The County Foundation - Prince Edward County - News , UncategorizedThe County Foundation - Prince Edward County - News , Uncategorizedhttps://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/UncategorizedFri, 24 Apr 2026 09:11:19 -0400http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Announcing 2025 Vital Impact Fund Recipients]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/Announcing-the-2025-Vital-Impact-Fund-RecipientsSee the full list of recipients below and learn more about the activities they'll be carrying out in 2026! The County Foundation is pleased to announce ]]>

Announcing the 2025 Vital Impact Fund Recipients

See the full list of recipients below and learn more about the activities they'll be carrying out in 2026!

The County Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s Vital Impact Fund grant recipients. More than $180,000 in Vital Impact Fund grants will support five local intiatives, with funded activities rolling out over the next year. 


The Vital Impact Fund was established by The County Foundation as our new signature fund that unites the work of our Vital Signs data with our grants to better serve the needs of Prince Edward County. Vital Signs® data is an ongoing consolidated snapshot of the trends and most vital community well-being issues in Prince Edward County. 


This year’s grant recipients reflect a clear and powerful theme: investing in people, programs, and ideas that support an evolving community. 

“The Vital Impact Fund responds directly to the trends, challenges, and opportunities highlighted by the local data in Vital Signs. The grants this year prioritized initiatives that strengthen families, support children and youth, and help members of our community feel connected, supported, and empowered. Funding like this supports inclusive communities with an aim to benefit all generations, and to respond to change and population shifts,” -Dominique Jones, Executive Director of The County Foundation   

"The Department of Illumination is thrilled and incredibly grateful to the County Foundation for their support of our program Art Kitchen 2.0 through their Vital Fund granting stream. Art Kitchen 2.0 is a reimagining of the Art Kitchen program we have been offering in The Macaulay Village Park over the past three years. Thanks to the Vital Impact Fund’s support, our expanded program will now run year round, and through partnerships with The County, The Macaulay Village Neighbourhood Group, PELC, TheROC, County Kids Read, and Victoria Taylor Landscape Architect, the program will offer a holistic range of services and activities rooted in a community-centred approach to serving the needs of this important Prince Edward County neighbourhood.” -Hri Neil, Project Coordinator, Department of Illumination.

“We’re proud to be working together on the Child Care Pilot Program, a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to strengthening childcare availability in Prince Edward County. This funding enables the municipality and Reaching for Rainbows to build on each other’s strengths and explore initiatives that respond to the needs of local families. With support from the Vital Impact Fund, we're able to take innovative steps towards improving the childcare system in the County and we’re excited about the positive impact this collaboration will have on children, caregivers and the community as a whole." -Emily Cowan, Director of Community Services, Programs and Initiatives for the County of Prince Edward, and Beth Lafay, Executive Director of Reaching for Rainbows. 

2025 Grant Recipients

The Vital Impact Fund is adjudicated by The County Foundation’s Grants & Vital Signs Committees. 


Five initiatives were selected to receive a total of $180,117 of funding for 2025. Below is a breakdown of the recipients, as well as a summary of their plans for the funding. We thank everyone who applied to the second year of this program, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of their work over the next year.

 Funded Organization/Initiative  Vital Signs Alignment – Summary 
 *Does not reflect the breadth of the application and the alignment to Vital Signs
 
Alternatives for Women’s Caring Dads Program that aims to educate fathers who are at risk of causing harm to their children and their mothers. 
 In 2024, there were 222 domestic violence incidents reported in Prince Edward County. Domestic violence is one of the main policing challenges in PEC. 
 

A collaborative project focused on addressing the County's urgent childcare needs spearheaded by the County. Includes: 

  1. Offering students transportation between Loyalist College and the HUB for hands-on learning opportunities; 

  1. In partnership with Reaching for Rainbows, offering co-working / child-minding space for limited times during the week; 

  1. Explore evening and weekend care through partnerships with Reaching for Rainbows or other not-for-profit organizations providing recreational programming. 

 Vital Signs 2025: “When families lack nearby childcare, it strains their ability to balance work, education, and caregiving – directly impacting well-being ... The waiting list [for the HUB Child & Family Centre] has grown from 155 in 2021 to 350, reflecting growth in the age 0–9 population.” 

The Department of Illumination’s Art Kitchen 2.0. Expanding the DOI’s free drop-in arts programming and providing access to additional services and resources for the historically underserved Macaulay Village community. Through collaboration with several partners, services will include mental health, nutritional and financial supports, as well as mentorship in advocacy and community-building.


