The Importance of Representation
Lead As You Are Panel
Join this panel to hear these leaders' perspectives on Representation in Politics & what it means to them and their community.
Meet the Speakers
Jocelyn Curteanu
Councilor, City of Whitehorse
Jocelyn Curteanu has proudly served on Whitehorse City Council since first elected as a City
Councilor in October 2012. She was re-elected in 2021 and is now serving her fourth term.
Jocelyn originally immigrated from the Philippines in 1976. She has lived and worked in British
Columbia, Yukon, and Alberta before finally settling in Whitehorse, YT with her husband and
four children in 2011. She has been employed with the Government of Canada for the past 25
years and currently works with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Being active in the community is a priority for Jocelyn. She is a member of the Whitehorse
Regional Women’s Committee, PSAC’s Racially Visible Committee, the Canadian Filipino
Association of Yukon, and the Yukon Territorial Director for PSAC North Regional Council. She
was also a former member of the Yukon University Board of Governors, Yukon Cultures Connect
and the Yukon Area Council.
In her role as City Councilor, Jocelyn has been the Council’s representative on the City’s
Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CCMARD) Advisory
Committee and the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee (PDAC). Furthermore, she had
served on the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Education, Scientific, & Cultural
Organization's (CCUNESCO) CCMARD Advisory Committee in Ottawa.
In 2013, Jocelyn was honored with a Maharlika Award by the Filipino Canadian Cultural
Heritage Society, which recognizes outstanding men and women in the Canadian Filipino
community for their contributions in various areas like Leadership, Arts & Culture, and Business
Excellence.
Emily Tredger
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Emily (she/her) grew up in the Yukon and is proud to call it home. Emily studied neuroscience at Dalhousie University and then speech-language pathology at McGill University. She then worked for years with young children and their families as a speech-language pathologist, first in B.C. and then in the Yukon at the Child Development Centre. Mostly recently prior to being elected MLA, Emily held the role of executive director at Teegatha’Oh Zheh which supports Yukon residents with developmental disabilities and was President of Queer Yukon Society.
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In her spare time, she plays hockey, makes music and films, and hangs out with her dog Griffon. Emily knows that as a territory, we can do even better for people. She’s excited to be taking her experience fighting for people to the legislature.
Yvonne Clarke
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Yvonne Clarke is a proud parent, entrepreneur, and dedicated member of the Yukon-Filipina community and was elected in the 2021 Territorial Election to represent the growing riding of Porter Creek Centre.
Having moved to the Yukon nearly three decades ago, her wide-ranging professional background spans from public service to small business ownership and to extensive volunteer roles. A multi-lingual mother of three adult children, she wants to use her experience in areas relating to poverty, education, health, human rights, the economy and violence against women to give back to the territory.
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Her experience includes serving over 12 years as a board member of the Yukon Learn Society, helping adults improve their literacy, numeracy and computer skills, and as a former board member of the Yukon Public Legal Education Association, co-authoring the third edition of “Splitting Up,” a resource for women involved in family breakdowns.
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Clarke also currently serves as the Chair of the Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues, advancing the legal, social and economic equality of Yukon women, and sits as a Yukon representative on the RCMP Commissioner’s Diversity Advisory Committee.
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Of all her many roles in the community, she is perhaps best recognized for her leadership with the Canadian-Filipino Society of the Yukon, serving many years as president and providing advice and guidance on integrating immigrants into mainstream Canadian culture.
Mellisa Murray
Councilor, City of Whitehorse
Mellisa Murray is a 2nd generation Chinese Canadian, born and raised Yukoner, a mother of two young boys and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from York University in Toronto, ON. Mellisa has over 15 years of experience working with non-profit organizations as a Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Project Manager and Instructor, and is heavily involved in the local arts community. She was a member of the Yukon Arts Advisory Council and actively produces and creates in the community. Mellisa is in her first year at Yukon University in the Indigenous Governance program and applies everything she learns from the program to everyday life. She is the Project Manager at Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce and a newly elected Council Member at the City of Whitehorse. She hopes to make a positive change in her community and help advocate for Yukon First Nation Businesses.