Jake Kennedy
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 25/02) - Wilma Finlayson was a familiar face around Yellowknife from the time she moved here in 1951 to run Sutherland's Drugs with her husband and family.

Wilma Finlayson, a prominent Yellowknifer and wife of former Sutherland's Drugs owner Doug Finlayson, died earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Peter Dunn

"She was the one who always cleaned up when everybody else made a mess," said son Wallace, who is now a partner in the store.

Finlayson died Sept. 13 at Saanich Peninsula Hospital in Sidney, B.C. She was 81 years old.

Wallace said his mother did the store's book-keeping in the early days, and later worked on the floor on a daily basis. Finlayson was active in decisions at the store until about 1997, Wallace said.

Always smiling

She will be remembered as a friendly woman who always had a smile on her face.

"She was a good friend to everybody, always found good in people. She was generous and warm-hearted," Wallace said.

Doug Finlayson, Wilma's husband, was an employee at Sutherland's Drugs in Fort McMurray when he was asked if he would like to move to Yellowknife to manage two stores.

At the time, Sutherland's also had a store in Old Town. The current store was built in 1956.

The family ran both stores for about eight years, until fire destroyed the Old Town building.

Wallace became a manager at the store after his father died in 1975.

He said his mother always enjoyed living in Yellowknife.

"She loved it. Yellowknife was always home to her," he said.

"She enjoyed the people. Especially in the early days, how everyone helped each other out and the pioneering spirit, that was the main attraction for her."

Finlayson grew up on a family farm in Southey, Sask., about 100 kilometres southeast of Regina, with nine brothers and five sisters. She passed the summers fishing at Trophy Lodge, which she and Doug owned.

"She never missed a summer since we opened the lodge in 1965," Wallace said.

"She out-fished me this last summer. We went fishing one day and she caught about eight to my three. She liked that."

Finlayson's winters were spent curling -- a sport at which she excelled, her son said. She represented the Northwest Territories at three national competitions in the senior ladies division and was on numerous NWT ladies teams.

He said his mother enjoyed the strategy and competition, but above all liked the camaraderie and social atmosphere.

Wallace said he will remember his mother for her warm heart, and warm laugh.

"She had a very infectious laugh. She was quite a funny lady, very quick."

Although a date has not yet been set, Wallace said a memorial service will be held in Yellowknife for Finlayson in late October.