Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this eulogy is to commemorate the life of the late Evelyn Krutko. Evelyn was born and raised in Fort McPherson to her parents, Mike and Effie Krutko, who had both passed on several years ago. Evelyn has four older sisters - Patsy, Shirley, Joan, Edna - and two living brothers - David and Bruce - one brother Gordie who passed away at a young age.
Evelyn attended Lethbridge College school of applied arts and science taking renewable resource management of which she graduated in 1979. She worked for the GNWT Department of Renewable Resources as a renewable resource officer up in Inuvik where she met her future husband Al Larocque.
Upon the opening of the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary near Fort Providence, the department opened a wildlife office in the community, and Evelyn was hired as a renewable resource officer to run the office. Evelyn, along with her husband Al, and two really young children, Alaina and Mike, moved to Fort Providence in 1984. They were welcomed and embraced by the whole community.
Evelyn was a wildlife officer in a male-dominated profession at the time. ENR has confirmed that she was a trailblazer for women in this field. The hunters and trappers watched her every move to see if she would falter. Evelyn did her job with keen interest and was not afraid to tackle the coldest temperatures in order to do her job. She was spending nights and days out on the land, including at Horne Plateau, on caribou hunts, and ventured out into the bison sanctuary. Evelyn gained the respect of the hunters and trappers for what she could do, and she bought many furs from them on behalf of the department. Evelyn retired from the department in 2011 after serving 32 years in ENR.
Evelyn also became a second mother to many of the young hockey players that she and her husband Al gathered up to start minor hockey in Fort Providence. It was fitting as their son Mike was at the age to play hockey. Kyle was very young and took up hockey when he was of age.
Evelyn organized fundraisers and tournaments with the help of the parents of the players. They proved to be very successful as a young team which later became a winning adult team as the Providence Bolts. Their family has bragging rights to fame in the name of Jordin Tootoo. Jordin was picked up at the peewee age to play with Fort Providence and lived with Al, Evelyn, and their family and played hockey in Fort Providence. Jordin was from Rankin Inlet in Nunavut. Eventually the team entered and played at the Alberta Native Provincial Championships in Edmonton about 1996-1997, and this was where Jordin was scouted and picked up by the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings, and the rest was history in the making.
Evelyn was very much part of our community, having served several terms as a hamlet councillor, and was still a sitting councillor at the time of her passing. She also served on the local friendship centre board for numerous years and the native women's associations. She also volunteered her services to many functions and events, especially her service to the elders of our community.
Evelyn is deeply missed by our community, by the community of Fort McPherson, and many friends and family she leaves behind. To her husband Al, children - Alaina, Mike, Kyle, and her four grandchildren - Phoenix, Avery, Findley, Merrick - your wife, your mom, your grandmother has left for the Spirit World and has been accepted by the Creator. As the Dene elders will say, she is now on the happy hunting grounds and with our ancestors. We extend our sincerest heartfelt condolences to the family of Evelyn Krutko. Mahsi.
