Karen Gochnauer moved to Yellowknife in the early 1990s to work as a geologist. Karen 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 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.

In memory of David J. Ramsden. Dave had a long association with the North, working in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife. His career with the Government of the NWT included appointments as the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Deputy Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, and senior management positions with Public Works and Services and the NWT Power Corporation, as well as Secretary to Cabinet.

David Sutherland lived in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories for 30 years. He had a passion for cross-country skiing and was a dedicated coach of the sport.

The Doug Bothamley Memorial Fund was established in memory of Doug’s many volunteer activities and contributions to the NWT sporting community and various other non-profit organizations in Yellowknife.

The Dustin Pidborochynski Memorial Scholarship Fund was originally established in 2019 with Skills Canada NWT, in memory of Dustin (Dusty) Pidborochynski. Dusty was a journeyman welder, a avid supporter of trades and apprenticeship programs, who sadly lost his life just weeks after being hired as the welding instructor at Ecole St. Patrick’s High School. In 2023, the Fund was transferred from Skills Canada NWT to the Yellowknife Community Foundation to support the longevity of the Fund and enhance its accessibility, for NWT students pursuing an apprenticeship. Family and friends would say that Dusty was wise beyond his years and always willing to lend a hand. He was teaching in everything that he did and never took the easy way out. In the year before he passed he had enjoyed coaching young welders and was volunteering his time as a welding technical expert for Skills Canada NWT’s territorial skills competition.

Born in Alberta, Mary Elaine (Sweet) Whitford first came north in 1964 as a university student and after attaining her Masters in Social Work, returned in 1965 to work in Fort Smith, where she also met her future husband, Tony Whitford. Elaine and Tony raised their three sons in the Northwest Territories. Elaine was lost to cancer in 2003. Elaine’s thirty-two year career in social work was marked by a passion and commitment that made her a role model for many young northerners pursuing a career in the field. During her life, Elaine contributed greatly to the well-being of Northerners and was influential in encouraging and assisting many of them to remain in school and pursue a post-secondary education. Former Commissioner Tony Whitford and his family established the fund to recognize the contribution Elaine made to the North, and build on her legacy by supporting NWT post-secondary students who want to make a difference and make our communities stronger.