Friends, family and former colleagues are paying tribute to the NWT and NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渇earless and doggedSA国际影视传媒� first information and privacy commissioner.
Elaine Keenan Bengts passed away on Monday, Aug. 8, after a battle with cancer. She was 63.
SA国际影视传媒淪he was like a bulldog,SA国际影视传媒� says her sister, Leanne Tait. SA国际影视传媒淲hen she got something in her head, she pulled out all the stops to try and make it happen.SA国际影视传媒�
Born in Saskatoon, Keenan Bengts moved with her family to Yellowknife in 1969, where she would live most of the rest of her life. She began her career as a lawyer, being called to the NWT bar in 1983 and later started her own practice.
Katherine Peterson, a colleague, mentor, and occasional courtroom opponent of Keenan BengtsSA国际影视传媒檚 who practiced in Yellowknife for 33 years, remembers her as SA国际影视传媒渁 fearless and dogged representative for her clients.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淪he was not an SA国际影视传媒渆asySA国际影视传媒� opponent, she was fierce and determined. Her dedication and spirit was inspiring to so many, myself included.SA国际影视传媒�
Her tenacity shone through in her personal life too: Tait says in April, Keenan Bengts was given just weeks to live by her doctors. However, her seventh grandchild wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 due until October, and she was determined to hang on until then.
Although she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 make it, SA国际影视传媒淪he lasted a lot longer than people thought she would because she had that determination,SA国际影视传媒� says her sister.
She became the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 first privacy commissioner in 1997, when Nunavut was still part of the territory, serving in the role for more than two decades before retiring in 2020. During her tenure, the territory saw many privacy-related scandals, including multiple incidents of private medical documents accidentally being faxed to CBC, and the discovery of more private medical records at a dump in Fort Simpson. During these incidents, Keenan Bengts was in the news, shining a light on the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 privacy failures and advocating for the importance of privacy in a democracy.
However, Tait says her sisterSA国际影视传媒檚 proudest accomplishment was her work with the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club: As president of the club, she spearheaded the fundraising campaign to have a permanent home for gymnastics added to the multiplex in the early 90s. SA国际影视传媒淪he did it because her kids were involved in gymnastics, but [also] because the community needed it,SA国际影视传媒� says Tait. SA国际影视传媒淪he got SA国际影视传媒榚r done.SA国际影视传媒�
She also contributed to YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 sports community by serving several years on the board of Sport North.
Keenan Bengts didnSA国际影视传媒檛 keep many close friends, but Gail Parker-Simpson was one of them, after the two met at a Girl Scouts camp nearly 50 years ago. SA国际影视传媒淪he was a loyal friend, a true friend,SA国际影视传媒� says Parker-Simpson.
Over the course of their friendship, the two were present for many milestones in each others lives, from new jobs to new grandchildren. Each time they reunited after long spells apart, SA国际影视传媒淚t was like we had never left each other,SA国际影视传媒� says Parker-Simpson.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a long and storied life. She was well loved, and she will be well missed.SA国际影视传媒�
Keenan Bengts leaves behind a husband, three children, and six grandchildren, with a seventh on the way. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph School.
