The Holy Family Lutheran Legacy Fund was established December 2022 when the Holy Family Lutheran Church donated $101,000.00 with the goal that its ministry in Yellowknife would continue even after the congregation closes officially on December 31, 2022.Read more about the Fund here.
The Yellowknife Community Foundation administers the Tom Williams Memorial Scholarship and Alfred Moses Memorial Scholarship for Housing NWT. Established in 2023 by Housing NWT in memory of Tom Williams and Alfred Moses, the purpose of these scholarships is to support residents of the Northwest Territories pursuing post-secondary education in a field related to housing.
The Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund was established in 2025 by his family shortly after his passing. This fund recognizes Ian’s outstanding contributions to youth development in the NWT. Ian mentored countless youth as the Head Coach of the Yellowknife Polar Bear Swim Club and spent over 20 years coaching and officiating at major events. As Director of Sport, Recreation, and Youth for the Government of the Northwest Territories from 1989 to 2020, Ian played a key part of initiatives like the Arctic Winter Games and the Youth Ambassadors participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (NWT Program). More information about the Ian Legaree Youth Leadership fund can be found here.
Established in 2004 in memory of Jenny Gamble-Fournier. Jenny was a little girl when her family moved to Yellowknife in 1978. After graduating high school, she spent a year in Europe and then went on to complete Carleton University’s journalism program, although her real passion was art history. Jenny worked in Yellowknife briefly before returning to Europe to be with her fiancé, Chris Fournier. Jenny and Chris were married less than two months before she succumbed to bone cancer in 1999. A talented painter and poet with passionate spirit, Jenny was very proud of her Northern roots.
The Jerry and Monica Loomis Sahtu Education Legacy Fund was established in 2022. Jerry arrived in Norman Wells for two days to do an audit with Imperial Oil in the 1960s. Two days eventually turned to 51 years in the Sahtu. Monica found her way to Norman Wells also in the early 1960s where she met and married Jerry. Monica worked as a nurse for Imperial Oil in the company’s nursing station until a more modern nursing station was built in the 1970s where she continued until her retirement. It was only fitting that the nursing station in Norman Wells was named Monica Loomis Health Centre as tribute to her long-standing contributions to the people and the community. Monica increasingly became a prominent figure in Norman Wells while reaching and touching the lives of many in outlying communities and into larger Northern centers. Monica loved the north, its land and its people.
Established in 2011 by his family to recognize John’s helpful spirit and love of flying and as an enduring contribution to the development of skill and safety in helicopter operation. Born and raised in Yellowknife, John was a young man of genuine wit, warmth and intelligence. Regular trips to the family’s cabin at Prelude Lake shaped John’s childhood and inspired him to become a capable outdoorsman. He also loved to read, draw and tell stories. John learned to cross country ski at the Yellowknife Ski Club and later raced as a member of the NWT Ski Team. After graduating from Sir John Franklin High School in 2007, John worked at Con Mine like his father and grandfather. In 2008, he worked at exploration camps in Nunavut, where his experiences helped him decide to pursue a career as a commercial helicopter pilot. John’s remarkable ability to size up a person or situation, find its truth and funny side, no matter how grim, won him friends of all ages, and made him a natural leader. He had a way with words, and was always quick with comebacks, jokes and puns. His wide-ranging interests included history, travel, current events, boating, building and fixing things. Always ready and willing to help with practical assistance, a friendly joke and a smile, John was generous with his time in helping others. As a classmate from his flight school remembers, “John had a heart the size of Texas. He was forever picking up fellow students and giving them a ride to and from school or wherever they needed to go.” He was loyal to his friends and family. John became a commercial helicopter pilot and was killed in a helicopter accident July 23, 2010 at the age of 21.
You can only apply through our online application portal. In 2026, the application portal opens on April 2nd.
Access it here: https://www.grantinterface.ca/Home/Logon?urlkey=yellowknifescholarship
Mailed and emailed applications will not be accepted barring extreme circumstances. Please reach out to information@ykcf.ca if you need accommodations.
