Raising the roof with the Foster Family Coalition – Yellowknife Community Foundation

28 November 2018

It’s been a big year for us! Not only have we celebrated our 25^th anniversary but we’ve invested a record amount back into our community through scholarships and grants like the one the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT received earlier this month to help literally (and figuratively in some senses) raise the roof at Camp Connections – an on the land adventure-based camp for children ages 7 – 18 who are currently or have been involved with Social Services.

Approximately 150 people participated in Camp Connections last year, 100 campers, plus staff, guests, artists, volunteers, foster parents, birth parents, social workers and adoptive parents.

“We were so grateful to receive the funding from the Yellowknife Community Foundation,” said Nicole Garbutt, Camp Director. “It is a huge help to the completion of the cookhouse and to helping create memories to last a lifetime for children and youth receiving services in the NWT.”

The Yellowknife Community Foundation and the Foster Family Coalition have had a special, long-standing relationship which has seen us providing ongoing support of the tremendous work the Coalition does plus managing their ‘Helping Children Soar Scholarship’ since 2011.

“It was an easy decision for us to support the Foster Family Coalition in their work with some of our most vulnerable children and youth;” said Bronwyn Watters, President of the Yellowknife Community Foundation “ we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

For more information on to support the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT please visit their website: https://www.ffcnwt.com/donate

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Impact Story - Skate North -...

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.