'It's a big loss for Yellowknife': Well-known resident Gail Cyr dies

Once described as a "powerful voice" for northern Indigenous communities, well-known Yellowknife resident Gail Cyr has died.

Cyr was known for her work as the former executive director of the Native Women's Association, with the N.W.T. Human Rights Commission and St. John Ambulance, and as a special adviser on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. She was also the only Indigenous member of Yellowknife's city council in the 1980s, and volunteered for numerous local organizations.

"She was a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration to a lot of people," said her long-time friend Marilyn Robak, also a former CBC North producer.

"She was a strong-willed woman, but she had a huge, huge heart. She volunteered so much in the community."

Robak last visited Cyr in hospital on Monday. Cyr's son Jesse Wheeler posted on social media about his mother's death on Tuesday, saying she was just shy of her 72nd birthday.

"It's a big loss for Yellowknife," Robak said.

Named to Order of Canada

Cyr was named to the Order of Canada in 2021. In the biography, she was called a "powerful voice for Indigenous communities in Canada's North." At the time, she said one of her proudest accomplishments was establishing the N.W.T. Native Court Workers Association, which hired and trained Indigenous people from communities to help those dealing with legal issues.

Robak says Cyr spoke up for people, and never gave up.

"She helped people navigate through the court system. I'm sure she kept a lot of people out of jail."

Robak said Cyr was born in Manitoba and, a survivor of the '60s Scoop, she and her siblings ended up in the foster system. Robak said Cyr saw a lot of racism and sexism but didn't let it faze her. 

"She believed strongly in the importance and the strength of Indigenous people and women. And she fought for them and didn't hesitate for a moment to step out and stick her neck out and say this is wrong," Robak said.

'The costume lady'

Cyr also dedicated a lot of time to the arts community in Yellowknife, acting on stage at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) and sewing costumes.

Retired music teacher Bill Gilday knew Cyr for about 40 years, including when he directed musicals at NACC.

"She was like the costume lady. She was known for her good work on doing costumes." 

Cyr helped make the wedding dress for his daughter and Juno-winning singer Leela Gilday.

Bill Gilday said she was as close to a professional costume maker as anyone in major theatre companies. She worked on shows like My Fair Lady and Fiddler on the Roof. He said it was a passion for Cyr, who spent months making costumes.

"She'll be remembered fondly by a lot of people in the theatre community and her commitment to being involved with shows."

Robak said Cyr loved dressing up, too. "That was her fun."

"One of the things that amazed me about her was, despite all the hardship that she had in her life, she wanted to be happy. She wanted to find joy in life and have fun," Robak said.

"She did a great job at doing that. She just brought so much life to people's lives."