Jim Bourque Scholarship

What you will need

• ✓ Cover letter including your contact email address
• ✓ Description of your intended program of study and reasons for choosing it (500 words or less)
• ✓ Most recent transcripts from your college, university, or high school
• ✓ Signed letter of recommendation from a community leader (e.g., Town or Band Council, Chamber of Commerce, Métis Local)
• ✓ Statement of financial need indicating funding already received or expected
• ✓ Proof of enrolment in, or application to, a post-secondary institution

About this award

You can receive a $1,000 scholarship, and one award is given out annually. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a Canadian Indigenous student pursuing studies that honor the legacy of leadership and community service. You must submit your application by midnight Mountain Time on July 08, 2026. When you apply, ask Arctic Institute of North America (University of Calgary) how and when you will hear back — whether by email, phone, or a portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Arctic Institute of North America (University of Calgary) how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Arctic Institute of North America (University of Calgary) during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Arctic Institute of North America (University of Calgary) whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To be eligible, you must be a Canadian Indigenous student. You must also be enrolled in post-secondary training in one of these four fields: Education, Environmental Studies, Indigenous Knowledge, or Telecommunications. The scholarship committee prioritizes your financial need, how your studies relate to the scholarship, your personal achievements, the potential return on investment, and the overall presentation of your application.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to post-secondary students
• ✓ Studying Education, Environmental Studies, Indigenous Knowledge or Telecommunications

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

5. 5

   This round closed on July 8, 2026

   Check the award's official page for the next round before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

• Personal StatementAvoid writing a generic essay about your goals. Instead, focus on why you chose your specific program and how it relates to the legacy of the scholarship. Write a concise description of your studies in 500 words or less.
• ReferencesAvoid using a generic character reference. Instead, get a signed letter from a recognized community leader, such as a member of your Town or Band Council, a Métis Local, or a Chamber of Commerce.
• StrategyAvoid sending your documents in a zipped folder. Instead, attach each piece of supporting documentation as an individual file to ensure the committee can open every part of your application easily.
• RealismAvoid ignoring the financial need section. Instead, provide a clear statement that lists all the funding you have already received or expect to get so the committee understands your actual gap.

Questions students ask

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