Gloria Faye Johns of Hay River, Northwest Territories, was honoured with the 2025 Outstanding Elder Award during a ceremony on February 26, 2026. The Government of the Northwest Territories recognized Johns for her decades of leadership and community service throughout the South Slave region.
Vince McKay, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, presented the award at the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife. Johns was specifically celebrated for her long-standing work with the K’amba Carnival Committee and for providing support to local families during funerals.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the awards program, which was established in 1991 to highlight the impact of volunteers in their communities. Johns was selected as a winner from a group of 50 nominations representing 19 different communities across the territory.
Other winners included youth volunteer Ava Erasmus of Fort Simpson and individual volunteer Brian McShane of Yellowknife. The Run for Our Lives Committee in Yellowknife was also recognized for their group efforts in fundraising for cancer care.
