Ione Christensen

Who is Ione Christensen?

Ione Jean Christensen, CM is a former Canadian Senator.

The daughter of former North-West Mounted Police constable Gordon Irwin Cameron, and Dawson City born Martha Ballentine Cameron, her family moved to Whitehorse in 1949. Christensen graduated from high school in 1953. She received an Associate in Arts Degree in Business Administration from the College of San Mateo in California. In 1971, she was appointed the first woman Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Juvenile Court in Yukon. In 1975, she was elected the first woman Mayor of Whitehorse. In 1979, she served as the Commissioner of the Yukon, being the first woman to be appointed as Commissioner of the Yukon.

In 1980, she ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate, in the federal election for the riding of Yukon. She lost by 101 votes to Erik Nielsen.

In 1994, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. Her father was also a member. In 1999, Christensen was appointed at the recommendation of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to the Senate.

In 1968, Christensen married Art Christensen, a geologist. They have two sons, Paul and Philip.

On December 31, 2006, Christensen resigned from the Senate to assist her ailing husband.