Jessie Pigeon, née Sinclair
![Head and shoulders view of seated woman writing](https://www.communitystories.ca/v2/les-ranchers-francophones_the-francophone-ranchers/wp-content/uploads/sites/110/2022/12/15A.png)
Source: “Government agent serves 32 years”, Williams Lake Tribune, Aug. 5, 1959
In a 1975 CBC interview, Jessie Sinclair explained her work. She was the first woman in BC to hold these positions, as of 1928 in Williams Lake:
“[As the Government Agent,] then you did everything – I was Gold Commissioner too, which was very interesting. Government Agent work is just records […]. But the Gold Commissioner’s work, I met so many interesting people, met people from all over the world – mining people, engineers […] I think they were biased about women years ago […] taking official positions. […] Maybe it’s changed now. But if you’re capable, why not have it? […] Of course, I was Registrar at the Supreme Court too at the same time and you had all the court work. You see, then the Government Agent did everything. It wasn’t like it is divided up now. […] And yes, Registrar of Vital Statistics. […] I did [travel] when I was Gold Commissioner. […] I used to go out to Likely and Keithley. […] I’d drive out by car and then I’d take a horse and ride up to the mines. […] You had to go out and settle disputes over claims […] I had quite a few [hot disputes to settle.] […] I always seemed to handle them admissibly. […] I never had any drastic results.”