2026 Student Award Ceremony
On July 21st, 2026, the Yellowknife Community Foundation held its annual student award ceremony at Somba K’e Civic Plaza to celebrate the year’s cohort of scholarship recipients.
It was truly beautiful to see the community gather in support of its students, accompanied by sunshine, great music, and delicious food from the farmers’ market. We can’t wait for next year.
We would like to thank our fund advisors and community partners for their support:
- Amanda Mallon
- Robert and Anna Tumchewics
- Doreen Cleary
- Stephen Dunbar, Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
- Terence Courtoreille, Housing NWT
- Shawna Lampi-Legaree, Sean Legaree, and Stephen Legaree
- TJ Ebbeling
- Robert Charpentier
- Matthew Jodoin, Parsons
- Northwyne Music
- Back Bay Productions
- Fundraising & Events, Student Awards
2026 Grantees
In 2026, the Yellowknife Community Foundation disbursed over $250,000 in grants as follows:
| Fund | Grantee | Website | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Knifers Flow-Through Fund | Yellowknife Street Support Program | https://www.ykstreetsupport.ca/home | Yellowknife Street Support | $9,000.00 |
| 100 Knifers Flow-Through Fund | YKCares | https://www.facebook.com/ykcares/ | Food for Schools | $8,650.00 |
| Albert and Hilya Hall Seniors Enhancement Fund | AVENS – A Community for Seniors | https://www.avensseniors.com/ | Let's Dance with Bella Dance | $4,000.00 |
| Barb Bromley Fund for Seniors and Elders | SHIFT NWT | https://www.shiftnwt.org/ | Cycling Without Age - Yellowknife Chapter | $9,500.00 |
| Chris Argue Memorial Fund | Kiran Ray | - | Adventure Tourism / Outdoor Guide Training | $2,000.00 |
| Community Events - Karen Gochnauer Arts and Community Fund | Territorial Agrifood Association | https://www.nwtagrifood.ca/ | The Long Table: A Community Feast of Food, Culture, and Connection | $5,000.00 |
| Dance - Karen Gochnauer Arts and Community Fund | Northwest Territories Highland Dancers' Association | https://www.nwthda.com/ | ScotDance Canada Championship Series 2027 | $5,000.00 |
| Elliot Michael Brown Fund | Wynter McQueen | https://www.tugah.com/ | Tugah Northern Experiences | $5,000.00 |
| Eva Henderson Memorial Fund | Avens - A Community for Seniors | https://www.avensseniors.com/ | Enhancing End-of-Life Care and Family Support at AVENS | $3,000.00 |
| Gary Robinson Memorial Fund | Firefighters Without Borders | https://www.firefighterswithoutborders.org/ | First Nations Fire Service Equipment Donation | $7,500.00 |
| Gary Robinson Memorial Fund | Yellowknife Search and Rescue | https://www.yksar.ca/ | Basic Searcher Training | $5,000.00 |
| Gladys and Albert Eggenberger Agricultural Fund | Territorial Agrifood Association | https://www.nwtagrifood.ca/ | Northern Pollinator Education Initiative | $9,300.00 |
| Gladys and Albert Eggenberger Agricultural Fund | Hay River Community Garden Society | https://www.hayrivercommunitygarden.ca/ | Watts in the Garden | $6,200.00 |
| Helen and John Parker Community Fund | Chickadee NEST | https://www.chickadeenest.ca/ | Belonging in Yellowknife | $19,500.00 |
| Holy Family Lutheran Legacy Fund | YWCA NWT | https://www.ywcanwt.ca/ | Nourish North: Food Support for Women and Families | $10,000.00 |
| Mary Beth Miller Memorial Fund | Toryn Wheler | - | Training for Cross-Country Ski Nationals | $1,000.00 |
| Maureen Tonge 'Living Your Legacy' Fund | Chickadee NEST | https://www.chickadeenest.ca/ | Mental Wellness Initiative | $4,500.00 |
| Music Events - Karen Gochnauer Arts and Community Fund | Folk on the Rocks | https://www.folkontherocks.com/ | Warm The Rocks Somba K'e: Free Family-friendly, All-ages Music Programming | $5,000.00 |
| Resilient Communities Fund | Dehcho Divisional Board of Education | https://www.ddec.ca/ | First Aid for Youth (Fort Simpson) | $6,000.00 |
| Sally Manning Memorial Writing Award | Annie Aningmiuq | - | 2026 Sally Manning Award for Aboriginal Creative Non-Fiction | $1,000.00 |
| Sally Manning Memorial Writing Award | Michel Labine | - | Second Prize - Sally Manning Writing Award for Aboriginal Creative Non-Fiction | $750.00 |
