Work of NWT’s outstanding volunteers appreciated, honoured

“Your efforts strengthen communities every single day, and they don’t go unnoticed.”
— MACA Minister Vince McKay.

The contributions of volunteers across the territory were honoured at the 2025 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards, at a ceremony last week at the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly.

“Most volunteers don’t seek the spotlight,” Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay told the audience. “They give their time because they care about the communities and what difference it makes today, our chance to recognize the generosity and honour the people whose quiet efforts create lasting impacts.”

McKay said the 2025 awards ceremony, “reflects the incredible diversity of volunteerism” across the territory and that, “their stories remind us how meaningful it is when someone gives their time, skill and kindness to our award recipients.”

The 2025 recipients:

• Outstanding Individual Award: Brian Mc Shane (Yellowknife) – Recognized for his extensive volunteer work with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.
• Outstanding Elder Award: Gloria Faye Johns (Hay River) – Recognized for her decades of leadership and volunteerism in the South Slave region at the K’amba Carnival, at funerals and in community service.
• Outstanding Group Award: Run for Our Lives Committee (Yellowknife) – Recognized for their tireless efforts to support cancer care in the NWT through events and community fundraising efforts.
• Outstanding Youth Award: Ava Erasmus (Fort Simpson) – Honoured for her leadership and dedication while volunteering with the Fort Simpson Fire Department, Speed Skating Club and Curling Club.

Erasmus honoured the people in her Dehcho Region community she volunteers with.

“(The) people who show up early, stay late, and keep things moving, even when no one sees it,” she said. “Things get done in our communities because people care enough to step in and help.

“It really is that simple — communities don’t run on their own. They work because people give their time, their energy, and whatever skills they have to make things even just a little bit better.

Holding her award, Erasmus humbly said volunteering isn’t always about recognition.

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She said: “It’s about showing up and helping to create something better for everyone. So even though this award has my name on it, it really belongs to everyone who volunteers to support and puts in effort to make our community what it is.”

Erasmus has been an active member of the Fort Simpson volunteer fire department, attending weekly training sessions and responding to both fire and ambulance calls, providing critical assistance during emergencies, and supporting her fellow volunteers.

She also gives back to the local youth as a volunteer coach with the fort Simpson Speed Skating Club, where she not only leads practice more than three times a week at times, but also travels with the skaters to competitions, organizes fundraisers and manages the social media to celebrate their achievements.

Recently, Ava has joined the curling club volunteer board, continuing her commitment to strengthening community programs.

The NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards program was established in 1991 and since its inception, has recognized hundreds of volunteers.

The program accepts nominations in four categories: youth, individual, Elder, and group and in 2025, 50 nominations were received from 19 communities across the NWT.

More on Outstanding Elder Award recipient Gloria Faye Johns:

For decades, Faye has been a quiet force of generosity and compassion touching communities across the South Slave Region, from preparing meals for grieving families at funerals to volunteering countless hours with the K’amba Carnival committee. Her dedication has strengthened cultural traditions and brought comfort in the times of loss. Fay’s leadership and reliability have inspired others to volunteer, fostering unity cultural pride and stronger connections with neighbouring communities. Through her humility and tireless service, she’s uplifted the spirits and preserved cherished traditions, making her a truly deserving recipient of this award. It is an honour to recognize all her hard work.

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MACA Minister Vince McKay (who represents Hay River South), a long-time friend of Faye, he said she has long service — years of service — with the GNWT’s Corrections Department. “So I was fortunate enough to actually be her supervisor for many years, but I never really felt like her supervisor. She was more like my supervisor.”