
HWDSB created this page to help our community communicate award opportunities for students. This includes scholarships, bursaries and awards of distinction. Awards may or may not include a financial reward.
When your award is posted, you can then approach the schools individually for approval to distribute this information. Please note that if an award is not on the Awards page, HWDSB schools will not distribute the information.
Do you want your award displayed on this page? Click the tab to view our guidelines and then click here for the form to submit an award!
Chaney-Ensign Bursary Fund
Two application deadlines – October 1 and February 1
NEED HELP WITH TUITION? A bursary is money to help pay for your education that you don’t need to pay back. Ever!
Hamilton Community Foundation is a local charity. We have a program called the Chaney-Ensign Bursary that’s specifically for postsecondary students like you who graduated from high school in Hamilton.
Complete the application on our website by these dates:
- February 1
- October 1 You can apply (and receive funds) in both rounds.
Three steps to get a bursary:
- Graduate from a publicly funded high school in Hamilton.
- Apply for OSAP (you don’t need to have received funding).
- Submit application for a bursary.
Apply online here when the portal is open.
University of Waterloo Department of English Language and Literature
Writing in Colour: Grade 11 Essay Colloquium Award
Deadline: March 1, 2024
To apply, students submit an essay on the year’s selected topic. This year, we have chosen the topic of Connections. The students with the top essays will be chosen and asked to participate in a student colloquium at the University of Waterloo, where the winning essay will be selected for a $1000 prize. In addition to the prize, the winning student will also be offered an opportunity to meet with some members of the university community who could be helpful to their future ambitions.
Open to grade 11 students who are Black, Indigenous, or students of colour.
Additional information can be found at https://uwaterloo.ca/english/awards/writing-colour
WORKAID & ASSOCIATES WORKAID FUND
Deadline to apply: May 30, 2024
This $1,000 bursary was initiated by the overwhelming need to assist the children of injured workers that need assistance with post secondary studies.
Must be the child of a parent currently or past on WSIB benefits.
https://workaid.ca/workaid-fund
Think Big Scholarship
(ongoing opportunity)
As a Partner in Education Toromont Cat is pleased to award students with a scholarship upon admission to one of our sponsored College Programs. With over twenty thousand dollars designated for scholarships Toromont Cat is paving the way to a rewarding career as a Technician.
Up to ten awards of $2,000.00 will be awarded to successful applicants; $1,000.00 towards 1st semester tuition then upon successful completion of semester 1, $1,000.00 will be awarded to towards the remainder of the program.
Click here for more information.
Click here to complete the scholarship form.
Federal Education Grants and Bonds
(ongoing opportunity)
To help save for a child’s future studies, the Government of Canada provides two education savings incentives, which are deposited into a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) consists of a basic amount of 20% on the first $2,500 in annual personal contributions to an RESP (this grant is available to all eligible beneficiaries regardless of family income), as well as the additional amount of Canada Education Savings Grant, which is:
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- 10% on the first $500 of annual personal contributions for children from families with an adjusted income greater than $46,605 and up to $93,208; or,
- 20% on the first $500 of annual personal contributions for children from families with an adjusted income of $46,605 or less.
CESG is available until the end of calendar year in which the beneficiary turns 17, and the maximum lifetime amount, including the additional amount of Canada Education Savings Grant, is $7,200.
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The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is available for eligible children from low-income families born in 2004 or later and provides an initial payment of $500 plus $100 for each year of eligibility, up to age 15, for a maximum of $2,000. Personal contributions are not required to receive the CLB. RESPs are the only savings vehicle that attract the federal and, where applicable, provincial education savings incentives. The money saved in an RESP is not only used to help with tuition, but can also be used to pay for housing, transportation and other education-related expenses, such as textbooks, equipment, supplies, etc., once enrolled in post-secondary education. You will need you and your child’s SIN. Visit your bank and ask to open an RESP.
Learn more: Brochure
Criteria for awards
Awards will be approved based on the following criteria. For context, the promotion of awards will align with the Education Act:
Education Act, Regulation 298 S.24: No advertisement or announcement shall be placed in a school or on school property or distributed or announced to the pupils on school property without the consent of the board that operates the school except announcements of school activities.
Criteria for Approval:
- There cannot be a fee for a student to apply for an award.
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- A student providing their likeness (name, photo, post-secondary institution, area of study, etc.) may not be a requirement to be considered for an award.
- The organization offering the award is responsible for obtaining consent before a student’s name, photo or any personal information is shared or posted where it is accessible to the public (e.g., on websites, social media platforms or in print material)
- The material must NOT contain commercial advertising, corporate logos, reference to corporate sponsors, or be a private business, unless these are directly linked to an award.
- The information must be respectful of all faiths, races and ethnic backgrounds.
- The information must respect the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Education Act.
Awards will be removed after their application deadline. If your award is offered annually, you will need to resubmit each year.
Questions
Questions regarding the distribution of award opportunities should be directed to:
Hamilton Foundation for Student Success
905-527-5092 ext. 2103
email foundation@hwdsb.on.ca
Disclaimer
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information regarding scholarships on this website. It is the responsibility of the student to do research early in order to note deadline changes, revisions to criteria, and so on. Contacting the sponsor directly for the most up-to-date information is recommended.
HWDSB schools may have awards that are specific to a given school. That is, only students attending a given school may be eligible for certain school specific awards. Check with your Principal (elementary) or Guidance Counsellor (secondary) for more information about school specific awards offered by your school.