Shane Thompson

Member Nahendeh

Speaker

Shane Thompson was re-elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly after serving in the 18th and 19th Assemblies representing the constituency of Nahendeh. Mr. Thompson is the Honorable Speaker of the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Thompson was first elected to the 18th Assembly in November 2015 and served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development. Mr. Thompson was also a member of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, and the Striking Committee.

Mr. Thompson was born on July 11, 1963, in Hay River. He has lived in Kugluktuk (Coppermine), Inuvik, Hay River, and in Edmonton, while at the University of Alberta. Fort Simpson has been his home since 1992.

Mr. Thompson previously served two terms (three years each) as an elected official with the Fort Simpson District Education Authority, spending the last four years as the chairperson. Over the past 35 years, he has served on various community and territorial boards.

Mr. Thompson was employed as the Senior Sport and Recreation Coordinator with Municipal and Community Affairs (GNWT) in the Deh Cho region before being elected as a Member.

Mr. Thompson completed the Community Recreation Leaders Program at Arctic College in 1989 and is currently working on a Masters Certificate on Evaluation at the University of Victoria and Carleton University. He also completed three years towards an Education degree at the University of Alberta.

Mr. Thompson is an active volunteer with Northern Youth Aboard, CBET and Fundamental Movement, and HIGH FIVE®. As well, he is a past member of the Sport North Federation Board, NWT Softball and of NWTRPA, and the past president of Seven Spruce Golf Course.

Mr. Thompson is the father of seven children - five daughters and two sons – and has nine grandchildren.

He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1991.

Nahendeh Electoral District

Committees

Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Constituency Office

9706-100th Street
Fort Simpson NT X0E 0N0
Canada

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Colleagues, it is that time of year where I get to celebrate the grade 12 graduation of students from Liidlii Kue Regional High School in Fort Simpson and Echo Dene School in Fort Liard. It is a time we get honour not just the academic achievements of these remarkable young individuals but also the resilience and determination they have demonstrated throughout their educational journeys. This milestone marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and personal growth, and it is a momentous occasion for the entire community.

Graduation is more than just a ceremony; it is a rite of...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 61)

Colleagues, you just heard me give a statement about a friend of mine. He's up here in the -- sorry, I'm getting a little emotional here. I'd like to recognize Colin MacPherson as well as my friends and colleagues Damon Crosmann, Alicia Korol, Alison Brown, Conan Donahue, as well as the deputy minister Gary Brennan and, you know, my former MSA but he was also the executive director of the recreation and parks. Welcome to our Assembly.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Hay River South.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 61)

Colleagues, today, I would like to recognize an individual that received the Life Member Award (formerly called the Honorary Life Member) from the NWTRPA this past October. This award is not something given out annually but recognizes a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the recreation and parks field, who has significantly served the NWT Recreation and Parks, and is nearing or has reached the end of their career in the recreation and parks field. This past October, it was given to Colin MacPherson.

I have had the pleasure of working with him when he took the recreation...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Colleagues, this past December, I had the opportunity to chat with Jonathan Antoine about his recent trip to Los Angeles. He explained that they were able to announce the debut of the short documentary Hunting in the Deh Cho, directed by himself at the prestigious LA Skins Film Festival on November 24th at 12 p.m. This significant event took place at the iconic Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

He explained that this remarkable experience would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of the festival organizers, and sincere gratitude is owed to them for selecting this...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Please be seated. Thank you, colleagues. Before we start, I'd like to recognize a very important person to this 19th Assembly, Ms. Caroline Cochrane; Rory, the other half of, so. So Shalene Woodward, Meredith Wilson -- okay, I am going to try this again -- Angela Gzowski and her partner Jeremy Bird. I would like to thank you very much for being here today and giving me the honour to recognize you. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 59)

Colleagues, Fort Simpson is fortunate to have participants in sports programs step up and new coaches developing athletes. These youth are stepping up, volunteering their time, and giving back to younger kids so they can learn new motor skills, have opportunities, build relationship skills, and travel. They are great role models for the younger generation as they are leaders and supports for these athletes. They prepare coaching plans, run practices, give feedback, fundraise, organize travel and accommodation, enter competitions, and spend hours supporting the kids they coach. They exemplify...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 59)

Thank you. Please be seated. I'd like to thank Mary Jane Cazon for the opening prayer and reflection.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 57)

Thank you very much, George Suluk, for opening guiding words.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 57)

Colleagues, on May 1st I had the opportunity to preside over the 2025 Youth Parliament. I have to say it was a great to witness these young people be MLAs. Today, I have the pleasure of sharing the Member from the Nahendeh, Payton Bennet, statement.

I am speaking to you today about the inadequacies I have seen regarding facilities, access to training, and insufficient space in our smaller communities compared to the bigger centers like Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, and Fort Smith.

Today I'm speaking for youth athletes. I've done a variety of sports that are available throughout the different...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 56)

Colleagues, Dr. Earl Leslie Covert passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the age of 86 years. His family, while spread across Canada, has grown to include 13 great-grandchildren who are all under the age of nine years old. While these are the blood relations he left behind, there are dozens of people and families who called him a father, a grandfather, and a friend. He was predeceased by his first wife, Audrey, in 2016.

Doctor Covert was born on June 21st, 1938, in Ottawa, graduating Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, and moved...