 
The 2025 Vital Signs report focused on the importance of social infrastructure in communities. “Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognized as a priority public health problem and policy issue across all age groups.” 
 Youth Inclusion Program (YIP) offered through theROC Youth Services. Youth program focused on conflict resolution, positive leadership, social-emotional learning, substance misuse and truancy prevention leading to increased high school graduation and youth success.  
The 2023 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) reports that 38% of students rate their mental health as fair or poor, 37% 
experience elevated stress, and 51% report moderate-to-serious psychological distress, doubling over the past decade (CAMH, 2024). 
 Operational support for Reaching for Rainbows to support growth and sustainability as an organization filling programming gaps for children, youth and girls helping to solve many of the challenges PEC faces such as lack of childcare options and spaces.  
From Vital Signs databank: “People who are living in poverty are more likely to face health-related setbacks; to have difficulty accessing transportation, finding and keeping a job; to find themselves in the criminal justice system; and to need various social supports and assistance. Also, children who grow up in poverty are more likely to remain in poverty as they age.” (Canada Without Poverty) 

Supporting the Vital Impact Fund

How to Give 

If you are passionate about supporting organizations that address the most urgent community well-being needs in PEC as highlighted by Vital Signs data, consider giving in the following ways: 
  • Donate using a credit card through Canada Helps. Select "Vital Impact Fund" from the drop down menu. 
  • We can accept Interac e-Transfers sent to info@thecountyfoundation.ca. Indicate "Vital Impact Fund" in the notes section. 
  • Make cheques payable to The County Foundation, and use the memo line to specify the Vital Impact Fund.
    Cheques can be mailed to: 

More Information

]]>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:34:47 -0500<![CDATA[Giving Tuesday 2025]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/Giving-Tuesday-2025The County Foundation is the local community foundation for Prince Edward County. We can help you support the organizations and causes that you care a ]]>

Giving Tuesday 2025

The County Foundation is the local community foundation for Prince Edward County. We can help you support the organizations and causes that you care about the most by helping your giving go further.







A word from TCF Board Chair Braydon Scully on the power of community-focused giving:

As we approach the upcoming holiday season and the noise inherent in the mass consumerism that marks this time of year, I like to reflect on community, on family and on how I can give back to my community of friends and fellow county residents.  I consider myself very fortunate to have found this wonderful place to call home and for everything and everyone that goes along with that.

The County Foundation has been part of my life now for coming up on 5 years, with my final year of service ahead, ending in December of 2026.  The County Foundation has played an integral role in helping me to both understand the community better and to learn more about the County, its residents and some of the issues we face.


We have fantastic opportunities here in Prince Edward County and many exciting things to get involved with as a volunteer, a participant or as a financial supporter. That is where I am asking you today, on Giving Tuesday, to consider how you can support your community.  Whether with a financial gift to a favourite local organization or charity, a one-time donation to our Vital Impact Fund or perhaps a consideration to leave a legacy donation to have your impact felt for many years to come. No amount is too small to have an impact, as it is our collective focus that continues to drive this community forward.


Our Vital Signs 2025 Focus report was recently released and highlights some key areas of learning.  With a focus on connection, the report discusses the importance of creating and celebrating spaces to connect in the community. It also highlights some of the barriers to connection that we face such as social isolation, housing instability, lower civic engagement and centralization of services.  It also celebrates some of the ways we are, as a community, maintaining those connections with the rise of new public markets, outdoor theatre, accessible community gatherings, local news outlets and radio and with volunteerism.

The County Foundation crossed the milestone of stewarding grants totaling more than $10 million dollars in the local community this year and the impact of those have been remarkable.  With your donation we can continue this into the future to help the County face the issues of both today and tomorrow. 


With Thanks,

Braydon Scully

Board Chair, The County Foundation

If you are interested in supporting our work, consider making an end-of-year donation to one of our funds or community initiatives, such as:

PEC’s Vital Signs: Your support provide resources for research & reports, community engagement, and expanding community awareness.

The Vital Impact Fund: Addressing the most urgent needs in PEC as highlighted by Vital Signs data.

The PEC Arts Fund: Support a pathway to establishing more sustainable funding for all arts organizations.

And our other established funds!

While we have highlighted our above funds, we also have a list of existing funds that can also be supported. Your generosity helps strengthen initiatives that are already assisting our community and expanding access to vital resources.

