Isabel Tibbie Hardie, the first woman to represent the Northwest Territories in Ottawa, died Nov. 13 at the age of 90.

Hardie secured a place in history when she was elected Liberal MP for the N.W.T. in 1962.

She replaced her husband, Merv, who had been the MP from 1953 until his death in 1961, for what was then called the Mackenzie Delta riding.

Hardie's son, Murray, said his mother was a widow with four young children when she was elected.

"Obviously it was a historical situation," he said. "I was delighted for my mother that it was something she wanted to do and did it. It took a lot of courage."

During her time in politics, she lobbied for rail service to Pine Point and regular ferry service across the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence, he said.

She lost her seat in 1963, less than a year after being elected.

The Mackenzie River ferry at Fort Providence was named after her husband.