The Yellowknife Community Foundation announced today that its 2020 campaign to support our community and projects from across the Northwest Territories was an outstanding success with $682,515 granted directly or contributed through partnerships with other organizations. 

Foundation President Robin Greig said – “2020 was an extremely difficult year for our community, our territory and for people from around the world.  The Yellowknife Community Foundation was pleased to be a part of a greater effort to help support numerous people and projects that strove to make things better.” 

Supported projects included:

Losing Track of Days – NWT Artists & COVID-19 – $50,000

In partnership with the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, Losing Track of Days will be putting needed cash into the hands of professional artists from across NWT early in the New Year. The project will also help document the impacts of COVID-19 on our society and leave an artistic legacy as a reminder. Launched in December 2020, the application deadline for artists is January 15, 2021 (see the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre website for details).

Emergency Community Support Fund – Rounds 1 & 2 – $275,000

The Yellowknife Community Foundation was among some 150 local community foundations across Canada that joined in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross to support distribution of grants from the Government of Canada’s $350M Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The Yellowknife Community Foundation facilitated the distribution of 11 grants totalling $275,000 to 9 different organizations from across the NWT supporting vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 Scholarships doubled as part of COVID-19 response – $104,000

The Yellowknife Community Foundation doubled its scholarship awards in 2020.  A total of 54 scholarships valued at a total of $104,000 were awarded across numerous fields of study.  Laurie Gault, Grants Committee Chair for the Yellowknife Community Foundation – “Students across the north faced an unprecedented drop in summer employment opportunities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were very pleased to be able to double the number of students receiving scholarships to help out.”

Together We Are Strong – $75,000 overmatched by United Way NWT- $86,000

The Yellowknife Community Foundation (YKCF) made its most significant donation in its 27-year history in 2020. A $75,000 grant to the United Way NWT was overmatched by $86,000 in donations received by that organization to support those left vulnerable by the pandemic. “It’s during challenging times that the North really shines,” said Robin Greig, President of the Yellowknife Community Foundation. “In a few short weeks, Northerners donated $86,000 to the United Way NWT to overmatch our contribution. 

Grants to Community Projects – $92,515

In 2020, the Yellowknife Community Foundation also awarded grants to a wide range of organizations supporting important projects in our community:

• Avens – A Community for Seniors: the Barbara Bromley Memorial Fund ($10,000) and the Albert hall Fund for Avens ($1,750) for equipment and programs
• Loraine Minish-Cooper Garden of Hope ($5,245) to support upgrades to the garden located in Somba K’e Park near City Hall. 
• Scouts Canada ($25,000) for a new roof for Scout House
• Yellowknife Seniors Society ($5,000) for the Lunch with a Bunch program
• Yellowknife District Girl Guides ($10,000) for improvements to Camp Dechinta
• Food Rescue Yellowknife ($20,000) to assist with the purchase of a new van
• Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning ($10,000) for four public art murals
• William MacDonald School ($3,745) for Tower Gardens
• École Sir John Franklin High School ($2,300) for music program guitars

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.