Friends of Fred Carmichael Scholarship – Yellowknife Community Foundation

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28 November 2015

The Yellowknife Community Foundation and Fred Carmichael are pleased to announce the signing of a partnership agreement in support of the Friends of Fred Carmichael Scholarship.

Students enrolled in Adult Learning Basic Education courses in the Beaufort Delta or Sahtu Regions of the NWT are eligible to apply. Scholarships may be awarded to individuals who:

Persevere with academic pursuits while facing difficult social and economic challenges and obstacles to success.
Demonstrate academic effort.
Complete the prescribed application form and prescribed instructor’s referral form (both available from Student Counsellor, Aurora College, Inuvik).
For greater certainty, this scholarship is for Adult Learning Basic Education students only and does not include “Access” or “Certificate/Diploma” students.

Annually the Inuvik Campus Student Counsellor will seek applications for scholarships when funds are available to make an award. Applications must be submitted by email, facsimile, or in hard copy to: Student Counsellor, Aurora College, Inuvik (NWT) by 5 p.m. the first Friday of April, annually. Applicants are eligible to receive the scholarship one time only.

On June 5, 2013 the University of Saskatchewan awarded Fred an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. The convocation address outlined how the scholarship came to be.

“Friend Carmichael is a businessman, commerical pilot, political leader and Gwich’in Elder who exemplies the spirit of Aboriginal Northerners. From 2000-2008, Fred served as President of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and CEO of the Gwich’in Development Corporation. When Fred decided not to run for re-election in 2008, his business associates asked what type of gift Fred would like as a token of appreciation for his work with them. Fred asked that a scholarship fund be set up for adult students in the region who are returning to school to better their education.” (adapted from University of Saskatchewan)

Donations are still accepted for the Friends of Fred Carmichael Scholarship. They can be made to the Yellowknife Community Foundation on line through CanadaHelps.Org or you can use your credit card to make donations directly to the Foundation by mail, email or phone or in person at our office at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre. You can also download and complete the donation form (please mark Friends of Fred Carmichael on the form) and mail it with a cheque to the Yellowknife Community Foundation at:

Yellowknife Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1620
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2P2

T: (867) 446 4527
E: info@YellowknifeCommunityFoundation.ca

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Impact Story - Skate North -...

July 29, 2026

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.

Donate to the Fund

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.