July 17, 1959 - January 17, 2025
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ian Donald Legaree, an amazing husband, father, and grandfather. A tireless advocate for the North, and a dedicated champion of youth and community development. Ian passed away on 17 January 2025 leaving behind a legacy of service and a profound impact on countless lives in the Northwest Territories and beyond.
Born on 17 July 1959 to Don and Vivien (Olson) Legaree, Ian came from a typical Canadian background of new and old immigrants from northern Europe and the United States. He was raised in Atikokan, Ontario where he met the love of his life Shawna Lampi. They married on 24 January 1981 when they both were oh so young. Who knew that their union would blossom into almost 44 years of adventure and commitment to their family and community?
Soon their children began to arrive: Alexander born in Winkler, Manitoba in 1982 (Robin Mellon and Ed and James Trewin), Stephen born in Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories in 1985 (Cindy Veroba and Burke Legaree) and Sean born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in 1990.
He graduated from the University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Canada) and Confederation College (Thunder Bay, Canada) and was a certified Level 3 coach in swimming. His volunteer experience includes over twenty years of coaching and officiating in swimming including assignments at the Canada and North American Indigenous Games, D茅fi Sportif, World Cup (Edmonton) and various national championships. He spent ten years as the Head Coach of the Yellowknife Polar Bear Swim Club where he greatly appreciated the opportunity to inspire hundreds of youth to explore the benefits of sport and swimming.
He also volunteered with the Yellowknife Community Foundation from its founding in 1993 to 2023 to assist with their charitable works.
Ian was the Director of Sport, Recreation and Youth for the Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) from 1989 to 2020. During his tenure he played roles in a range of national and international projects including the Arctic Winter Games, the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (NWT Program) and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. From 2020, until his death, he undertook key roles in emergency response and recovery events in the Northwest Territories including the devastating flooding and fires of the early 2020s.
His Arctic Winter Games experience included 19 editions of the biannual celebration of circumpolar sport and culture beginning in 1986 (Whitehorse, Yukon) as a mission staff member, a Host Society board member in 1990 (Yellowknife, NWT) and as management support for the 2018 Games in South Slave, NWT. He also served as the Technical Director for the Games from 1993 to 2019. In 2019 he moved to a volunteer role with the Arctic Winter Games International Committee as the International Director.
He was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Yellowknife in 2007, the David Ramsden Career Excellence Award in 2013, Premier's Awards in 2010, 2014, 2019 and 2022 and the World Leisure Organization - Cornelius Westland Humanitarian Award in 2014.
Ian had many hobbies including researching family history. His passion was sparked at the funeral of his great-grandfather, Jay Schram, in 1984.
Ian loved to walk and travel the world with his wife.
He was a big sports fan and loved watching the Toronto Blue Jays, golf (even sometimes with his eyes closed!), and international swimming events.
Finally, Ian loved finding interesting rocks. He loved building rock gardens and pathways and displaying his favourite finds in his office.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched.
Ian is survived by his wife of 43 years 51 weeks, Shawna Lampi- Legaree, a talented artist, and their three sons Alexander (Robin), Stephen (Cindy), and Sean, and his grandchild Burke.
He will be missed by siblings Robin Johnson (Brent), Lorene Legaree (Jeff), Kristi Legaree, Blaine Legaree (Terri-Ann) and nephews and nieces, Beau Johnson (Lindsay, Eli and Ethan), Jacob Johnson (Carolyn, Quinn and Cora) Rachel Johnson, Paige Gascoigne (Brad, Lincoln and Wiora), Grant Legaree, Judah Legaree, Levi Legaree, Elijah Legaree, Isaac Legaree. As well as Jean and Richard Lampi, Douglas Lampi, Daniele de Oliveira Georges, Jill Lampi and his niece Olivia Georges-Lampi.
Ian was predeceased by his parents Don Legaree (2015) and Vivien Legaree (Olson) (2013) and niece Meredith Ivall (2015).
A celebration of Ian's life will be held on 17 July 2025 at the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund at the Yellowknife Community Foundation (QR code below).
If you have any stories or photos you'd like to share of Ian, please email rememberingian@legaree.ca.