Rockhill fire: All the ways you can help the families
Thirty-three Yellowknife families are staying with relatives or friends, or settling into new homes, after their apartments in the Rockhill complex went up in flames.
On this page, we have collected all the different ways you can help the families. We’ll try to keep this updated with the latest information.
The Fieldhouse reopened to the public with all programs running as normal from Thursday, October 4. Please no longer bring donations to the Fieldhouse.
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An investigation into what happened to start the fire has begun, although an inspection team has to wait until the site is safe. A second, smaller fire reignited at Rockhill on Tuesday evening.
The Yellowknife Catholic School Board and YWCA will hold a Thanksgiving dinner for the Rockhill families on Monday. The YK1 School Board, which earlier announced a similar event, withdrew its planned Thanksgiving for the families, saying: “In typical Yellowknife fashion, a number of other organizations had the same idea … we’re happy that those who were affected by this week’s fire are being taken care of in any way possible.”
Your simplest way to help remains donating online via Canada Helps. Select the Rockhill Fire Fund from the dropdown on the YWCA page.
Latest from the YWCA
On Thursday morning, the YWCA asked people to keep donating online or at the YK Co-op or Birchwood Coffee.
The organization also told Cabin Radio you can drop essentials like toiletries, diapers, sets of pots and pans, cutlery, and similar, at 1456 Gitzel St. Please do not bring clothing.
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In a new development, the YWCA asked anyone with long-term, affordable office space options for its administrative staff to contact giving@ywcanwt.ca.
Clothing donations should go to 56 Rycon Drive between 1pm and 9pm, where volunteers from the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul will sort them.
To make a larger cash donation, email giving@ywcanwt.ca for the YWCA’s banking information.
On Wednesday evening, the YWCA requested no more donations be brought to the Fieldhouse.
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Instead, the organization asked for donations to be sent to 1456 Gitzel St from 8am until 4pm. The YWCA said kitchenware is needed but clothing is not.
Earlier on Wednesday, the YWCA told Cabin Radio it is accepting:
- kitchen items like plates and cups, pots and pans, and cutlery;
- toiletries and towels;
- winter clothing for both children and adults;
- diapers and baby formula; and
- gift cards for grocery stores and Walmart.
If you are donating, make sure the items are in new or good condition.
The YWCA says: think about what you’d want if you were starting out fresh. Don’t bring items in a condition where you may not want to receive them yourself in those circumstances!
Yellowknife companies helping
You can also contribute to the families through a range of businesses across Yellowknife.
This is our best effort at compiling all the help being offered. If we are missing something, email Ollie and we’ll add it to this page.
- DC Moving is helping with pickup and delivery of donated furniture. If you want to donate furniture, don’t drop it off directly with the YWCA – contact DC Moving. Call Darcy on 867-445-8818 to make arrangements. Quality Furniture, De Beers, and Outcrop have also donated items to the families or the emergency shelter.
- YK Co-op and Independent grocery stores allow you to donate at the tills when you buy groceries.
- Birchwood Coffee Kǫ̀ is accepting cash donations on behalf of the YWCA.
- Harley’s Hardrock Saloon is hosting an auction on Wednesday night, October 3, with proceeds going to the YWCA. The auction begins at 9pm. Donated items from Joie de Vivre Medi Spa, Samantha Stuart Photography, Etandah Organic Day Spa, Buffalo Airways, Stake Restaurant, Big Buds Delivery, Gastown, and Yellowknife Tattoo.
- Aurora College Student Association will hold a potluck fundraiser on Thursday, October 11, from 4pm till 7pm in the lobby of Aurora College. Plates will be $10 or by donation.
- Copperhouse is contributing 10 percent of all pizza sales to the YWCA fund, including takeout, from October 3-7.
- Javaroma will donate 10 percent of all sales on Saturday, October 6 – at all locations – to the YWCA. Donation boxes will be available at Javaroma until the end of the month.
You can also follow the Rockhill Fire Information Group on Facebook, where related updates and requests are being shared.
In a news release on Wednesday afternoon, three NWT diamond mine operators – Dominion, Rio Tinto, and De Beers – said they had collectively pledged $45,000 to the YWCA’s Rockhill fund.