This scholarship was created in memory of Zachary Knight, who was born on February 4, 2002, and passed away just after his 16th birthday in February 2018. 

Zachary was joyful, kind-hearted, full of laughter, and deeply loved. His smile and “snuggle bunny attacks” brought warmth to everyone around him.

Zachary’s sudden passing left a permanent ache in our family. As his father, a former police officer trained in crisis intervention, I struggled with guilt, grief, and the unbearable question of why. My wife and daughters were also shattered. We moved homes, changed careers, and tried to heal in our own ways.

In the years since, we have come to accept that we may never find the answer to why. Instead, we’ve chosen to focus on what we can do to honour Zachary’s life.

We founded Zachary Knight Enterprises in his name. 

Our mission is to make the world a better place – starting with housing in Indigenous communities. Through years of working with First Nations, we’ve seen how poor living conditions contribute to hopelessness and despair, especially among youth. Homes should be places of safety, dignity, and comfort – not mold, cold, or overcrowding.

We believe that solutions come from within the community. But to build that capacity, we need to invest in our youth – in their education, ideas, and leadership. 

Our Inspector in a Box program is one solution we offer to address housing challenges, but education is equally critical. That’s why this scholarship exists.

We are currently preparing to launch the scholarship, with plans to name the first recipient in June 2026. The official name is still being finalized, but it will proudly carry Zachary’s name.