Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary

Virginia Cowan.

Valery Ross-McElroy was adventurous, and endlessly generous, and believed in the power of community. Deeply rooted in compassion, she never stopped giving whether through her work or in her day-to-day life.

With the encouragement of her teachers at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI) she earned scholarships that helped become the first in her family to graduate from university. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a bachelors of science in biology and math, and earned a Masters of Arts in Community Development from University of Victoria. 

Valery passed away in April 2025 from cancer, and is survived by her husband Jeremy and son Darcy. In honour of her generosity and lasting impact, her family established this award to help local students—especially young women—believe in themselves, chase their dreams, and carry forward the spirit of generosity and courage that defined Valery’s life.


Annual bursary of at least $1,000 to support a female-identifying student who is graduating from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute pursuing post-secondary education studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics) or in Community Engagement/Development.

How to Apply

Applications should include the following component pieces:

  1. Completed application form (available below).
  2. A short essay (less than 500 words) OR video (less than 5 minutes) to tell us about yourself. How would this bursary benefit you? Why did you decide to enroll in your selected program? We would like to learn what motivates you and why you decided to pursue this education.
  3. Copy of your most recent high school transcript.
  4. Copy of acceptance (letter or email) into the post-secondary institution.

The deadline for applications is May 31st each year.


Announcements will be made at graduation.

Printable PDF Form
​Applications can be scanned and emailed to info@thecountyfoundation.ca 
​OR mailed or dropped off to The County Foundation, Unit 104, 35 Bridge Street, PO Box 24, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0

Past Winners

We will be excited to announce the inaugural recipient in 2026!

Accessibility

The County Foundation is happy to accept a short video instead of a written response to any scholarship or bursary application questions or essay portions. If you have any accessibility needs or require additional assistance then please feel free to reach out to info@thecountyfoundation.ca or call us at 613-519-4470.

Support Valery's Bursary Fund

If you are interested in supporting the Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary, you can: 

  • Donate online through CanadaHelps by selecting the fund from the drop down menu.
  • Mail a cheque addressed to The County Foundation with "Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary" in the memo. Mailing address is 24-35 Bridge Street, Picton, ON  K0K 2T0.
  • Send an E-Transfer to info@thecountyfoundation with "Valery Ross-McElroy" in the memo.