| Sally Manning Memorial Writing Award | Garth Wallbridge | - | Third Prize - Sally Manning Writing Award for Aboriginal Creative Non-Fiction | $250.00 |
| Sharon Morrison Memorial Indigenous Education Fund | Supporting Wellbeing - Makeway Charitable Society | https://supportingwellbeing.ca/ | Supporting Wellbeing On the Land | $1,000.00 |
| Timothy Henderson Memorial Fund | Northern Arts and Cultural Centre | https://www.naccnt.ca/ | Ongoing grant, designated | $1,000.00 |
| Women's Leadership Fund | Fédération franco-ténoise | https://www.federationfrancotenoise.com/ | Voices in Dialogue: Women’s Perspectives on Politics | $5,000.00 |
| YCF - Arts and Culture | Dene Nahjo - MakeWay Charitable Society | https://denenahjo.com/ | Winter Hide Tanning Initiatives | $12,000.00 |
| YCF - Arts and Culture | Black Advocacy Coalition UpNorth | https://bacupnorth.com/ | Black History Month February 6th-March 6th 2027 | $12,000.00 |
| YCF - Community Enrichment | Yellowknife Community Garden Collective | https://www.ykgardencollective.org/ | Strengthening Yellowknife's Community Gardens | $20,000.00 |
| YCF - Community Enrichment | Yellowknife Ski Club | https://www.skiyellowknife.com/ | Yellowknife Ski Club Trails - Safety Improvement and Hazard Reduction Program | $20,000.00 |
| YCF - Community Enrichment | Yellowknife Playschool Association | https://ykplayschool.com/ | Yellowknife Playschool Landbased Learning Project | $16,000.00 |
| YCF - Org Cap | NWT SPCA | https://www.nwtspca.com/ | Pawsitive Pathways: Dog Training for Adoption Success | $5,000.00 |
| YCF - Org Cap | Fédération franco-ténoise | https://www.federationfrancotenoise.com/ | Indigenous Awareness and Respectful Collaboration Training (in French) | $5,000.00 |
| YCF - Org Cap | NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group | https://breasthealthnwt.ca/ | Strategic Plan Development for the NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group (Action Group) | $5,000.00 |
| YCF - Org Cap | NWT Recreation and Parks Association | https://www.nwtrpa.org/ | Anti Oppression in Non-profits | $5,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Seniors' Society Fund | Yellowknife Seniors' Society | https://yksenior.ca/ | Ongoing grant, designated | $8,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Kerry Wheler | - | Flower Friends Project | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Jonny Vu | - | Analog Social Coffee Club | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Sophie Rivers | - | YK Group for Jewish Youth | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Winnie Naphan | - | YK Robotics Club | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Lona Hegeman | - | Yellowknife’s Unhoused Food Voucher Pilot 2026 | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Amy Kennedy | - | Yoga by the Lake — Free Summer Sessions at City Hall | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Jordyn Riou | - | Three Lakes Connections | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Hillary Scott | - | Latham Island Park soccer pitch upgrades | $1,000.00 |
| Yellowknife Small Grants Program | Caitlin Krekoski | - | Summer Sensory Art and Play Pop-Ups | $1,000.00 |
- Grants
Impact Story – Yeah for Yoga – Yellowknife Small Grants
The Yellowknife Small Grants Program offers micro-grants of up to $1,000 for individual residents of Yellowknife, Ndilǫ, and Dettah to build community, and help improve it. The first ever batch of grants was awarded in Fall 2025 to eight community members, including Lani Cooke for her project, Yeah for Yoga.
Since June 2025, Lani has been teaching a one hour yoga class twice a week in the brand new Avens Pavilion studio. She used the grant to enhance the Avens yoga experience with upgraded exercise chairs, blocks, mats, blankets, and a storage cabinet.
A number of happy outcomes followed from Lani’s investment:
- More elders were able to attend, including 4-6 in Chair Yoga and another 4-6 in Mat Yoga.
- Classes expanded to four a week.
- Students experienced improved strength and balance.
- Lani developed new skills as an instructor.
- Seniors across multiple Avens residences were brought closer together.
