“Adolf came to Canada from Germany after enduring the terrible experiences of war on the Russian front and internment in a Soviet prisoner of war camp. He arrived in Canada April 25, 1953, with eight dollars and a train ticket to Edmonton. Arriving in Edmonton, he answered a Giant Mine job ad, and was in Yellowknife drawing a paycheque within two weeks of stepping off the boat. After a year at Giant, Adolf moved to Curry Construction, where he stayed many years running equipment and supplies across the territory; an original ice road catskinner long before the truckers. His experiences are chronicled in the unpublished memoire, Driving Northern Byways: Memories of Northern Ground Transport in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Adolf possessed a passion for advanced physics. Self-taught in one of the most intellectually challenging disciplines, Adolf was also a pioneer in the mindscapes of complex mathematics and theory. He was a contributor to scholarly journals and always at work on explanations of phenomena few of us are aware of, let alone understand. Though a private and perhaps even eccentric man, Adolf was a willing contributor to community projects and a reliable helper to his friends and neighbours. In the closing passage of his book, Adolf pays tribute to the people who welcomed him and worked with him to build a better community. He said, ‘All of the good people helped make Yellowknife what it is today. I salute them all.’ Adolf Duesterhus, a friend of the Yellowknife Community Foundation, passed away on Friday, September 28th, and is survived by two nephews living in Germany.” – Bob Bromley

Established in 2013, the purpose of the Albert and Hilya Hall Seniors Enhancement Fund is to enhance the quality of life for seniors in Yellowknife. The Fund will support seniors’ recreational activities at facilities administered by Avens – A Community for Seniors. Grants from the Fund will be made to Avens to support a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities and to purchase equipment intended to promote physical activity and well-being among seniors.

The Alice & Randy Daniels Music Fund was established in 2017 by the Daniels family in honour of their mother Alice Daniels of Fort Smith and their brother Randy Daniels also of Fort Smith.

Established in 2025, this stream of the Yellowknife Community Fund supports the Yellowknife area's vibrant and active arts and cultural scene.

In memory of Barbara Merial Bromley.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recommends that Canada needs 700 new vets a year to replace retiring workers, support the rise of pet ownership, and provide services for small communities. This is especially true in Northern Canada where residents rely on Veterinarians, Veterinary Techs, and Veterinary Assistants to play critical roles in protecting the health of both animals and people. Bella’s Fund was created to provide financial support for NWT students interested in securing Veterinary qualifications to work in the NWT.Northerners love and care for their animals. Bella was a typical Northern Special NWT SPCA rescue… a six week husky beagle cross from a community north of Yellowknife. To no one’s surprise, with her charming and lovable personality, she made a Foster Failure out of her mom, Amanda Mallon. Bella lived an energetic adventurous happy 12 years supported by a loving community and wonderful vet clinics with dedicated, committed staff.It is hoped that this program will attract and retain qualified animal support workers.