The Yellowknife Community Foundation announces the establishment of the Gerry Avery Memorial Administration Fund

4 October 2022

The Yellowknife Community Foundation (YKCF) announces the establishment of the Gerry Avery Memorial Administration Fund, in memory of the late Gerry Avery, who passed away on December 14^th, 2021.

Gerry was a long-time Yellowknifer, business leader and community activist. He was the managing principal at Avery Cooper & Company at the time of his retirement in 2015. He joined the firm in 1977.

Gerry also served as the founding president of the Yellowknife Community Foundation from 1993 until 2003. The purpose of the Gerry Avery Memorial Administration Fund will be to support the YKCF’s internal activities, with a focus on strategic planning, and professional development for the staff and board.

Quote by Ian Legaree, Lead of the Fund and Donor Development Committee, and a founding board member of the YKCF – “Gerry was a community visionary, and was an ongoing support to the YKCF. He truly believed in YKCF’s vision that, ‘a giving community where people working together can make a difference for all’.”

The Foundation is thankful that we can continue the work that Gerry set out to achieve as one of the founding board members of the YKCF.

Quote by Brad Avery, son of Gerry – “Our Dad had the foresight and patience to realize the importance of a community foundation, and we are honoured to have a memorial fund in his name.”

YKCF and its Board of Directors would like to extend their deepest condolences to the Avery family.

Donations to the Fund can be made through CanadaHelps.

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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.