This past summer, United Way NWT activated its Emergency Response Fund for the first time since 2023 to support urgent community needs resulting from wildfire evacuations in Fort Providence, Whatì, and surrounding areas.
As evacuations began, we mobilized funding to support local partners in providing immediate assistance to evacuees and welcoming communities. In total, we distributed over $60,000 to meet urgent local needs, reduce pressure on local systems, and sustain essential services. This included support for food, fuel, short-term accommodations, transportation, essential supplies, volunteer coordination, and early recovery planning.
The Emergency Response Fund is powered by donations and designed to complement formal emergency operations. It provides Northerners and allies with a trusted way to contribute directly to relief and recovery efforts, ensuring that resources stay in the North and reach the people and organizations closest to community needs.
This year’s response was made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Northerners and partners near and far. We extend heartfelt thanks to the Public Service Alliance of Canada Social Justice Fund and the Union of Northern Workers, whose combined $20,000 in early donations helped kick-start our campaign. Their leadership inspired others to step up and give.
We are also deeply grateful to local businesses and community members who came together to help. A special thank-you to Javaroma Gourmet Coffee in Yellowknife, whose community campaign raised nearly $3,000 through small, individual contributions, a powerful example of Northerners caring for one another.
Our response builds on what we learned in 2023, when, with community and donor support, United Way NWT funded more than 130 local initiatives across the territory. That experience strengthened our systems for rapid granting and coordination, enabling funding and resources to reach local partners within days, if not hours, from when requests were made.
These emergencies remind us that Northern resilience is defined by how we face challenges together—as governments, communities, emergency services, organizations, and volunteers, all doing what we can, where we can, to support one another.
We extend our sincere gratitude to emergency responders, GNWT Public Safety officials, regional and local governments, community organizations, and individual volunteers, as well as out-of-territory allies who contributed to evacuation and recovery efforts across the NWT.
About United Way NWT & The Emergency Funding Program
As an independent, Northern-governed charitable organization, United Way NWT exists to promote the organized capacity of people in the Northwest Territories to care for one another.
Through our Emergency Funding Program, we raise and redistribute funds during times of crisis to strengthen the capacity of local organizations and volunteers to respond and recover. We aim to fill acute gaps, alleviate barriers, and enable immediate, community-led responses in alignment with the advice of local and Indigenous governments and GNWT Public Safety.
Overview of United Way NWT’s Emergency Response in 2025:
During the 2025 wildfire evacuations, United Way NWT’s Emergency Response Fund provided rapid financial support to community organizations and on-the-ground initiatives to meet urgent needs, strengthen coordination and support local response. This included:
- Immediate relief: meals, transportation, and fuel assistance for evacuees travelling to and from Yellowknife.
- Basic needs: grocery and personal-care gift cards to support displaced families and individuals.
- Community coordination: resources for community organizations to extend hours, expand programming, and assist with volunteer mobilization.
- Essential supplies: cleaning kits and emergency items for families returning home.
