Mr. and Mrs. Yukon 2016 have a long history with Sourdough Rendezvous

Thirty-four years ago, Sam and Kelly Johnston met at a Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous dance.

This year, the couple have been named Mr. and Mrs. Yukon as part of the annual festival.

Kelly was working at a hotel in Teslin in 1982 when Sam, who was chief of the Teslin Tlingit Council at the time, asked her if she was going to a Rendezvous fundraising dance that night. 

"I said no," Kelly explained. "And he said 'OK, I'll pick you up at nine.' So it kind of started from there."

Mr. and Mrs. Yukon act as ambassadors for the Yukon, says Ron Swizdaryk with the Yukon Order of Pioneers, the group responsible for bestowing the title each year.

"We look for people who have contributed to the Yukon." 

Sam was the first First Nation person to serve as a legislative speaker in Canada and was also a competitive archer. Swizdaryk says Kelly contributed to Yukon through her literacy work. 

Throughout the coming year, Mr. and Mrs. Yukon will participate in community parades and events including the Commissioner's Tea in Dawson City. 

'Our Rendezvous was at the dog track'

For Sam, Rendezvous is a family affair. His parents, David and Rosie Johnston, were Mr. and Mrs. Yukon in 1974 and he participated in his first festival many years earlier. 

"I pretty well attended all the Rendezvous," Sam said. 

Sam started going to Rendezvous as a dog musher.

This year, since they aren't tied up with dog activities, the couple are taking in some of the other Rendezvous events, such as the Queen's Tea and lunch. 

"Finally, in 34 years, I got to do some queen stuff," said Kelly. "Our Rendezvous was at the dog track." 

Sam and Kelly will also be taking in many kids events with their 10 grandchildren.