Make a Donation Today

TCF Granting Highlights

Over 1 million in grants facilitated in 2025 (so far!).

Over $600,000 granted through our Donor Advised Funds so far in 2025 including a recent grant of $100,000 to the HUB Child & Family Centre in support of the expansion of childcare services in the County.

Over 2.8 million in grants facilitated in 2024.

Learn More

The County Foundation is one of 208 Community Foundations in Canada. Since it was founded in 2008, The County Foundation has facilitated granting of over $10 million in Prince Edward County. 

  • About The County Foundation
  • About our Grants and Funds
  • About PEC's Vital Signs
  • Why give through The County Foundation?
    • ]]>    Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:25:00 -0500    <![CDATA[Announcing the 2025 Vital Signs Report]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/announcing-the-2025-vital-signs-reportThe 2025 Vital Signs report — Social Infrastructure: Access, Connections and Gaps — is now published. ]]>

    Announcing the 2025 Vital Signs Report

    The 2025 Vital Signs report — Social Infrastructure: Access, Connections and Gaps — is now published.

    Read the 2025 Report

    Released on October 8, the 2025 Vital Signs® Focus Report explores how social infrastructure – public spaces, services, and facilities that support community life – shapes connection, inclusion, and well-being in Prince Edward County.

    The report builds on the theme of Inclusion and Belonging, first introduced in 2021 during the pandemic, when residents were experiencing both heightened isolation and accelerated community change. Using maps and local data, it highlights where social infrastructure is strong, where gaps exist, and how these patterns affect access to services, opportunities for connection, and overall community life.

    Vital Signs® is Canada’s largest community-driven data program, led by local community foundations and coordinated by Community Foundations of Canada. It uses local insights to measure community vitality and encourage actions that improve quality of life. Released nationwide in the first week of October, the reports aim to spark conversation and inspire change.

    The County Foundation will be hosting a webinar on the 2025 Vital Signs report on November 6th

    Date: Thursday, November 6th 

    Time: 1 pm to 2 pm 

    Registration is required: Click to register today.

    Webinar Topics

    Highlights from the 2025 Vital Signs Report

    How mapping reveals local strengths and gaps

    A guided tour of the new Community Well-being Dashboard

    Prince Edward County’s version of Vital Signs® is led by The County Foundation in coordination with Community Foundations of Canada, offering a consolidated snapshot of key community trends and issues.

    For those looking to make a difference, The County Foundation’s Vital Impact Fund uses Vital Signs data to address the most pressing needs in our community. 

    Learn More

  • Prince Edward County's Vital Signs
  • The Vital Impact Fund
  • Why give through The County Foundation?
  • Contribute to an existing Fund
    • ]]>    Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:00:34 -0400    <![CDATA[The County Foundation Celebrates Over $10 Million in Grants Facilitated ]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/10-Million-in-Grants-FacilitatedThe County Foundation is proud to announce that we have hit a major milestone in our history and have officially facilitated more than $10 million in ]]>

    Here For Good: 
    ​The County Foundation Celebrates Over $10 Million in Grants Facilitated 

    The County Foundation is proud to announce that we have hit a major milestone in our history and have officially facilitated more than $10 million in grants since 2008, directly supporting the people, places, and projects that shape Prince Edward County. 

    This milestone is more than just a number as it reflects years of trust, collaboration, and meaningful progress. The County Foundation has become a trusted steward of charitable giving. We work with donors through donor-advised funds, scholarships, bequests, and grant programs to empower individuals to invest in the causes they care about most. 


    Our founding Board members led by example, personally contributing to establish our very first fund. This generous act laid the groundwork for our continued growth and expanding impact in the community. 


    We celebrate this achievement alongside the generous members of our community who partner with us to create lasting impact by establishing a charitable fund with us or by contributing to an existing fund. One notable example is the Huff Family Fund, which was established in 2017 and grants $250k annually to local organizations and the Huff Family through The County Foundation provided a $2 million gift to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation. 

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    The County Foundation works closely with our local municipality, administering several key grant programs on its behalf to support critical community initiatives that enhance our resident’s quality of life. This includes the Municipal Community Grants & PEC Arts Fund, Municipal Financial Relief Grants, and the Municipal Agricultural Grants.  

    Looking ahead, The County Foundation remains committed to building a community where all can belong and thrive. This moment is not only a reflection of The County Foundation’s impact, but a powerful reminder of what is possible thanks to the generosity of many. 

