Education Access Program

Scholarships & Bursaries

Financial assistance for students, awarded fairly using objective, published criteria and an independent selection process.

Applications are not currently open

Student studying with books and a laptop at a library desk

Applications are not currently open.

The Foundation’s scholarship and bursary program is planned. No awards have yet been made. Criteria, award values and deadlines will be published before the first application cycle opens. Ask to be notified.

Purpose

Removing financial barriers to education

Scholarships and bursaries advance education by helping students who have the ability and commitment to learn but face financial barriers. Bursaries are awarded primarily on financial need; scholarships recognize educational achievement and potential together with need.

Eligibility

Who may apply

  • Residents of Canada enrolled in, or accepted to, an accredited post-secondary institution or recognized vocational or professional training program.
  • Applicants meeting any additional criteria published for a specific award (for example, field of study or level of study).
  • Not a director, officer, employee or selection-committee member of the Foundation, or a relative of any of them.

Objective selection criteria

Proposed scoring rubric

Weights are proposed and will be confirmed in the board-approved Scholarship & Bursary Policy before any cycle opens.

Proposed selection criteria and weighting
CriterionWeightHow it is assessed
Financial need40%Assessed from the applicant’s statement and, at the shortlist stage, supporting documents such as a student-aid assessment.
Educational goals & plan25%Clarity and feasibility of the applicant’s educational objectives and how the award will help.
Academic achievement or progress20%Transcripts or evidence of progress relative to the applicant’s circumstances.
Community involvement15%Volunteer, service or leadership activity, in any setting.

Application process

How it will work

  1. Cycle announced

    Criteria, award values and deadline published on this page.

  2. Application submitted

    Online application with a personal statement.

  3. Eligibility screening

    Staff or volunteers check basic eligibility only; they do not score.

  4. Independent scoring

    At least three committee members score each application against the rubric.

  5. Decision & notification

    The committee’s recommendations are approved and all applicants are notified.

Required documentation

What you will need

  • Proof of enrolment or acceptance.
  • Most recent transcript or evidence of educational progress.
  • A personal statement describing your educational goals.
  • One reference letter.
  • For need-based awards, and only if shortlisted: supporting evidence of financial need.

We will not ask for your Social Insurance Number or banking details.

Conflict-of-interest safeguards

  • A majority of committee members must be independent of the Foundation’s board.
  • Every member signs a written declaration each cycle.
  • Any member with a personal, family or professional relationship with an applicant must declare it and withdraw from scoring that application.
  • Relatives of directors, officers and committee members are ineligible.

Documented decisions

  • Scores and reasons are recorded for every application.
  • Final recommendations and any recusals are minuted.
  • Records are retained securely for at least six years.
  • Aggregate results (number and total value of awards) will be reported publicly.

Frequently asked questions

Are applications open now?

No. Applications are not currently open. Use the notification form on this page to be told when the first cycle is announced.

Do I have to belong to a particular faith to apply?

No. Eligibility is based on the published criteria for each award, which do not include religion.

How much are the awards?

Award values have not yet been set. They will be published with each award cycle and will depend on available funds.

Can relatives of directors apply?

No. Directors, officers, employees, selection-committee members and their relatives are not eligible for any award.

How are payments made?

Wherever possible, awards are paid directly to the educational institution on the student’s behalf.

Will I receive a reason if I am not selected?

Every decision is documented against the rubric. Applicants may request general feedback, subject to the privacy of other applicants.

Stay informed

Notify me when applications open

This is not an application. We will only use your details to tell you when a scholarship or bursary cycle opens.

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