In order to apply for a scholarship, you must be pursuing studies in that field – that is, accepted or enrolled in a program.You must provide either a proof of acceptance or proof of enrolment as part of your application.You cannot apply if you are merely interested in the field of study. You also cannot apply if the field is outside of your primary program of study (eg. If you are a Biology major taking a Music class as an elective, you cannot apply for the Alice and Randy Daniels Music Fund).
Every year, our application period happens between April and May. All of our scholarships, except for:
We consider you to be a 'resident' As per our policy, of the Northwest Territories, Yukon, or Nunavut if you meet one of the following criteria:
Yes! We encourage you to complete the eligibility quiz to see which funds you are eligible to apply. Remember that not every fund is available for residents outside of Yellowknife, but most are available to people who reside in one of the Northern Territories.
Each residency declaration is a one-click question embedded within the application process.You just need to provide the email address of your residency witness, and they will be emailed directly.
Once you create a profile on our application portal, it will ask you to complete an eligibility quiz to determine which Student Award funds you are eligible to apply to. Once complete, you can start applying to the funds that apply to your studies! Once you have completed the eligibility quiz and you think there should be a Student Award that isn't listed, please contact our office to inquire!
Tel: 867 446 4527
Email: information@ykcf.ca
All of our funding amounts vary from scholarship to scholarship, year by year. However, each scholarship is worth at least $1,000. Clicking on each award will show you how much each scholarship is worth this year.
Each application is reviewed by our Student Award Review Committee. Student awards that we administer for another organization are reviewed by Committee members from that organization. Assessment criteria can also be seen here.
As much as you can! You will get into the flow of the process the more you write and apply. The key is to give each question your all.
Yes, you can re-use answers. Although, be sure to read and re-read the application instructions to confirm your writing is applicable to the question. If there are common questions among different student awards, you will see that they will already be filled out if you already answered that question for another scholarship application.
You no longer have to upload a reference letter for most of our awards. Simply provide the email address of your reference, and we will send them a recommendation form to fill out.
We have different types of reference requests: academic reference, character reference, sports involvement reference, and arts-involvement reference. We suggest you ask someone you know well and for an extended period of time. Some great examples are employers, teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, mentors, or instructors.
For some of our Funds, you will have to submit a statement of financial need. This can look very different for everyone - that is why your statement is in the form of a written essay. We want to learn more about your unique circumstances, as long as you are comfortable sharing.
Exp: "I grew up with a single father and he always made sure we were taken care of, but it was a struggle. We never left the territory for vacation. When some of my friends would have nice clothes and good snacks for lunch, I always had old clothes and a peanut butter sandwich, every day. Life was good but we didn't have luxuries. I could not go to college without financial support and student loans."
It is a good idea to start the process of applying early, to ensure you have all of the needed documents (eg. letter of admission, reference letters received) completed and submitted by the deadline.
All of our scholarships are due on the same day every year. If you are ready to submit your application, feel free to do so before the deadline. However, all applications will be reviewed only after the deadline. Applying for a scholarship earlier than the deadline will not give you an advantage.
You may only submit one application per scholarship. Keep in mind that each scholarship has specific criteria. Please complete the eligibility quiz to see which Student Award Funds you are eligible to apply to.
31 May at 11.59pm MST: All applications due via scholarship portal found on the Yellowknife Community Foundation website.
June & July: Yellowknife Community Foundation staff and Student Awards Review Committee members conduct due diligence checks on all applications and undertake a review process. As a normal part of our review process, you may hear from us with questions about your application. We appreciate your time in providing clarity.
Mid to Late July: Applicants are notified. Every applicant will receive notification regardless of funding decision.
If you have any questions, please contact the Yellowknife Community Foundation at information@ykcf.ca
If you have any questions, please contact the Yellowknife Community Foundation at information@ykcf.ca, or call us at (867) 446-4527, our business hours are:
