Daniel L. Norris

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Infobox Politician Daniel L. Norris (August 30, 1935 – August 5, 2008) was the commissioner of the Northwest Territories from October 2, 1989, until September 30, 1994. Norris was born in 1935<ref>Canadian Provinces A-N, Rulers.org</ref> near Inuvik and was raised in Aklavik.<ref>New Commissioner of the North West Territories</ref> Norris died on August 5, 2008, from heart failure, a complication of his long-time struggle with diabetes.<ref name=cbc>Former N.W.T. commissioner Norris dies, CBC News 6 August 2008</ref>

Biography

Norris was born on August 30, 1935<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> near Inuvik in the Mackenzie Delta. Raised in Aklavik, Norris reportedly aspired to become a trapper like his father.<ref>The Commissioner from the delta - AMICUS: Canadian National Catalogue. Retrieved October 28, 2010.</ref> Norris served for 27 years in the Northwest Territories government's public service, including four years spent as a regional administrator in the Beaufort Delta. He began in the public sector in what was then the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, and rose within that department to become its regional superintendent of personnel.<ref name=roland>Premier Floyd K. Roland offers his Condolences on the Death of Daniel L. Norris Template:Webarchive - Government of the Northwest Territories. Retrieved October 28, 2010.</ref>

On October 2, 1989, Norris was appointed as the territory's 11th commissioner, making him the first Aboriginal born in the north of Canada to be appointed to that role.<ref name=cbc/> Between his appointment in 1989 and his leaving his role on September 30, 1994, Norris was forced to set out new protocols for the role of the Commissioner, as the position had some legislative function up until three years prior to Norris taking up the job.<ref name=cbc/>

Death

On August 5, 2008, Daniel Norris died in an Edmonton, Alberta hospital of heart failure, following a protracted struggle with diabetes. On August 7, Northwest Territories government buildings with flagpoles flew their flags at half-mast in memory of Norris, and on August 11, the day of his funeral, the same protocol was adopted.<ref name=cbc/><ref>Flag half-masting Template:Webarchive - Government of the Northwest Territories. Retrieved October 28, 2010.</ref>

References

<references/>