These scholarships are for students from the Caribbean/African community who are pursuing full-time post-secondary education at an Ontario University or College. The students must have high academic achievement, financial need and a recognized contribution to the Black community. Other requirements vary depending on the award.
The following Scholarships are available to apply by July 18, 2014:
Dr. Ezra Nesbeth Scholarship
Sponsored by Dr. Ezra Nesbeth, a graduate of the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto with varied and extensive experience in community and health programs. He is a strong advocate of self-help programs within communities and the workplace. Dr. Nesbeth donates generously to the Afro-Canadian community and the JCA.
I Have a Dream Scholarships
Sponsored by the Jamaican Canadian Association to assist students with significant personal achievements beyond scholastic ability. This includes personal accomplishments in spite if adversity.
Erma Collins Scholarship
Sponsored by Professor Erma Collins. She retired from George Brown College in 1998, after 27 years service as a professor of English and 5 years as the chairperson of the English and Liberal Studies Department at St. James Campus. Professor Collins has been volunteering for several years in the JCA and other organizations. Her lifelong commitment to education has motivated her to sponsor this scholarship.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey Scholarships
Sponsored by the JCA to increase awareness of Afro-Canadians of the life, philosophy and work of Marcus Garvey. This includes his goals of universal independence and positive development of the Black Race. The Marcus Garvey Scholarship will be awarded to Jamaicans enrolled as International Students in Ontario Universities/Colleges.
Dr. Mary Anne Chambers Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by Dr. Mary Ann Chambers, a former Minister of Training Colleges and Universities, and Minister of Children and Youth Services in the Government of Ontario. Prior to serving in government she was a Senior Vice-President of Scotia Bank, where she earned a reputation for superior performance and responsible ethics-based leadership. Her personal commitment to education includes the sponsoring of early childhood institutions in Jamaica through P.A.C.E. (Canada), an academic mentorship program for middle and high school students in partnership with the University of Toronto, and the provision to- date, of more than 30 scholarships for postsecondary education.
Ryerson Scholarships
Sponsored by Ryerson University for one male and one female first year student attending that university. The special mission of Ryerson is the advancement of applied knowledge and research to address societal need, and the provision of programs of study that provide a balance between theory and application and that prepare students for careers in professional and quasi-professional fields. As a leading centre for applied education, Ryerson is recognized for the excellence of its teaching, the relevance of its curriculum, the success of its students in achieving their academic and career objectives, research and creativity, and its commitment to accessibility, lifelong learning, and involvement in the broader community.
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning Scholarships
As one of Canada’s leading educational institutions, Humber College supports its students through scholarships and bursaries. This scholarship is offered to a Humber College first year student who exemplifies community leadership and maintains a high academic standing. Humber, a member of Polytechnics Canada, is committed to student success through excellence in teaching and learning. Humber’s broad range of career-focus programs includes apprenticeship, certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, and post graduate certificates. Humber students learn from award-winning faculty in state of the art labs and classrooms that stimulate working environments. More than 90% of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing studies.
Eva Smith Bursary
This bursary is named in honor of the late Eva Smith, a tireless community worker who dedicated her life to youth concerns, women’s rights, immigration issues, education and community empowerment. Sponsored by the Eva Smith Achievement Association, this bursary is awarded to African-Canadian youth (including single parents and those in the justice system), who are pursuing a post-secondary education.
York Regional Police Scholarship
This Scholarship is donated by York Regional Police, in keeping with their Motto: Deeds Speak.Barbara Thomas Bursary This bursary is donated by Barbara Thomas, a JCA member for over 25 years. She is a retired
nurse with several years working experience in acute care and nursing administration. Barbara is a recipient of the Ministry of Citizenship Award for volunteer service.
The Brown Dental Scholarships
These scholarships are donated by Dr. Lancelot A. Brown, who was born in Montreal to Jamaican parents. His university education included 2 years of a Bachelor of Science in Honours Biochemistry, and 4 years of dental school, graduating with a Doctor of Dental Surgery, all from McGill University. He then gained an additional 4 years of training and experience in the Canadian Armed Forces Dental Services, the last two years of which he was appointed as the Officer in Charge of the Royal Military College Dental Clinic.
Marcia Brown Productions Scholarships
This Bursary is sponsored by Marcia Brown, the founder and artistic director of one of Canada’s and this Province’s most vital theatre companies Marcia Brown Productions. She is an acclaimed producer, writer, director and performer. As one of the top female actresses in the Toronto’s Caribbean community Marcia is definitely no stranger to avid theatre-goers.
Walker Family Bursary
This Bursary is donated by long standing JCA members Gifford and Raphalita Walker.
