William Andersen III facts for kids

William Andersen III was born in 1948 in Okkak Bay, Labrador. He grew up to become an important leader and politician in Labrador, Canada. He is known for representing the Torngat Mountains area in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1993 to 1996.

Early Life and Community Work

William Andersen III is the son of Andrew Andersen and Christiana Lampe. He married Jan Woodford. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a wildlife officer from 1979 to 1984. This job involved protecting animals and their habitats.

Serving Nain as Mayor

Andersen also served as the mayor of Nain, a community in Labrador, from 1978 to 1984. As mayor, he helped lead the town and make decisions for its people.

Leading the Labrador Inuit Association

From 1984 to 1993, William Andersen was the president of the Labrador Inuit Association. This organization works to support and represent the Inuit people of Labrador.

Political Career in the House of Assembly

In 1993, William Andersen was elected to the provincial assembly, which is like a parliament for the province. He won his election by a very small number of votes. He served as a representative for the Torngat Mountains area until 1996.

Role in Nunatsiavut Government

Later, in December 2005, Andersen was chosen to be the first transitional president for the Nunatsiavut government in Labrador. Nunatsiavut is a special self-governing region for the Inuit people in Labrador. He took a leave of absence from this role in November 2007.