Ritchie family donates $100K to Ecology North
Funds to go toward new office space for environmental organization
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, April 10, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A standing ovation followed the announcement Doug Ritchie's family will donate $100,000 to Ecology North to help the environmental non-profit find a new home.
Doug Ritchie, right, holds an anti-fracking banner during a protest along Franklin Avenue last fall before his Jan. 10 death. His family is contributing $100,000 to Ecology North to fulfill his wishes for the organization to get new office space in the city. - NNSL file photo |
Doug's older brother Michael Ritchie made the announcement on behalf of the family during the celebration of Doug's life in Dettah on Saturday at the Chief Drygeese Centre.
"It was quite touching, the whole event was quite touching," said Craig Scott, executive director of Ecology North about the announcement.
"It's really important for us - it will hopefully provide us with a new location," he said Wednesday.
The seven-employee organization is currently in an office space on the corner of 51 Street and 51 Avenue.
"It's always been something that's been on our radar that we'll need a new building. But being a small NGO we haven't had the deep pockets to be able to afford it," said Scott.
Doug Ritchie died Jan. 10, a little more than a month after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He was involved with Ecology North since the mid-1990s. He volunteered, became a full-time employee and remained a board member until his death.
"We are proud of the work that Ecology North and Doug have accomplished," Michael Ritchie wrote in an e-mail to Yellowknifer.
"After Doug was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he expressed concern for a future home for Ecology North, and asked the family to make this donation. One of Doug's thoughts were that a few "not for profits" might share a building.
"We hope this donation can help."
Scott said they found out about a month ago about the donation, which is still in the process of actually being made.
But despite the contribution, a new office space is unlikely to happen soon.
The cost of potentially buying land and building a structure means more funds would need to be raised.
"We have to figure this out, talk to people and see where we go from here," Scott said, who added his thanks to the family for the donation.
France Benoit, Doug Ritchie's wife, said the family's donation is a touching tribute to his work.
The donation and a new office will send a strong message that the environmental organization is here to stay, she said.
Benoit wants to be involved because it meant so much to Doug and the family.
"As his wife I want to make sure that his vision is implemented," she said.