“I have fun teaching my students and they have fun with the various postures, mudras, and chants.” – Lani Cooke
Yellowknife Small Grants are based on the simple but powerful idea that everyone has something to contribute.
Your support helps community members like Lani can bring their ideas to life.
- Community Impact
Impact Story – Skate North – Yellowknife Small Grants
The Yellowknife Small Grants Program offers micro-grants of up to $1,000 for individual residents of Yellowknife, Ndilǫ, and Dettah to bring the community together and help make it better. The first ever batch of grants was awarded in Fall 2025 to eight community members, including Forrest Doctor for his ongoing project, Skate North.
The initiative aims to make skateboarding more accessible to youth by providing safe skate spaces, equipment, and mentorship.
” I want to encourage youth to commit to their passions, take initiative, and create positive change. For me, that means creating a safe space for learners, something I didn’t have when I first started. This project is about keeping skateboarding alive in the NWT and giving our youth the support and opportunities they deserve.” – excerpt from Forrest’s proposal
Forrest used the grant to purchase helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards to give away to up-and-coming skaters. Through free prize draws, in-person outreach, and open calls on social media, Forrest was able to get gear directly into the hands of youth who need it the most.
Forrest Doctor giving away gear at the miniramp in Ndilǫ. The ramp was constructed in Spring 2026 as part of a Skate North wordworking workshop, delivered in partnership with the YKDFN Dechı̨ta Nàowo Training Center.
Matt Wolff from Rumor Boardshop in Edmonton, AB.
The skate shop is an ardent supporter and partner to the Skate North project.
The results of this direct access model were both immediate and unexpected. Two things stand out especially. First, Forrest noticed that new skaters were able to instantly start with confidence. Having proper safety gear in place meant they were free to try things as many times as they wanted. That ability to iterate safely creates a level of early learning and progression that is invaluable.
Second, the degree of engagement from youth, families, and the larger community was uplifting. Skate North has now grown through additional volunteers, sponsors, and partners, including local schools. It shows that there is a strong demand for skateboarding and action sports overall. Now an olympic sport, the old cultural stigmas attached to skating have faded away. All that remains is a desire to get out there and rip.
Forrest partnered with Rumor Boardshop in Edmonton, AB to acquire the gear at a discounted rate. Shop rep Matt Wolff had this to say on the impact of skating and initiatives like Skate North:
“Especially in smaller communities, skateboarding can be a huge outlet for youth, not only physically, but to express themselves artistically as well. It also brings a real sense of community for people. I grew up in a small town in the middle of Alberta, and the people I skateboarded with I still have friendships with to this day.”
We can’t wait to see a new generation of skaters come up and grow the local scene in the North. Keep rolling.
- Community Impact
Impact Story – Charter Community of K’asho Got’ine – Emergency Management Training
For municipalities and organizations impacted by wildfires or other emergencies, the Resilient Communities Fund is open to donations for long-term recovery and rebuilding initiatives.
The charter community of Fort Good Hope used a grant from this fund to conduct emergency management training in the aftermath of a wildfire.
On June 15th, 2024, the community was forced into evacuation by an extreme wildfire, “VQ001”. The unrelenting blaze displaced residents for three weeks and tragically took the life of helicopter pilot Tom Frith as he fought to protect their homes.
In the face of this terrible loss, the community of Fort Good Hope redoubled on their recovery efforts. Community leadership and essential workers completed emergency management training. They developed skills, plans, communications, and procedures not only for wildfires, but a host of possible crisis scenarios.
Honouring the memory of Tom Frith, Fort Good Hope now looks to the future with increased capacity and resolve.
- Community Impact
Establishment of the Karen Gochnauer Arts and Community Fund
The Yellowknife Community Foundation announces the creation of the Karen Gochnauer Arts and Community Fund.
Karen moved to Yellowknife in the early 1990s to work as a geologist. She had a deep love for dance, music, and community. Her love of dance extended to all forms, including Scottish Country, Modern, Jazz, Hip-hop, Ballet, and, for a break, just moving to the music at parties and festivals. Karen was an inspiration to the Yellowknife dance community and was always generous with her time and energy as a teacher and mentor. There was never a community event, whether dance, arts, or community-related, that Karen did not find time to attend with her infectious smile.
Karen passed away in 2024 surrounded by friends and the love of family, after an all too brief battle with cancer. This fund honours her memory, and will support organizations in Yellowknife and across the NWT to promote dance, music, and community through three corresponding grant streams:
1. Dance
2. Music Events
3. Community Events
- In Action