Bert Wybrew

Albert James Wybrew[1] (1916 or 1917 – October 16, 2004) was a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Whitehorse, Yukon from 1968 to 1973.[2]

Prior to his election to the mayoralty, Wybrew was a business partner with Neil Colville in Whitehorse's cable television company, WHTV.[3] He first won the municipal election in December 1967,[4] campaigning on a platform of opposing the city's installation of parking meters.[5] However, on the basis of alleged voter irregularities, Justice John Parker overturned the election results on January 18, 1968, ordering a new by-election.[6] Wybrew won the by-election on March 14.[6]

In the 1969 election, Wybrew was returned by acclamation.[7] In 1970, Wybrew and territorial commissioner James Smith hosted the first visit to Yukon by Governor General Roland Michener and his wife Norah Michener.[8] He was reelected to a third two-year term as mayor in 1971.[9]

In 1973, governance of the city was temporarily transferred to a taxpayer advisory committee led by Joseph Oliver for part of the summer, after five of the city's six councillors resigned on July 9, 1973, in protest against a jurisdictional dispute with the Yukon Territorial Council,[10] leaving the council without a quorum to conduct city business; Smith also dismissed Wybrew as mayor during this committee governance period. Following a by-election on September 20, 1973, Wybrew returned to office and served until December.[11]

Wybrew did not run for reelection in December 1973, and was succeeded as mayor by Paul Lucier.[11] Wybrew died in Vancouver from cancer on October 16, 2004, at the age of 87, and was predeceased by his wife one month prior.[12]