An interview with Dustin Milligan – Yellowknife Community Foundation

1 March 2018

You might know Dustin Milligan from his breakout role in the reboot of the teen drama 90210. Or maybe the popular films Extract or Me Him Her. Or maybe you’ve seen him on Schitt’s Creek or Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. However you know Dustin, chances are you also know (and are proud) he’s from Yellowknife.

On a particularly warm fall day in Los Angeles, Dustin sat down and spoke with us on how he first heard of the Yellowknife Community Foundation, giving back to the arts community and on what’s next.

How did you first hear of the Yellowknife Community Foundation?

Milligan: I was 21 and had just booked a job where I was getting paid real money for the first time. I had heard of the Yellowknife Community Foundation through teachers at my high school and was looking for a way to give back. The more I looked into it, the more I appreciated the overall community oriented focus.

Because success in acting can be fleeting, I felt that if I didn’t do something right away, there may not be an opportunity down the road.

Why was creating a scholarship so important to you?

Milligan: I felt really grateful for the support from the Yellowknife arts community. So many people were behind what I was doing, so I wanted to take some of my success and reinvest it back into the community that had given me so much. I wanted to invest it back into other young artists.

Through your arts scholarship, Enough Talk, Hurry Up and Do It Already, how does it feel to support so many young and aspiring artists?

Milligan: It’s really rewarding. Getting to know the students, experiencing their creative gifts first hand and getting to meet when presented with the scholarship is meaningful and

It reminds me of when I was that age, filled with hopes and dreams and getting to play a small part in that is very rewarding

Why is it important for you to come back every year to present the scholarship?

Milligan: Even though my family has moved away from Yellowknife, I still consider it my true home. It’s important to me to maintain that long-lasting, permanent link to the City.

Also, coming back every year reminds me of the journey that I am on, the journey that other young artists are on and the power of the support that the community gave me when I was that age.

Do you keep in contact with any of the students? Can you tell us how they are doing?

Milligan: Making a career in the arts can be difficult. This scholarship was set-up to help the students explore possibilities, but ultimately, it’s amazing to see where each and every one of the past recipients has gone and play a part in helping them go after their dream.

I know Kira Hall is a constant creator and doing lots in the theatre in Toronto.

What’s next for you?

Milligan: I’ve got lots on the go at the moment. I’m on a couple of TV shows, Schitt’s Creek and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. In my spare time, I’m writing a lot and expanding my creative portfolio.

There may be a puppy in the future, but for now, I’m home until next spring when we start up again on Schitt’s Creek.

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About the Yellowknife Community Foundation

The Yellowknife Community Foundation was formed in 1993 to provide interested individuals and organizations with a means of supporting projects in our community for the enduring future. The Foundation is not singularly dedicated to any specific area of support. It embodies a simple concept – that people working together can make a difference for all. For more information: https://www.ykcf.ca/

About the Enough Talk, Hurry Up and Do It Already Arts Scholarship

Established by Dustin Milligan to assist École Sir John Franklin High School graduating students pursuing post-secondary studies in the performing arts, film, music or writing. For more information: https://www.ykcf.ca/portfolio-view/enough-talk-hurry-up-and-do-it-already-arts-scholarship/

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Impact Story - Skate North -...

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.

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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.