Red Pedersen
Red Pedersen | |
|---|---|
Pedersen awarded the Order of Nunavut in 2021 | |
| Mayor of Kugluktuk | |
| In office January 1, 2014 – 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ernie Bernhardt |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Nivingalok |
| MLA for Kitikmeot West | |
| In office 1983–1991 | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Riding dissolved |
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories | |
| In office 1987–1989 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Morton Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Richard Nerysoo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 19, 1935 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | May 30, 2025 (aged 89) |
| Party | Non-partisan consensus government |
| Spouse | Lena Pedersen |
| Children | Fred Pedersen (son), Calvin Pedersen (grandson) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Branch/service | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1960–? |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Canadian Rangers: 1CRPG |
Asger Rye "Red" Pedersen CM ONu (sometimes Asgar Rye Pederson, November 19, 1935 – May 30, 2025) was a Canadian politician. In 1953, he got a job in the Canadian Arctic with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut (then the Northwest Territories).
In the following year, he was sent to Perry River (Kuugjuak) to assist Stephen Angulalik, the Ahiarmiut Inuk owner of the trading post, with he financial records, inventory and ordering, as Angulalik spoke no English. In 1957, Angulalik sold the Perry River post to the HBC and Pedersen was appointed manager. Angulalik returned to the post after resolving legal problems and worked alongside Pedersen; they became lifelong friends.
He was, at one time, married to Lena Pedersen and their grandson, Calvin Pedersen was acclaimed as MLA to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut in July 2020, representing the Kugluktuk electoral district. In the 2025 Nunavut general election their son, Fred Pedersen, was also elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut but for the Cambridge Bay electoral district.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 19, 1935, Pedersen died on May 30, 2025, in Yellowknife.