Scholarships

BGC Ottawa, with generous donor support, provides more than $40,000 in academic assistance each year to many deserving young students.

Apply for a ScholarshipLearn more
Two happy BGC volunteers.A young woman cooking and smiling at the camera.

Program
Overview

BGC Ottawa, with generous donor support, provides more than $40,000 in academic assistance each year to many deserving young students.  

Awards are available to current or past BGC Ottawa Club Members and volunteers (minimum duration of three months attendance), who are entering their first year of post-secondary studies and are under the age of 24.

The BGC Ottawa Scholarship Program is intended to recognize youth for their commitment to BGC Ottawa, financial need and academic potential.

Apply

Apply for a BGC Ottawa Scholarship

The Application 
process

Before you get started

Application Checklist

To ensure applications are successfully filled out, please take a look at our checklist before getting started. Failure to do any of the listed items on the checklist can result in an application being deemed incomplete.

It is recommended to double-check your application before you submit it.

Review Checklist

Before you get started

Evaluation Criteria

To ensure transparency in how BGC Ottawa Scholarships are awarded, a Evaluation Criteria and Scoring Rubric will be used to access all applications.

Review Criteria
1

Personal Statement Template

Download Template
2

Upload Transcript

Upload
3

Upload Letter of Acceptance

Upload
4

BGC Ottawa Scholarship Application

Apply
5

Application Webinar

Watch Webinar

Have a question?

Contact Us

General
Eligibility
Criteria

To be eligible for this program you must:

  • Present a minimum average of 70% (applicants below 70% due to personal circumstances will be considered).
  • Be registered in a program at a University, College or Trade School.

Please note:

  • All scholarships are for first year students.
  • You must be a current or past Member, volunteer or employee of BGC Ottawa (minimum duration of three months attendance).
  • Recipients may defer a scholarship award up to one year.

BGC Ottawa Scholarships

$1,000 for 1 year

Adnan Sakr

1 available

Created in loving memory of Adnan Sakr, an architect who had a passion for helping people, this scholarship recognizes and supports an outstanding young person in the BGC Ottawa community that demonstrates initiative, strong leadership and community involvement.

All applicants will be considered; however, priority will be given to youth who wish to pursue a career in design, architecture or engineering.

$2,500 for 1 year

CIBC Wood Gundy

2 available

This scholarship was made possible through the generosity of CIBC Wood Gundy in honour of Steve and Janet Gallant’s long-standing support, in addition to Steve’s role as founding Member, Chair and Committee Member, of Ringside for Youth for 25 years.  

This award is open to Members entering their first year of post-secondary education who demonstrate financial need and community involvement through volunteering.

$4,000 over 4 years

Charles King Scholarship

3 available

Charles King mentored many young people and took every opportunity to help others in his community. He also co-founded the Hill Charity Golf Classic, an event dedicated to raising funds for BGC Ottawa over 20 years ago.  

The Charles King Scholarship was established to honour his legacy and support local youth with post-secondary education opportunities.

$2,000 for 1 year

Delgado & Oberfeld Creative Technologist Award

2 available

The Delgado & Oberfeld Creative Technologist Award will be awarded to two individuals, one going to a young woman or non-binary individual. With an academic focus, recipients will pursue post-secondary technical education in computer science, software engineering, UX design, augmented/virtual reality design or development, game design or development, or a related field. Quarterly mentorship meetings with Brittney and Bryon will also be available (optional, as needed by recipient).

$1,250 over 2 years

Ellen Elizabeth Heath

1 available

The Ellen Elizabeth Heath Scholarship is intended to provide support for individuals with a financial need pursuing their studies at an accredited post-secondary institution (University, College, Trade School or Community College).

$1,500 for 1 year

Hazel Smart Patterson Scholarship

2 available

The Hazel Smart Patterson Scholarship will be awarded to two female students (a person who identifies as a female) who are pursuing post-secondary education in areas such as, but not limited to, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Finance, Law, Business, Marketing and Communications, and demonstrate financial need.

$2,500 over 2 years

Jack Meadows Memorial

1 available

The Jack Meadows Memorial Scholarship is intended to provide support for individuals entering their first year of University or College who demonstrate financial need.

$2,500 per year, over 2 years

Ottawa Police 150th

1 available

In 2006, the Ottawa Police Service celebrated its 150th anniversary. In its year-long celebrations, various funds were raised, and those funds were used to create an on-going memorial to the 150th and the OPS team that worked so hard to raise the funds. The Ottawa Police 150th Scholarship was established to support youth who wish to pursue a career in policing or related criminal justice field.

$2,500 over 2 years

Paul Conway Memorial Scholarship

1 available

In memory of Paul Conway, the Paul Conway Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student with a focus on excellence in sports and related studies.

$5,000 for 1 year

Ringside for Youth

2 available

The Ringside of Youth Scholarship was made possible through a five-year CIBC pledge to honour the work of the Ringside for Youth organizing committee, in addition to Steve Gallant’s role as founding Member, Chair and Committee Member. This commitment was made during the event’s 25th and final year in 2019.

The scholarship is intended to provide support to Members of the Tomlinson Family Foundation Clubhouse entering their first year of University or College who demonstrate financial need and community involvement through volunteering.

Message from the CEO, Adam Joiner

BGC Ottawa, with generous donor support, provides more than $40,000 in academic assistance each year to many deserving young students.

Awards are available to current or past BGC Ottawa Members and volunteers (minimum duration of three months attendance), who are entering their first year of post-secondary studies and are under the age of 24. The BGC Ottawa Scholarship Program is intended to recognize youth for their commitment to BGC Ottawa, financial need and academic potential.
As part of the selection process, sharing your personal and family story, as well as demonstrating a commitment to community building, service to others and potential challenges will be considered in the overall selection process.

In 2023, 18 young people who were pursuing post-secondary education in various fields of study, received scholarships. You could be next!
This year, we are please to offer 17 scholarships to deserving Members. Please review the available scholarships, application checklist, evaluation criteria and application form before you begin. You may opt to use the personal statement template to draft your answers.
Should you need assistance with your application, I encourage you to connect to with your Clubhouse Manager, and they will connect you with a member of our BGC Ottawa team for support.
I wish all applicants the best of luck. I know all of our Members will go on to do great things – in the community and beyond.


Sincerely,

Adam Joiner

Chief Executive Officer

BGC Ottawa Alumnus and Scholarship Recipient

Positive relationships.
Life-changing programs.
Meaningful impact.

Your donation will power positive impact for children and youth across the Ottawa region. Opportunity changes everything.

93%
say they take more initiative
92%
say they are more accepting of others
90%
say they make better choices
93%
say they take more initiative
92%
say they are more accepting of others
90%
say they make better choices

Help Build a Better Community

You can help thousands of children and youth in Ottawa’s most vulnerable communities reach their full potential by supporting the highest priority needs of the Club or you may choose to designate your funds to the programming pillar that has the greatest meaning for you personally. Your gift will make a significant impact in serving the needs of our community.

We must acknowledge

BGC Ottawa acknowledges that our work spans many Territories and Treaty areas and we are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers Elders who are with us today, those who have gone before us and the youth that continuously inspire us in the work that we do. BGC Ottawa's mission statement is to provide safe, supportive places where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships, and develop confidence and skills for life. We recognize that these values are impossible to attain without the ongoing guidance and partnerships with Indigenous peoples.

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