scholarships

Are you graduating from high school and planning to attend post-secondary school, or already a post-secondary student? Organizations across Canada have developed scholarships specifically for youth impacted by rheumatic disease, disabilities and financial difficulties. Applications are now open for select 2023 scholarship opportunities, with more opening throughout the year! Learn more about eligibility and application requirements below.

The Dr. Bonnie Cameron Post-Secondary Scholarship program is in its fourth year and hopes to assist in allowing students living with arthritis to achieve their educational goals. It is presented by Runanthropic.org because of the inspiring work and dedication of Dr. Cameron and the entire Rheumatology staff at SickKids Hospital. The scholarship award is $2,500. Applicants must be a legal and permanent resident of Canada who is diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis by a physician.

2023 Applications are now open until May 15th, 2022. Learn more and apply here.

The annual scholarship winner will be awarded $1,000 towards their tuition to an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution.
The scholarship will be awarded to a Canadian high school student with a documented disability who is pursuing post-secondary education in the field of study in health care, criminal justice or community & social services at an accredited Canadian institution for the upcoming academic year 202/2023.

Applications are now open until July 31st, 2023. Learn more and apply here.

The scholarship program is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada with a permanent disability who are currently registered in and returning to a full-time program of study at an accredited Canadian post-secondary college or university.

2023 applications will open early in the year- check here for details.

The Kevin Collins Abilities Scholarship is presented to a post-secondary student with a disability. Eligible applicants must have at minimum one full semester left in their post-secondary education.

Learn more and apply here. 

The District/Authority scholarship is awarded to 5,500 high school graduates who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen area.

Click here for more details and to apply.

Tips from a previous applicant:

  • The application is not too lengthy and they give out a good number of scholarships.
  • Get good reference letters by providing specific details to your referee on your involvement in the activity
  • Make sure that your portfolio is organized and succinct (curate it – don’t just dump it in a folder and press send).
  • There are so many options for this award! Pick something that you are passionate about, not just what you think looks the best.
  • Thoroughly explain your activity/service/event. If you organized a Cassie + Friends walk at your school, don’t just say “I organized a walk for Juvenile Arthritis Awareness at my school.” Make your role, activity, and reason behind it clearer. An example is, “I planned, coordinated, and lead a 2km school wide walk (300 students) around our neighborhood to raise awareness and funds for Juvenile Arthritis research and support for children and youth. Juvenile Arthritis is an auto immune disease that attacks the joints and tendons causing inflammation, stiffness, and pain…”. Then you might go on to provide some more information about JIA and the impact that your event had!
  • You might also give some examples of things you did in the planning and coordinating stages
  • The people reading your application may have never heard of JIA, and they certainly will not know how much time/work you put into the initiative unless you tell them!

To be considered for the Award, applicants must meet be:

  • In good academic standing.
  • Canadian citizens or landed immigrants.
  • Students graduating from secondary (high) school or students completing their first year of CÉGEP or students who have completed secondary (high) school
  • Involved in voluntary humanitarian activities (for which they have not been compensated).
  • Planning to or are already studying towards their first university degree or diploma at a Canadian post-secondary institution, or entering their 2nd year of CÉGEP in the upcoming academic year.

Deadline is December 1st, 2023. Learn more and apply here.

Tips from a previous applicant:

  • This scholarship is named after Terry Fox. Researching Terry Fox and discussing any similar world views/interests could be an interesting way to make your application stand out.

CSLA is pleased to offer up to eleven $500.00 annual student awards to exemplary student leaders from across Canada. The aim of these awards is to recognize outstanding achievement and contribution to student leadership in secondary schools and communities across Canada. These awards are the highest recognition CSLA gives to student leaders in Canada.

Applications open February 2023. Click here for more information.

The Lisa Huus Memorial Bursary Fund was established in 1988 by Lisa’s family and has been supported by personal donations in memory of Lisa and by fundraising activities undertaken by the Huus family and the bursary committee.

Applications for this bursary open March 21, 2023.

An applicant must:

    1. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
    2. Be enrolled in an accredited college or university in British Columbia or Alberta.
    3. Be a person with significant physical disabilities or ongoing health challenges

Learn more here.

Lupus Canada offers six (6) one time scholarships of $2000 to students diagnosed with lupus entering or currently enrolled in post-secondary education.

Applications for 2023 open February 9th. 

 Click here for information on eligibility and to apply.

UCB Canada Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative treatments for inflammatory arthritis diseases, such as: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. UCB Canada Inc. is dedicated to creating unique programs and tools to aid patients in reaching above and beyond the boundaries of their disease and fulfilling their educational ambitions.

  • 8 students selected each year
  • Up to $5,000 in financial aid per winner
  • Apply between January and June 2022

Learn more here.

The selection of a Loran Scholar is unique in its attention to a young person’s character. We believe that integrity, courage, grit and personal autonomy are better indicators of overall potential than standard academic measures. To discover these traits, we administer the most comprehensive and thorough scholarship selection process in Canada. Tenable at 25 partner universities, the Loran Award is valued at $100,000 over four years, including mentorship, funding for summer internships and participation in an extensive network of past and present scholars.

Applications will open again fall 2023. Learn more here. 

What are the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership?

Since 1995, TD has awarded millions in scholarships to recognize students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community leadership. TD Scholarships for Community Leadership recipients receive up to $70,000 for tuition and living expenses as well as opportunities for paid summer employment, peer networking and mentorship. Supporting young community leaders is one way TD is helping build a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.

Applications open September 2023. Learn more here.

Tips from a previous applicant:

-This is an award of great value and I encourage all with community leadership experience to apply. Do note, however, that if your initiative has not had a visibly high impact, it is unlikely you will receive the award. I say this to help with prioritizing what scholarships to spend the most time on writing.

– Specificity matters. 100 people may have put on a bake sale for a cause. Why does yours matter the most? What was its impact? Why is the cause so important?

– Be succinct in your writing and exclude flowery words. This scholarship application has a small word count.

– Even though this scholarship is looking for visible change don’t forget that their are many ways to be a community leader. Maybe you sat and listened when someone was sad even though you were in a big rush?

Seemingly small acts of community leadership can often have the greatest underlying impact, and certainly should not be forgotten when writing this scholarship application.

Take a Pain Check is offering 2 scholarships worth $2,500 to full-time students pursuing greater learning at Canadian universities or colleges, and those enrolled in trade school educational programs starting in September 2023. They are seeking individuals who have or will triumph over adversity despite the limitations of living with a disability.

The scholarship will be awarded to students who are:

  • Canadian Residents or Permanent Citizens
  • Diagnosed with a Rheumatic Condition
  • Full-Time Undergraduate or Graduate Students in a Canadian University/College; STEM Preference
  • Academic Excellence
  • Making a Difference in the Community

Deadline: January 30, 2024 at 11:59pm EST.

Click HERE to apply.

The Beedie Luminaries Scholarship is for students with potential who are facing financial adversity. Students who are smart, but constrained by circumstance. Students who are resilient and gritty. Students who are ready to make a positive change in their lives.

Applications open in November, 2023. Learn more here.

For information on transitioning to post-secondary education with rheumatic disease, visit our Post-Secondary School Toolkit!