Smillie Family Education Award

What you will need

• ✓ Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• ✓ Residence in a rural Canadian community
• ✓ Proof of enrollment in a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program (first or second year)
• ✓ Program leads to a career in agriculture, education, or health care
• ✓ Leadership and volunteerism in school and the community
• ✓ One letter of reference

About this award

You can win one of three awards valued at approximately $2,000 each. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have grown up in a rural Canadian community and have spent your time leading and volunteering to help others. Applications closed on June 1, 2026. Ask Calgary Foundation whether it will run again and when the next deadline falls. Also ask how and when you'll hear back — whether it is by email, phone, or through the application portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Calgary Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. The money is applied directly to your tuition. Confirm with Calgary Foundation if there are any specific steps you need to take to ensure the funds reach your school account. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Calgary Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has resided in rural towns, villages, hamlets or on agricultural operations across Canada. You must be entering the first or second year of a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program at a qualified Canadian post-secondary institution. Your program of study must be one that can lead to a career in agriculture, education, or health care. You also need to show financial need and maintain good academic standing with a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average — the average of all your final grades) greater than or equal to 2.7 or 70%. Finally, you must demonstrate active leadership and volunteerism in your school and community.

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.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to certificate or undergraduate students
• ✓ Resident of Alberta
• ✓ Studying agriculture, education or health care

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

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

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

3. 3

   This round closed on June 1, 2026

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

Tips for applying

• Community LeadershipAvoid simply listing your volunteer hours. Instead, tell stories about the impact you had on your rural community and how you took initiative to solve a problem. Describe a specific project you led from start to finish.
• ReferencesMany students provide a generic teacher reference. Provide a letter from a community leader or agricultural mentor who can vouch for your leadership outside of the classroom. Ensure your referee uses specific examples of your character.
• StrategyFocus your personal statement on the connection between your rural roots and your future career in health, education, or farming. Explain exactly how this money helps you reach those specific goals.
• RealismWith only three awards available nationwide, this is highly competitive. Treat this as a bonus rather than your primary funding source and apply for several other rural-focused bursaries at the same time.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Calgary FoundationShannon Burwash Award for Leadership and Excellence in Equine, Agri-Business and/or Agricultural Studies$5,000
• Calgary FoundationJeanne Henuset-Fraser Memorial Bursary for Rural Manitoba Students$2,500
• Calgary FoundationCalgary Black Chambers Nutrien Community Scholarship$7,000
• Calgary FoundationOptimist Club William J. Cummer Scholarship$2,500
• Calgary FoundationBeyond the North Scholarship$1,000
• Calgary FoundationFogolâr Furlan di Calgary Graduate Scholarship in Italian Studies$5,000
• Calgary FoundationVicky Oveson Memorial Award$1,500
• Calgary FoundationAcademic Excellence at MRU Scholarship$7,000