Roger Allen (cross-country skier)

Roger T. Allen (born 5 May 1952{{cite book|title=Canadian Who's Who Search|publisher=Grey House Publishing Canada}} ) in Aklavik, Northwest Territories,{{Cite web|url=http://olympic.ca/team-canada/roger-allen/|title=Roger Allen|website=Olympic Team Canada|date=18 September 2011 |access-date=25 March 2017}} from Gwich'in First Nations,{{cite web|title=Meet Canada's Indigenous Olympians|url=http://www.cbc.ca/cbckidsolympics/blog/meet-canadas-indigenous-olympians|website=CBC|access-date=25 March 2018}} is a Canadian former cross-country skier who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/al/roger-allen-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418103946/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/al/roger-allen-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |accessdate=2 May 2013}} and a former territorial-level politician from Northwest Territories, Canada.

Cross-country skiing

Allen was one of six of eight cross-country skiers sent to the 1972 Olympics who came from the Mackenzie Delta town of Inuvik, Northwest Territories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cccski.com/Events/Events-Info/Olympic-Games/Olympics/Sapporo,-Japan,-1972.aspx|title=Sapporo, Japan, Feb 3-13, 1972|website=Cross Country Ski de Fond|access-date=25 March 2017}} Allen finished 50th in the 15 km men's and 13th in the relay 4x10 men's races. Roger was part of the Territorial Experimental Ski Training Program at Grollier Hall (Residential School).{{Cite book|title=Canada's Residential Schools: The History, Part 2, 1939 to 2000: The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume 1|isbn=0773598200}} Growing up, Allen was exposed to multiple sports in the parochial school system in Inuvik which helped him balance education, sport, and spirituality.{{cite web|title=The Beauty of Their Dreams: Factors Contributing to the Success of Athletes from the Northwest Territories|url=https://sportnorth.com/sites/default/files/beauty_of_their_dreams.pdf|website=Sport North|publisher=Dr. Mike MacPherson, Ed.D|access-date=25 March 2018}} After retiring from his Olympic career, Allen is now an MLA for the Territorial government, and a cabinet minister.{{cite web|last1=Peck|first1=Charlene|title=Book inspired by Inuvik skiers' guts and glory|url=https://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/3610389-book-inspired-by-inuvik-skiers-guts-and-glory/|website=Muskoka Region|date=30 June 2006 |publisher=Huntsville Forester|access-date=25 March 2018}}

Politics

After retiring from his Olympic career, Allen became a MLA for the Territorial government, and a cabinet minister.

Allen was first elected to the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1999 Northwest Territories general election. He defeated future Commissioner Glenna Hansen to win the new Inuvik Twin Lakes electoral district. Allen was re-elected in the 2003 Northwest Territories general election defeating three other candidates with 55% of the vote.

Allen became mired in a scandal after he was found to be living in a residence outside of the Northwest Territories in Grimshaw, Alberta. He swore an affidavit that he lived in a residence just outside Inuvik, Northwest Territories to gain access to the Capital Housing Allowance granting him $25,000 a year for residence in Yellowknife.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/where-in-the-world-is-roger-allen-1.468619 | title = Where in the world is Roger Allen? |publisher=CBC News| date = July 16, 2004 | access-date=2015-11-14}} Allen was forced to appear before a board of inquiry and forced to return $10,000 retroactive to April 1, 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/housebusiness/newsreleases/newsreleases2004.html#081104 |title=MLA Roger Allen Requested To Appear Before Legislative Assembly Board of Management to Explain Place of Residence |publisher=NWT Legislative Assembly |date=August 11, 2004 |access-date=2007-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514214834/http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/housebusiness/newsreleases/newsreleases2004.html |archive-date=May 14, 2006 }}

He resigned his seat on October 12, 2004, citing family and personal issues as the reason for stepping down.{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/housebusiness/newsreleases/newsreleases2004.html#101304 |title=Roger Allen resigns as MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes |publisher=Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly |date=October 13, 2004 |access-date=2007-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514214834/http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/housebusiness/newsreleases/newsreleases2004.html |archive-date=May 14, 2006 }}