Got a note from DN in Yellowknife that Gordon Wray died last Wednesday.
Gordon went to Canada in the 70s to work for the Hudson’s Bay Company and made his home in the Northwest Territories.
He stood for election and was was formerly a Northwest Territories MLA and cabinet minister. He was 58.
Friends are planning an evening in Yellowknife to commemorate his passing and a few Rangers related items will be placed in his local pub to mark his passing.
A news item on his passing reads:-
Yellowknife) June 19, 2009 – The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Paul Delorey, today expressed condolences to the family of the Mr. Gordon Wray, former member of the Legislative Assembly, and Member of the Executive Council, who passed away on Wednesday.
Speaker Delorey said, “On behalf of Members of this Assembly, it is with great sadness that I offer condolences to Mr. Wray’s family and loved ones. Our former colleague served as a Member of this House for eight years, during which time he proved himself an honourable Member time and again.”
Mr. Wray was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1983 in a by-election for the Keewatin North constituency. He was re-elected in the newly re-named riding of Kivallivik in the 1983 and 1987 general territorial elections.
During the 10th Legislative Assembly in 1984, Mr. Wray was appointed Minister of Public Works, Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Minister responsible for the Highway Transport Board. The next year, Mr. Wray was also named Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. He remained responsible for these departments until the election of the 11th Legislature in 1987. Mr. Wray was re-elected and was designated as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Minister of Personnel, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Highways. In addition to these positions, Mr. Wray also became a Member of the Legislative Assembly Management and Services Board. In 1988, Mr. Wray was named Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.
Mr. Wray was born in Dundee, Scotland and moved to Canada in 1970, where he worked as an employee for the Hudson’s Bay Company. He was stationed at posts throughout the north including the communities of Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Repulse Bay and Baker Lake. Before joining the territorial government Mr. Wray was the hamlet secretary and manager in Rankin Inlet, and managed several of his own businesses throughout the north. An active northern resident, Mr. Wray was a member of various boards and community organizations, including the NWT Water Board. Mr. Wray is survived by his wife Rita and children Cheryl, Scott, Fiona, Kristy and Stuart.
The flags at the Legislative Assembly building in Yellowknife will be lowered to half-mast on the day of his funeral to recognize the passing of this active community member and Northern leader.