President’s Message – Yellowknife Community Foundation

31 December 2019

2019 has been another busy and successful year for the Yellowknife Community Foundation. The generosity and hard work of many people over the years have been instrumental in sustaining the Foundation since our first donation of $100 in 1994. The continued support of the community and our donors will only make the Yellowknife Community Foundation more successful and stronger.

In 2019 we established three new funds: the United Soccer Fund to support coaches and leaders in the sport of soccer in the NWT, the Lena Gosselin Memorial Fund to support training in the area of executive office administration and management, and the Get Her Elected Fund to support non-partisan organizations working to promote and establish greater representation of women in political leadership. We currently manage 38 funds, with several more in development, which we look forward to implementing in the coming year. Our asset base stands at over $4.7 million. This past year we awarded $90,000 in scholarships and grants and over $90,000 from our Community Fund. Over the past 26 years we have granted over $1,000,000.

The Yellowknife Community Foundation has joined a national community challenge by participating in the RBC Future Launch Community Challenge. This is a bold youth-led initiative that makes up to $15,000 available for youth-led projects that address diverse and urgent local priorities. We are very excited about this initiative.

We continue to work in helping our Board realize our Vision of a “giving community where people working together make a difference for all.” We continue to enhance our planning process to enable us to meet our Mission and Values of the Foundation. Every day we see the power of people working together – every year many people give generously of their time and expertise with little, if any, recognition. Without these volunteers, including our volunteer board, we could not function. Nor could we exist without the generosity of the many donor families and organizations, as well as our corporate and community sponsors whose assistance and contributions are essential to allowing the Foundation to carry on its work for the community.

As we enter our 27th year, we extend a thank you to everyone who has contributed to our successes, and look forward to continuing to work together to make a real difference in our community.

Robin Greig
President

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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.

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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.