Yolanda Burkhard

Yolanda Burkhard, née Giacometto (October 27, 1930 – March 31, 1998) was a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Dawson City, Yukon from 1976 to 1978.[1] She was the first woman ever elected mayor of the community;[2] Ione Christensen was elected as the first woman mayor of Whitehorse on the same day.[2]

Born in Switzerland,[1] she was raised there until the death of her father, and then travelled to Dawson City with her mother on what was initially planned as a visit to a family friend.[1] The family ended up settling in the town, where she married Frank Burkhard in 1951.[1] In the 1960s and 1970s, she worked as the city clerk for Dawson City's municipal government, until being dismissed from her position by then-mayor Colin Mayes in 1975.[1] She subsequently worked as a bookkeeper for the local museum,[3] and successfully challenged Mayes in the 1976 municipal election.[1]

In 1977, she took a trip to Bendigo, Victoria, Dawson City's twin town in Australia, to attend the Australian National Gold-Panning Championship.[3]

She stepped down as mayor in 1978, moving to Whitehorse and taking a job with the mining recorder's office,[1] and was succeeded as mayor by Vi Campbell.

She died on March 31, 1998 in Whitehorse.[1] Following her death, MLA Peter Jenkins gave a tribute speech in the Legislative Assembly of Yukon on April 2.[1]