Minister R.J. Simpson announced today the appointment of Erin Wagner as the new Public Trustee of the Northwest Territories, effective June 17, 2024. Ms. Wagner succeeds Ms. Renée Fougère, who held the position since last year.

The Public Trustee serves a wide range of clients and protects and manages the legal and financial interests of vulnerable residents of the Northwest Territories.  The Public Trustee manages property for children, and those that have become incapable of handling their financial affairs, and also administers estates of deceased persons when there is no one else to do so.

Ms. Wagner brings with her many years of experience in wills and estates, family law, and civil litigation to the Office of the Public Trustee. She has practiced in rural Nova Scotia and was previously a family lawyer at the Community Legal Aid Clinic in Yellowknife.

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“The Public Trustee is an incredibly important office and one which protects vulnerable residents. Ms. Wagner has extensive knowledge and experience in family law and I am confident she will serve the people of Northwest Territories well. I want to also thank Ms. Fougère for her contributions to the Office of the Public Trustee. ”

- R.J. Simpson, Minister of Justice

Quick facts

• • The powers and duties of the Public Trustee are set out under the Public Trustee Act, the Guardianship and Trusteeship Act, the Powers of Attorney Act, the Rules of Court, the Estate Administration Rules, and other legislation, as well as judge-made law.
  • The Public Trustee provides the following services to NWT residents:
• Administers estates and makes personal decisions on behalf of disabled adults who are not capable of making decisions independently.
• Administers the estates of people who have granted a Power of Attorney to the Public Trustee.
• Administers the estates of people who have died in the NWT with no one else capable or willing to act as administrator or executor.
• Administers trust money on behalf of people who are under 19 years of age, or under a legal disability.

For media requests, please contact:

Ngan Trinh

Senior Communications Advisor

Department of Justice

Government of the Northwest Territories

Email: ngan_trinh@gov.nt.ca

Phone Number: 867-767-9256, ext. 82083