The Yellowknife Community Foundation announces the establishment of the Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund in memory of Ian Legaree who passed away on January 17 2025. Ian was a dedicated champion of youth and community development and a long-time volunteer of the Yellowknife Community Foundation.
The Yellowknife Community Foundation would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family. Ian will be greatly missed here at the Foundation, where he played a significant role for 30 years. He was not not only a member of the original board of directors back in 1993, but he was also part of the original committee convened by the City of Yellowknife to explore the idea of creating a local community foundation a few years prior. Ian remained on the board of directors for most of the next 30 years with breaks in 2001-2003 and 2013-2014, and he ended his final term on the board in 2023. Ian helped transform a small, volunteer-led community foundation with a handful of donors into a thriving organization with thousands of donors that has granting over $3 million to students and community organizations in Yellowknife and across the Northwest Territories! Ian was present for the Foundation’s first grants awarded in 1996, celebrated its milestone of reaching a million-dollar asset base in 2005, and supported the creation of over 30 student awards – achievements he was deeply proud of.
“Ian’s passing has reverberated across the Yellowknife community, the North, and beyond. His passion for community building, and endless giving of his time and talents, will stand as an enduring testament to community spirit and inspiration to young and old alike. We are so grateful for Ian’s enthusiasm, leadership, and friendship, and our hearts are with his family.” – Laurie Gault, Chair of the Yellowknife Community Foundation
The Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund will be a scholarship fund that 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). The Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund will carry on Ian’s legacy of leadership and community service, with the award criteria to be finalized soon.
“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community in establishing the Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund. This fund will not only honour Ian’s memory but also ensure that his passion for youth leadership continues to thrive. We are confident that this scholarship will empower future generations to reach their full potential and make a positive impact on the world, just as Ian did.” – Shawna, Alexander, Stephen, and Sean Legaree
Ian’s Celebration of Life will be held on July 17 2025 at the Legislative Assembly and donation cards will be available for the Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund. Donations to the fund can also be made online at any time here:
The Yellowknife Community Foundation was established in 1993 to give individuals and organizations a way to support community projects with lasting impact. We manage endowment funds, meaning that we invest donations and generally grant out the annual investment income as student awards or community grants. This ensures that funds like the Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund will endure, carrying Ian’s legacy far into the future. The Foundation is built on a simple yet powerful idea – that by working together, we can create meaningful change in our community.
