Dr. Brent Slobodin, a dedicated husband, loving father, an historian, a rock and roll fanatic, and a community builder passed from sudden renal failure on April 15, 2019, at the age of 61. Brent was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, found his heart in Kingston, Ontario, and made a home in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Brent is survived by his wife, Megan (née McDonald); his sons and their partners, Conal (Quinn) and Kieran (AndreaDavidson); his siblings, Belinda Benn, Debra Wickham (Dean), and Darrell Slobodin (Rhonda); his best friend, Piers McDonald (Ofelia Andrade); and his beloved granddaughter, Freya. He will be missed by an extended family across the country.

Brent was born on May 25, 1957.  A boisterous child, voracious reader, and intrepid young man, his passion for history and sports consumed him.  Brent earned his PhD in History and foreign policy from Queen’s University in Kingston.  There, at graduate school, he met and fell in love with Megan, who became his wife and lifelong companion.  They married on August 7, 1982.

Brent was, first and foremost, a thinker.  He loved debating politics and holding forth on history and music. He dedicated his career to advancing education, devolution, and training in the territory.  He was a champion of First Nation education and self-governance and was integral to the creation of the territory’s immigration and labour market landscape.

Everyone remembering Brent talks about how he encouraged them, in one way or another, to get involved in something grander than themselves.

Anyone who met Brent knew he cared about his community and its history.  A lifelong proponent of Yukon’s Heritage, he led efforts at all levels of government to preserve Yukon’s history and its culture.  He was a passionate community activist and worked tirelessly for affordable housing and education.  He loved and had deep care for animals, always concerned for creatures most in need. He was, after all, a hapless Habs, Jays, and Cowboys fan to the end.

Brent was most invested in his family.  If there is one accomplishment by which he would want to remembered, it would be his sons. They are his proudest legacies.  He lives on through them, and instilled in them the value of community involvement, hard work, and fatherhood.