June 12, 1948 - September 29, 2020
John was born and raised in North York. He left Ontario as young man in 1970.
John first worked at Quill Creek/Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting; an underground silver mine. From 1973 to 1976 he worked at United Keno Hill mine; a galena/silver, lead, and copper underground mine. John lived in Keno and worked in Elsa.
Although he mainly worked construction once he'd moved to Dawson City; his favourite job was running the Recreation Centre with a crew of kids he called his Rink Rats. Dad loved those kids and he loved that centre.
He was a part of the team that broke the Yukon Quest trail from 1985-1989. He was a Yukon Ranger. John was an amazing father figure to his granddaughter and the many girls who spent time at his daughter's home. He built snow horses and forts, arranged regular movie nights and always made sure there was take out dinner for eight.
He worked for Yukon River Timber and spent his last years in the Yukon in the bush outside Whitehorse. Unfortunately due to his health he was unable to maintain that life he loved so much. John went to live with his daughter, Gwendolen Wain, in the terribly civilized Okanagan in 2014. He accompanied her through all her adventures and passed away peacefully in Saint John, New Brunswick.
My Dad started every story with "when I was a young man and my long hair blew behind me in the wind"
We all get one more story - "When I was a young man and my long hair blew behind me in the wind, Mike Bailey had built some skis from barrel staves with snow shoe bindings. I decided to try them out with the dogs. I went barrel stave skiing but forget the neckline. One dog went to the restaurant. One dog went to the bar. I was like a whirling dervish in downtown Keno"
When I asked why he couldn't just try them out with one dog or no dogs he replied "what's the fun in that".
He had a message for anyone who would miss him.
"I'm running dogs under a full moon in husky heaven"
JW will be remembered and missed by kith and kin across Canada including Elsie Wain, Meredith Griffin-Wain, and Linda McArthur.