The Yellowknife Community foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the NWT Environmental Stewardship Fund in memory of Doug Ritchie.

The Fund was set up by his widow, France Benoit, as a way to honour Doug’s memory and continue the good work to which Doug dedicated much of his life. Doug was a well-known and highly respected NWT environmental activist. He loved the NWT, the land and its people and wanted to make the North a better place for all of its residents. Doug passed away on January 10th, 2015 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

The more than $30,000 collected will provide one-time funding for environmental advocacy projects that promote a clean, sustainable and healthy environment for all NWT residents. Projects were evaluated based on:

• Budget
• Potential to influence lasting policy or change at the community level
• Environmental benefits to the target community or NWT
• Amount of potential positive awareness the project will build
• Confidence that proposed actions will deliver on project goals

Donations were generously made by individuals, organizations, businesses and Aboriginal governments. For those who still wish to make a donation to the NWT Environmental Stewardship Fund in Memory of Doug Ritchie, funds will be accepted until March 31, 2016. Those dollars will be re-distributed at the discretion of the evaluation committee.

The recipients are:

• Northern Farm Training Institute: $10,000
• Yellowknife Play School: $2000
• Ecology North – Carbon Pricing Project: $10,000,
• Ecology North – Wash in Cold, Hang to Dry workshops $5000
• Lani Cooke – Moose Hide Tanning Camp: $3000

The Yellowknife Community Foundation was formed in 1993 to provide interested individuals and organizations with a means of supporting projects in our community for the enduring future. The Foundation is not singularly dedicated to any specific area of support. It embodies a simple concept – that people working together can make a difference.

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Yellowknife, and the surrounding area by: identifying and addressing current and anticipated community needs; and, raising, managing, and distributing investment income from donated funds to meet those needs.

For more information:

Bronwyn Watters – President, Yellowknife Community Foundation, 867-446-1145 France Benoit – france@francebenoit.com

Northern Farm Training Institute: $10,000

The Northern Farm Training Institute (NFTI) in partnership, plans to develop an expanded food recovery program in Hay River which utilizes perishable or expired food from local grocery stores and restaurants that would otherwise go to waste. The model will be transferable to other small communities. Local organizations will benefit from salvaged food in good condition, NFTI will benefit from food to be composted or fed to the animals.

The Yellowknife Play School: $2000

The Yellowknife Play School plans to construct a small garden on the school grounds to help inspire, engage and teach the children the importance and benefits of gardening.

Ecology North – Carbon Pricing Project: $10,000

Ecology North will draw comparisons to the carbon tax that has been successful and highly touted in British Columbia. Using this successful model Ecology North will develop a scenario that they believe will be successful for the NWT. This model will be put into context by using case studies of people in various communities and highlighting how this carbon pricing would impact them.

Ecology North – Wash in Cold, Hang to Dry workshops: $5000

The funding will be used to cover the costs associated with hosting 5 workshops, called “Wash in Cold, Hang to Dry” in the communities of Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, Behchoko and Hay River. The workshop will provide the materials for participants to make very inexpensive laundry soap and provide drying racks (draw prize).

Moose Hide Tanning Camp: $3000

Lani Cooke, in partnership with the Whati Tlicho Government, the Mezi School, and NWT Recreation and Parks Association will organize a moosehide tanning project. The workshop will be hosted at a camp on Lac La Martre. Fran Hurcomb will be taking pictures for a future book project. The camp is taking place the week of March 21, 2016.