My name is Rylund Johnson.

I’m humbled by the opportunity to represent my home, Yellowknife North, in the 19th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. 

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The story of how I got here is similar to a lot of people who put down roots in our community: I came up after getting my law degree at the University of Victoria for a four month contract. I never left — and I’ve never loved a place so much. 

Since then, I’ve practiced law in Yellowknife for the federal Crown Prosecutor, Dragon-Toner, and the territorial government’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Then in 2019, I started making my living as a tourism operator and dove into my passion for building things as a co-founder of YK Makerspace until my election.

I believe in giving back to our community. I’ve volunteered as Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Aboriginal Law Section – NWT, and Vice Chair of the organization’s public lawyers’ section, and you may recognize me as last summer’s Folk on the Rocks ticketing manager. 

In my downtime, I like to make podcasts, direct Dead North films, and sail on the big lake as much as I can. 

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In the summertime, my partner Kristel and I can often be found sipping coffee on the rooftop deck of my houseboat — the Scandimaniac.