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
