Jim Lyall
- May 13, 2022
- 76 years
About Jim Lyall
Jim Lyall, 76–77, Canadian politician, president of Nunatsiavut (2008–2012).
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Full Biography
|Jim Lyall (1945 – 13 May 2022) was a Canadian politician and Inuk advocate who served as the first President of Nunatsiavut.
Life
Lyall was born to Samuel Lyall and Isabella Lyall (née Metcalfe) in Nutak, a community in northern Labrador that was controversially resettled alongside Hebron in the 1950s. Following the resettlement of Nutak, Lyall's family moved to Nain. He served as the mayor of Nain as well as the town's postmaster.
Lyall was educated at the residential schools in Nain and North West River and also completed high school in St. John's. He worked for government-run stores in Labrador after completing his education.
Nunatsiavut
Lyall served as the executive director of Labrador Inuit Association from 1977 to 1981 and again from 2002 until Nunatsiavut's creation in 2005.
In 2008, Nunatsiavut held its first presidential election nearly 2 years after its first general election. Lyall defeated Natan Obed and Johannes Lampe for the position.
In 2011, Lyall oversaw the return of the remains of Inuit bodies from St. John's to Nunatsiavut. These bodies were excavated from Rose Island and Upernavik Island and brought to Newfoundland in the 1970s.
Lyall did not seek re-election in 2012 and was succeeded by Sarah Leo.
In 2017, Lyall was acclaimed Ordinary Member for Nain in a by-election. He was defeated in the 2022 election, coming in third behind Anthony Andersen and Roxanne Barbour.
Lyall died on May 13, 2022, days after his election defeat. He died only a few hours after his wife Jean.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Lyall_(politician)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jim Lyall's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date did Jim Lyall die?
- A.1 May 2008
- B.13 May 2017
- C.13 May 2022correct
- D.25 December 2022
Jim Lyall passed away on May 13, 2022, only a few hours after his wife Jean.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
2.Who were Jim Lyall's parents?
- A.Sarah and Johannes Leo
- B.Anthony and Isabella Andersen
- C.Samuel and Isabella Lyallcorrect
- D.Natan and Jean Obed
Jim Lyall was born to parents named Samuel Lyall and Isabella Lyall, who was born Isabella Metcalfe.
Source: Life section
3.After the resettlement of his birthplace, to which town did Jim Lyall's family move?
- A.Naincorrect
- B.Rose Island
- C.North West River
- D.Hebron
Following the controversial resettlement of Nutak in the 1950s, the family of Jim Lyall relocated to Nain.
Source: Life section
4.What specific job roles did Jim Lyall hold in Nain?
- A.Postmaster and residential school head
- B.Mayor and postmastercorrect
- C.School teacher and police officer
- D.Government store manager and mayor
Before his political career in Nunatsiavut, Jim Lyall served as both the mayor and the postmaster of Nain.
Source: Life section
5.Which of these locations hosted the residential schools where Jim Lyall received his education?
- A.St. John's and Nutak
- B.Nain and North West Rivercorrect
- C.Nain and St. John's
- D.Nutak and North West River
Jim Lyall attended residential schools in Nain and North West River, later completing high school in St. John's.
Source: Life section
6.What was the result of the 2008 Nunatsiavut presidential election involving Jim Lyall?
- A.Jim Lyall lost to Sarah Leo
- B.Jim Lyall lost to Anthony Andersen
- C.Jim Lyall was acclaimed unopposed
- D.Jim Lyall defeated Natan Obed and Johannes Lampecorrect
Jim Lyall secured the position of President of Nunatsiavut by defeating opponents Natan Obed and Johannes Lampe.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
7.When did Jim Lyall serve as the executive director of the Labrador Inuit Association for the second time?
- A.1977 to 1981
- B.2002 to 2005correct
- C.2012 to 2017
- D.2005 to 2008
Jim Lyall worked as the executive director of the Labrador Inuit Association from 1977-1981 and from 2002 until the creation of Nunatsiavut in 2005.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
8.The repatriation of Inuit remains oversaw by Jim Lyall in 2011 involved bodies from which locations?
- A.St. John's and Newfoundland
- B.Nain and North West River
- C.Nutak and Hebron
- D.Rose Island and Upernavik Islandcorrect
In 2011, Jim Lyall oversaw the return of Inuit remains that had been excavated from Rose Island and Upernavik Island.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
9.Who succeeded Jim Lyall as President of Nunatsiavut in 2012?
- A.Johannes Lampe
- B.Sarah Leocorrect
- C.Anthony Andersen
- D.Natan Obed
After choosing not to seek re-election in 2012, Jim Lyall was succeeded in the presidency by Sarah Leo.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
10.What political position did Jim Lyall hold starting in 2017?
- A.President of Nunatsiavut
- B.Ordinary Member for Naincorrect
- C.Mayor of St. John's
- D.Executive Director of the Labrador Inuit Association
In a 2017 by-election, Jim Lyall was acclaimed as the Ordinary Member for Nain.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
11.In the 2022 election, Jim Lyall was defeated by which two candidates?
- A.Johannes Lampe and Sarah Leo
- B.Anthony Andersen and Roxanne Barbourcorrect
- C.Sarah Leo and Natan Obed
- D.Roxanne Barbour and Johannes Lampe
In the 2022 election, Jim Lyall finished third behind successful candidates Anthony Andersen and Roxanne Barbour.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
12.What was the approximate age of Jim Lyall at the time of his death?
- A.79–80
- B.68–69
- C.76–77correct
- D.72–73
Jim Lyall was identified as being 76–77 years old at the time of his death in 2022.
Source: Introduction
13.What was the professional occupation of Jim Lyall immediately following the completion of his formal education?
- A.Executive director of the Labrador Inuit Association
- B.Working for government-run stores in Labradorcorrect
- C.Inuit advocate in St. John's
- D.Postmaster in Nain
After finishing his education in St. John's, Jim Lyall took a job at government-run stores located throughout Labrador.
Source: Life section
14.What notable personal event occurred for Jim Lyall on the same day he died?
- A.The anniversary of his first election
- B.The reopening of the residential school in Nain
- C.The death of his wife, Jeancorrect
- D.The official burial of his parents
Jim Lyall died on May 13, 2022, only a few hours after his wife Jean passed away.
Source: Nunatsiavut section
15.In which community was Jim Lyall born?
- A.Nutakcorrect
- B.North West River
- C.St. John's
- D.Nain
Jim Lyall was born to Samuel and Isabella Lyall in the community of Nutak in northern Labrador.
Source: Life section
16.What was Jim Lyall's official title when he served as the first leader of the Nunatsiavut government?
- A.Mayor of Nain
- B.Executive Director
- C.Ordinary Member
- D.Presidentcorrect
Jim Lyall served as the first President of Nunatsiavut from 2008 to 2012.
Source: Introduction
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