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NWT Disabilities Council raises over $27,000 at benefit auction

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Meaghan Richens/NNSL photo Some of the gift baskets and art up for bidding at the NWT Disabilities Council annual benefit auction at Chateau Nova Friday night.

The NWT Disabilities Council held its 40th Annual Benefit Auction at Chateau Nova on Friday night.

The free event had live and silent auctions, music, games and prizes for costumes, with 20 per cent of the proceeds going to the YWCA to support families affected by the Rockhill Fire.

Meaghan Richens/NNSL photo
Some of the gift baskets and art up for bidding at the NWT Disabilities Council annual benefit auction at Chateau Nova Friday night.

Some of the items up for auction included gift baskets, art and gift certificates to local businesses, and the evening's highest bid was $3,400 for a diamond pendant from Diavik.

About 300 people attended this year's auction but with the recent fire and the various fundraising events for it, a lot of people have directed their money towards the YWCA, said Denise McKee, executive director of the NWT Disabilities Council.

“But when you have a large community emergency or crisis like this we have to all come together and be a community and that's what the North does,” said McKee.

About $5,500 of the funds raised at the Friday night auction will go to the YWCA to support the families affected by the fire.

This year's benefit auction raised a total of $27,500, which is down about $10,000 from last year's event, said McKee.

“We've taken a big hit with the city withdrawing funding from our summer experience program,” she said.

Although the need for the program is still growing, $25,000 of funding is now gone, she said.

Through the program, the NWT Disabilities Council provides individualized support to children with identified barriers to attend summer camp in Yellowknife and N’Dilo.

“We were already making up a big portion because we try never to leave a family behind or without support,” said McKee.

Despite these recent setbacks, McKee said Friday's event was a success.

“Everybody who came had an amazing time, we were able to raise awareness,” she said.

“We think it's a success.”