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Biography
Lieutenant-Colonel D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert was born in Lafleche, Saskatchewan. He enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1961 and was selected for pilot training and received his wings in 1968. Following pilot training, Yogi was posted to 421 Strike/Attack Squadron in Germany as a squadron pilot. Later in his military career, Yogi was selected as a member of the embassy staff in Washington, D.C. to consult with the United States on newly acquired CF-18 aircraft.
Yogi flew with the famous Snowbirds squadron for two tours. In 1974/1975, he flew as number nine solo pilot and in 1985/1986, he was the Snowbirds’ team leader. In 1987, Her Excellency Jeanne Sauvé invested Yogi with the Order of Military Merit for his exceptional service with the Canadian Forces. In 1999 and 2000, Yogi was the director for the Saskatchewan Air Show. Yogi has also been involved with the Cold Lake Air Cadet Camp.
In June of 2000, Yogi was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as the MLA for Wood River, and was re-elected in 2003, 2007, and 2011. He has served as the Chair of the legislature’s Standing Committee on the Economy and Chair of the caucus’ standing policy committee on the economy. In November 2008, the Premier appointed Yogi to be the government of Saskatchewan’s main contact with the Department of National Defense and Canadian Forces. Yogi has served as the Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing since May of 2009.
Most recently in January 2011, Mr. Huyghebaert was appointed Honorary Colonel of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.
Yogi and his wife Phyllis now reside on a small ranch in Glentworth. They have two sons and six grandchildren.
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