Dudley Laws Memorial Scholarships
This scholarship is sponsored in memory of the late Dudley Laws, a civil rights activist and executive director of the Black Action Defence Committee (BADC). He influenced the development and launch of the Somerleyton and Geneva Road Association in Brixton and also joined the Standing Conference of the West Indies and the St Johns Inter-Racial Club. In 1965, he relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he worked as a welder and taxi driver. He joined the Universal African Improvement Association, a Garveyite organization. Laws became prominent in the 1970s and 1980s as a critic of the then Metropolitan Toronto Police Force, due to a number of young black men being shot by police constables, as well as other allegations of racist practices against the police. He has also been prominent as an advocate for immigrants and refugees and worked as an immigration consultant in the 1990s. In 1988, he founded the Black Action Defence Committee following the police shooting of Lester Donaldson.Roy B Stewart Memorial Bursary This Bursary is sponsored by CHRY Community Radio in memory of the late Roy B Stewart.
Total Prayz Media Bursary
Donated by visionary and founder Simone Banton of Total Prayz Promotions, a company designed for artists and ministry/community leaders to foster unity and promote opportunities in exposing excellence. Total Prayz Media and Marketing Group is driven to become a distinctive voice within the community, supporting relevant messages of history, art and music.
Nadine Williams Bursary
Nadine Williams a native of St. Mary, Jamaica is a Poet, Author and Entrepreneur, who credits her success to the humble beginnings of reading under the kerosene lamplight to her family as a child; coupled with being reared by witty grandparents, who spoke in parables all the time. Dubbed Brampton’s Poet by the Mayor of Brampton, Nadine is well known all over the GTA and beyond. She continues to be involved with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, reading her poem THE IMMIGRANT CHILD, at times singing the National Anthem, and welcoming new Canadians by gifting them with the Canadian flag.
Youth and Education Fund Scholarships (YEF)
These scholarships are sponsored by The Youth and Education Fund, a registered charity managed by a board of trustees. Historically, since 1987, the Youth and Education Fund has made its charitable programs available to the communities of Chatham, Hamilton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor, for the issuing of scholarships and bursaries to post-secondary students. The (Y.E.F.) is supporting a cross-section of needy elementary and secondary students within Toronto, as well as, providing scholarships and bursaries for local post-secondary students.
Tiffany Harris Scholarship
Tiffany Harris is a Chartered Accountant who received a Jamaican Canadian Scholarship 11 years ago that helped to jump start her educational journey of excellence. Graduating from the University of Toronto with High Distinction in the Bachelor of Business Administration program, Tiffany obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 2009. She holds the position of Controller, Research Financial Operations for the Hospital for Sick Children and prior to that worked as the Manager of Risk and Compliance for Sears Canada and as a Senior Accountant for Ernst and Young, where she was the recipient of Gold and Silver Awards in recognition of her commitment to the organization’s values and her high quality of work and professional attitude.
Enid Collins Scholarship
Professor Enid Collins is a pioneer in the field of nursing. She began her career in Jamaica before immigrating to Canada in the early 1960s. In Canada, she pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in nursing and education. Her work experience involved various specialties including Paediatrics, Women’s Health, Oncology and Community Health Nursing. Prior to retiring from Ryerson University School of Nursing in 2001, Enid had worked in various facets of nursing education for over two decades.
Eric Gibbs Scholarship
This Scholarship is sponsored by Rudolph Gibbs, a very dedicated and outstanding JCA member. Rudolph is a member of the JCA’ s Building Committee, Scholarship Committee and various ad hoc Committees. He is very active in the wider community, and appears on CHRY’s Radio Dubplate as a co-host on Saturdays.
Criteria:
- Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant of Caribbean/African background
- Demonstrated scholastic ability
- Applicant’s response to the essay question
- Involvement and leadership in community/campus activities
- Significant personal achievements beyond scholastic ability which may include personal accomplishments in spite of adversity
- References demonstrating the applicants accomplishments
- Commitment to career goals
- Be enrolled as a full time student at an Ontario University/College or other post-secondary institution
- Demonstrate remarkable academic performance or progress in high school
- Demonstrate involvement and leadership in campus and/or community activities
- Demonstrate financial need
- Applicants for the Marcus Mosiah Garvey scholarship are required to submit a two-page essay on The Life and Times of Marcus Garvey
- Preference will be given to Community College applicants for the Erma Collins Scholarship
- Applicants for the Ryerson Scholarships must be first year students of that university
- Applicants for the Humber College Scholarships must be first year students of that institution
- Preference will be given to a high school, college or university student demonstrating exceptional aptitude in the health sciences, as well as a natural ability to draw, paint or sculpt, for the Dr. Brown Scholarship. The winning candidate should posses a strong desire to pursue a career in dentistry, dental hygiene or dental assistant.
- Deadline: July 18, 2014
- More information at: http://jcaontario.org/