Caroline Cochrane (formerly Caroline Cochrane-Johnson; born December 5, 1960) is a former Canadian politician, who served as the 13th premier of the Northwest Territories, from 2019 to 2023.[1] She is the second female premier of the Northwest Territories after Nellie Cournoyea, who served from 1991 to 1995.[2]

Caroline Cochrane
13th Premier of the Northwest Territories
In office
October 24, 2019 – December 8, 2023
DeputyDiane Archie
CommissionerMargaret Thom
Preceded byBob McLeod
Succeeded byR. J. Simpson
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
In office
November 23, 2015 – November 14, 2023
Preceded byDaryl Dolynny
Succeeded byKieron Testart
ConstituencyRange Lake
Personal details
Born (1960-12-05) December 5, 1960 (age 63)
Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyIndependent
Residence(s)Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Early life and career

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Cochrane was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, in 1960 and moved with her family to Yellowknife in 1963, where she grew up. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University College of the Cariboo (now known as Thompson Rivers University or TRU) in Kamloops, British Columbia, in 1999.[3][4] In 2023 Cochrane was recognized as a distinguished alumni at TRU and was awarded for her public service.[5] She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2015 election,[6] representing the electoral district of Range Lake.

Prior to her election to the legislature, Cochrane was CEO of the Centre for Northern Families, a social-service agency administered by the Yellowknife Women's Society in Yellowknife.[7]

In October 2019, Cochrane defeated three other candidates after three rounds of secret-ballot votes and was elected Premier of the Northwest Territories.[8]

Following one term as premier and two terms as MLA, Cochrane announced her retirement from politics in September 2023 and announced that she would not seek re-election in the 2023 Northwest Territories general election.[9]

References

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  1. ^ John Last and Sidney Cohen, "Caroline Cochrane elected premier of the N.W.T.". CBC North, October 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "Legislators pick Caroline Cochrane as new premier of the Northwest Territories". Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "Caroline Cochrane | the Canadian Encyclopedia".
  4. ^ "Caroline Cochrane". NNSL News. September 11, 2019. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  5. ^ www.tru.ca, Thompson Rivers University. "Caroline Cochrane". Thompson Rivers University - Alumni. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "N.W.T. votes 2015 | Yellowknifers opt for change". CBC North, November 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Caroline Cochrane-Johnson and Daryl Dolynny: A political rookie takes on the incumbent in this western Yellowknife riding". CBC North, November 8, 2015.
  8. ^ Maloney, Ryan (October 24, 2019). "New N.W.T. Premier Chosen Under Territory's 'Consensus' System". HuffPost. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  9. ^ https://x.com/ccochrane_nwt/status/1707515569715446171?s=46&t=9djKJBBlL73ZRHqi-HiBJQ