Tuccaro named N.W.T. commissioner

George Tuccaro, aretiredCBC personality in the Northwest Territories,promiseshe will represent the people of theterritory as itsnewest commissioner.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Tuccaro's appointment in anews release Tuesday afternoon.

Commissioners were once the day-to-day administrators in Canada's territories, but their role today is similar to that of a provincial lieutenant-governor.

"My work has always been with the people of the Northwest Territories, and I'll do whatever I can to give back what they've given me so generously over these 40 years as a broadcaster, as a family man," Tuccaro told CBC News from Ottawa, where he met with Harper this week.

"I promise that I'll be there for the people."

Tuccaro,60, worked for CBC Radio in Yellowknife as an announcer from 1971 to 1979 and again from 1981 to 1990 as its aboriginal languages programming co-ordinator.

From 1991 until his retirement in 2002, Tuccaro hosted Trail's End,CBC Radio One'sdrive-home afternoon program in the N.W.T.In the early 1990s, he also briefly hosted Northbeat, CBC-TV's northern news and current affairs show.

He has also worked for federal Indian and Northern Affairs Department and for the Cultural Industries Program. As well, he established a booking agency for northern performing artists and organized cultural events across the region.

Along with his media career, Tuccaro is well-known in the North as a master of ceremonies, comedian and performing artist.

After he retired, Tuccaro started GLT Communications, a company that hosts workshops and other events.

As commissioner, Tuccaro said he willbuild on the work of his predecessor, Anthony Whitford, whose five-year term concluded late last month.

A date hasnot yet been set forTuccaro's official swearing-in ceremony.