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
Email
Phone
Extension
12005
Constituency Office

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

Phone

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 66)

Colleagues, Asger "Red" Pedersen was a respected leader, public servant, and former Speaker of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly passed away on May 30, 2025. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 19, 1935. He came to the Canadian Arctic in 1953 with the Hudson's Bay Company and went on to dedicate his life to the people and communities of the North.

Mr. Pedersen was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1983, representing the Kitikmeot West constituency during the 10th and 11th Assemblies. He served as a Member of the Executive Council, holding numerous portfolios...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Please be seated. Colleagues, before we get going, I'd like to welcome the students from NJ McPherson, the grade 5 glass. So we're going to be on our best behaviour, right, colleagues, for our amazing students. So welcome to our Assembly.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Colleagues, on March 16th, 2025, Reginald Bellefontaine, also known as Reg, passed away in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Reg was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, known for his boundless generosity and his knack for turning life into an adventure. A master of laughter and magic, Reg had an extraordinary ability to bring joy to those around him, whether through his memorable treasure hunts for his children and grandchildren, his quick wit, or the countless projects he took on.

Reg moved to Fort Simpson in 1996 with his wife Lois who was a nurse at the Fort Simpson Health Centre for...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 64)

Colleagues, Betty Ann was born on February 2nd, 1968, the daughter of Jo and Alice Villenueve, in Fort Simpson. She was a sister to four siblings and mother to Skyler, Steven and Cheyenne. Betty Ann spent her life in Fort Simpson, close to her family and those she grew up with.

When she was young, she was known to be close with her father Jo and a bit of a daddy's girl. Often, Jo was the only one who could get Betty Ann to do anything, and it was through him that Betty Ann learned to love dancing, as they would often be dancing and jigging together. Sometimes her brother Jo would join them. It...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 64)

I'd like to thank Suzie Napayok for the opening, guiding words. Colleagues, I'd like to draw our attention to the presence of Daryl Dolynny in the gallery, a Member of the 17th Legislative Assembly. Welcome back to our Assembly.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 63)

Please be seated. Colleagues, before we get going with my opening remarks, I would like to thank D'Arcy Jay Moses for the vest he made for me. It took a little time but I got this beautiful vest, and I can still smell the moose hide. So I greatly appreciate his work, and I thank him very much.

Today's speech is probably not what you want to hear, but it's going to happen anyway.

Good afternoon. I'd like to thank the Dene Drummers for the opening song today. Colleagues, welcome back to the House. Also, I'd like to thank elder Shirley Elias for opening this session with a prayer. Thank you.

I'm...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 63)

Colleagues, Hilary Yvonne Norwegian was born on October 22nd, 1990, to Wanda Norwegian and Harold Sanguez. She was the eldest daughter of the family. She passed away suddenly on February 12th, 2025. She grew up in Jean Marie River where she attended school and was a very happy child and a favourite among many in the community. She was living in Fort Simpson with her partner when she passed away.

I had the pleasure of knowing this young lady in the community. She always had a smile on her face and was willing to help whenever she could. I could say she was a very hard worker. She liked to do a...

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, 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...