Terry Fox Humanitarian Award · National
Terry Fox Humanitarian Award
About this award
$28,000 over four years for 20 students per year who demonstrate humanitarian service and overcoming adversity. Application deadline December 1. Open nationally to Canadian citizens / landed immigrants graduating from high school or in first year of CEGEP.
The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award is an annual national award established in 1982 in honour of Terry Fox. Twenty recipients are typically selected each year from over 600 applicants. Recipients receive up to $28,000 over four years — disbursed as two annual $3,500 stipends to the educational institution (one in September, one in January) for students charged tuition. Eligibility focuses on humanitarian service completed voluntarily and overcoming adversity, not academic ranking. Recipients are paired with award alumni as mentors throughout their studies. Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant — citizenship requirement
- High School, Cegep, Undergraduate — study level
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Draft and revise your essays~10 hours
Use the STAR framework. Be specific, show impact, proofread twice.
Submit by Dec 1, 2026~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
Submit by December 1 each year for awards starting the following September.
The award is humanitarian-first — your community service must be voluntary (no payment, no school requirement).
Concrete documentation of service work is more valuable than abstract claims.
The 'overcoming adversity' criterion matters; if it's relevant to your story, integrate it.
if you receive other scholarships totalling over $15,000, the Terry Fox award will be reduced by the excess.
Recipients get an alumnus mentor for their studies.