Ken Sylvestre Inducted Into the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame

Sport Yukon has inducted Ken Sylvestre into the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame. The induction happened as part of the celebration of life for Sylvestre held on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.

Sylvestre was a cornerstone of the Yukon sport community. He was a founding organizer of the Yukon River Trail Marathon (YRTM) and a long-time volunteer board member and organizer of the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay (KCIBR).

A born-and-raised Yukoner, Sylvestre’s love of the outdoors was well known, and fed his passion and involvement in outdoor sport. He believed in serving his community and in sharing his excitement for outdoor sport. 

In addition to his major roles with both the YRTM and the KCIBR, he was a dedicated volunteer who gave his time to the Yukon Soccer Association, the Klondike Road Relay, and more.

In his professional life, Sylvestre was a talented systems expert, which he applied to sport as the Vice-President of Information Technology for the 2007 Canada Winter Games and Assistant Director of Communications and Information Technology for the 2000 Arctic Winter Games.

He lent that same expertise to the KCIBR and to the Klondike Road Relay, serving for 20 years as the former’s database expert and Chief of Results, and helping both events develop and implement new registration and timing systems.

Sylvestre died suddenly and unexpectedly in December of 2022. His celebration of life was a testament to a life of building community. He is remembered as a warm and intelligent colleague, a friend with a keen sense of humour, an inspiring leader and volunteer in the sport community, and a much loved friend, husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed.

This year’s Yukon River Trail Marathon, dedicated to Ken’s memory, will occur on August 6, 2023. The Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay runs June 17, 2023.