Established in 2023 in memory of Maureen Tonge.
Established in 1994, the Midnight Sun Fly In was a biennial celebration that brought pilots and aviation enthusiasts from around the world to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Nestled on the shores of Great Slave Lake, the event honored the region’s rich aviation heritage while providing a unique opportunity for camaraderie, adventure, and exploration under the summer’s endless daylight.The event was the brainchild of Yvonne Quick, who founded the Midnight Sun Fly In Association alongside Roger Zarudski, Mike Stevens, Mike Piro, and Jeff Rocher. Their vision transformed Yellowknife into a hub for aviation festivities, attracting visitors eager to share in the spirit of flight and celebrate the community’s deep connection to the skies.Over the years, the Fly In became renowned for its vibrant program of activities, which included rig exhibitions, fly-out picnics, scavenger hunts, presentations, hangar tours, and lively feasts with entertainment. These events fostered a sense of community among attendees while showcasing the unique character of northern aviation.The Midnight Sun Fly In hosted its fifteenth and final gathering from July 6–9, 2023, capping off three decades of friendships forged in the thrill of aviation. Though the event has come to an end, its legacy lives on as a cherished chapter in the story of northern aviation and the community that grew around it.The Midnight Sun Aviation Fund wishes to honour the following pioneers of aviation in the North:Jim AdamsNeil J. ArmstrongPeter AustinFrank AveryRay BaertClem BekarJohn BidwellErnie BoffaKenn BorekEustace BowhayW. Leigh BritnellMatthew Aaron BromleyDaryle Ray BrownNorman Charles Muffitt (Bush)Norman ByrneMerlyn CarterCarl ClouterJ.C. Armstrong (Corky)Bruce Edward CornockAndrew CruickshankWayne DeakonMike DemeltC.H. (Punch) DickinsTom DownesJoyce DunphySteve EnglandBob (Robert Parsons) EngleJim EsbickGeorge Harold “Mike” FinlandDave FloydBarry FrainElmer FullertonHuby GauqueCapt. Stan GitzelGeorge GormanBill GranleyDuncan GrantPaul HagadornDon HamiltonDavid Henry HareMarten HartwellCliff HealeyBob (Robert Murray) HeathBill HettrickHenry HicksBob JensenTrevor JonassonWalter (D.W.) KellyHank KoenanMike KrutkoCam LancasterDon LandellsPaul William LaserichWilly LaserichGordon MacleodCedric MahBobbie MarkleW.R. (Wop) MayChuck McAvoyJames McAvoyChuck McLarenStanley Ransom McMillanArchibald Major McMullenRon MoeRick Muyres (Derick David)Bob O’ConnerFrank O’ConnorTed OliverMyron Dale Alfred OlsonDanny PagottoRocky ParsonsMike PiroWarren PlummerMark RangerLorne RankinLen RobinsonChuck RossPaul RossetBlair RutherfordBob RyanArnie (Arnold Roderick) SchrederManley Allen ShowalterJim SmithBruce SprungNicole Francis StaceyMike StevensKen StockallKeith SylvesterDale TingleyJim TownsendJohn TumchewicsKevin WangMax WardGlenn Boyd WarnerJason WattTony WattierDana WentzelJake WoolgarIf there is a pilot you believe should be added to this list, please reach out to information@ykcf.ca
The Milo Martin Memorial Fund honours Milo, a widely known and deeply missed member of our community. Milo was an exceptionally engaged Yellowknifer: he founded and played drums for his band Frog Poison, was an avid snowboarder and cross country skier and employee of the Bristol Pit, was an aspiring mechanic, tabletop gamer, participant in community theatre, and champion of the rights of new immigrants, LGBTQIA+, and people of colour. Milo felt strongly about inclusion, and this scholarship has been established by his friends and family to honour inclusion and his legacy of community involvement.
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 pilots John Bidwell, Jim Smith, and Matthew Bromley. John Ernest Bidwell Born in Scotland, John came to the NWT for the first time in 1981 flying a single Twin Otter for Lamb Air. Over the years he worked for La Ronge Aviation, Latham Island Airways and operated Imperial Aviation and then flew as a contract pilot for North-Wright Airways, Arctic Sunwest and Adlair Aviation Ltd. He became the base manager and chief pilot for Summit Air in Yellowknife. His life was taken in a tragic accident near Port Radium NWT, on October 8, 2000. James Smith Jim grew up in Winnipeg, and moved to Rankin Inlet in the 1970s to fly for Keewatin Air. Jim stayed in Rankin Inlet for seven years, moved to Churchill to fly King Airs and DC-4s for Air Manitoba. In the late ‘80s he worked for Kenn Borek Air, landing the first DC-4 on wheels in Antarctica. He was Chief Pilot for Buffalo Airways when he died in December 2003. Matthew Bromley Matthew Bromley grew up in Yellowknife and always wanted to fly. He was a recipient of the GNWT aviation bursary and learned to fly at the Aurora College flight school in Fort Smith. In August of 2004, he began to work at Air Tindi. Like many pilots he started on the ramps and with cargo. Over time he moved up to flying and became certified to pilot multi-engine aircraft on skis and floats. Matthew lost his life in a tragic accident 40 km from Lutsel K’e on the afternoon of August 4, 2011.
The Northern Legacy Fund, established in 2023 and launched publicly in 2024, is designed to support a variety of charitable needs across the Northwest Territories. This fund will soon provide grants to organizations working to strengthen and enhance communities throughout the territory.From 2024 until 2028, the Yellowknife Community Foundation is running a fundraising campaign for the Northern Legacy Fund, with a goal of reaching $3 million.The Northern Legacy Fund exists alongside the Yellowknife Community Impact Fund, the Foundation’s longstanding unrestricted endowment fund that focuses on supporting a wide range of needs in Yellowknife.
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:
