called Kisoun “an active member of his community who has dedicated his career to serving the people of the Northwest Territories,” spending 25 years with the RCMP and a further 17 years with Parks Canada.
Kisoun holds Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubille Medal and the Polar Medal among other honours.
“I have no doubt that he will continue to make important contributions to the territory and be an inspiration for all Canadians,” Trudeau was quoted as saying.
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The NWT’s commissioner takes on various ceremonial roles, overseeing the assent of legislation in the territory and holding formal responsibility for a range of appointments plus the swearing-in of MLAs.
Kisoun, who becomes the NWT’s 18th commissioner, takes over after Thom served nearly seven years in the role.
From the Dehcho, Thom had been a school community counsellor, an Aurora College governor and a program officer at the Deh Gáh Got’ı̨ę First Nation before becoming commissioner in place of the outgoing George Tuccaro in 2017.
