On Friday, December 11, the Speaker of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, on the recommendation of the Board of Management, appointed Brenda Gauthier to act as the Official Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

The Official Languages Commissioner is legislated by the Official Languages Act. The position’s duties detailed in the Act include ensuring recognition of the rights, status and privileges of each of the Official Languages and to investigate allegations of non-compliance of these rights and privileges.

Effective January 11, 2021, Ms. Brenda Gauthier will fill the vacancy left by the previous Official Language Commissioner. Ms. Gauthier will be relocating the Office of the Official Languages Commissioner from Yellowknife to her home community of Fort Smith, NT. Ms. Gauthier brings over 20 years of management experience to the Office in the fields of justice and intergovernmental relations. With strategic leadership a unifying thread throughout her career, she plans to engage and collaborate with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and residents on promoting awareness of the Official Languages Act and the services her office will provide to the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Requests and complaints may continue to be sent by email to admin@olc-nt.ca and will be passed onto the Commissioner for her attention when she takes office.