    Granting Highlights

    Over 1 million in grants facilitated in 2025 (so far!)

    Over $600,000 granted through our Donor Advised Funds so far in 2025 including a recent grant of $100,000 to the HUB Child & Family Centre in support of the expansion of childcare services in the County.

    Over 2.8 million in grants facilitated in 2024.

    Learn More

    The County Foundation is one of 208 Community Foundations in Canada. Since it was founded in 2008, The County Foundation has facilitated granting of over $10 million in Prince Edward County. 


    For those looking to make a difference, The County Foundation’s Vital Impact Fund uses Vital Signs data to address the most pressing needs in our community. 

  • Why give through The County Foundation?
    • ]]>    Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:08:35 -0400    <![CDATA[Closed for Labour Day!]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/Closed-for-Labour-DayThe TCF office will re-open on  Tuesday, September 2nd. ]]>

    Closed for Labour Day!

    The TCF office will re-open on Tuesday, September 2nd.


    Please be advised that The County Foundation offices will be closed for Labour Day starting Friday, August 29th,  with staff returning to work on Tuesday, September 2nd. 

    If you need to drop off an application, please slip it under our office door and we will contact you to confirm receipt when we return. You can also send a message to info@thecountyfoundation.ca or leave us a voicemail at 613-519-4470.⁠ 

    Happy Labour Day! We look forward to connecting once we are back. 

    Warm Regards,

    The County Foundation Team


    ]]>    Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:39:10 -0400    <![CDATA[2025 Built Heritage Fund Grant Recipients]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/2025-built-heritage-fund-grant-recipientsThe County Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 Built Heritage Fund grant recipients. The grant is to aid the preservation, protection, or restoration of a heritage structure within the geographic area of Prince Edward County.]]>

    The County Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 Built Heritage Fund grant recipients, who gathered for photos at the Al Purdy-A-Frame on August 5, 2025. 


    The Built Heritage Fund was established after the Methodist Episcopal Church, a 135-year-old historical landmark on Picton’s Main Street, was demolished in 2010, which made a group of concerned citizens realize that without intervention many of these buildings could be lost to us – and future generations. 


    The purpose of the Built Heritage grants is to offer a specified amount of interim funding which will aid the preservation, protection, or restoration of a heritage structure within the geographic area of Prince Edward County deemed historically or culturally significant to the community. The Built Heritage Fund is supported by proceeds from the annual County Christmas House Tour. This July, the Built Heritage Fund also received a generous donation of $1,500 from the Prince Edward County branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO PEC).
    Pictured: Marilyn Lauer & Marilyn Kennedy (Christmas House Tour Committee), Sarah Dearing (Al Purdy A-Frame Association), Barbara Sweet & Liz Zylstra (PEC Public Library), Gabriele Cole (Baxter Arts Centre), and Gillian Armstrong (The County Foundation) gathered at the iconic Al Purdy A-frame in Ameliasburgh.

    2025 Grant Recipients:

    • Al Purdy A-frame Association: Received $4,500 for the Al Purdy A-frame Foundation Project: Phase II  
    • Baxter Arts Centre: Received $5,000 for the Don Baxter Memorial Building Roof Replacement   
    • PEC Library Bloomfield Branch: Received $4,500 for window restoration

    “Four hundred people, from near and far, enjoyed the Prince Edward County Christmas House Tour a few months ago. The proceeds from ticket sales for the Tour went into the Built Heritage Fund (as they do each year) and by means of the BHF grants, a little bit of County history is maintained and preserved each year: this year, the Al Purdy A-frame, the Baxter Arts Centre and the PEC Public Library’s Bloomfield branch.  We, the organizers of the Tour, thank the ticket-purchasers, the home-owners, the volunteers, the sponsors, and the County Foundation for making it happen!” 
    ​-Peter Jepson, one of the organizers of the Christmas in the County House Tour 


    “We are thrilled to celebrate the 2025 recipients of the Built Heritage Fund, which was founded by a group of committed residents determined to explore innovative approaches to preserving our heritage buildings. The fund is supported by proceeds from the County Christmas House Tour currently, but there is great potential to expand it by involving other County events. We welcome anyone with a passion for heritage to reach out or to support the Built Heritage Fund.” -Gillian Armstrong, Interim Executive Director of The County Foundation 


    Congratulations to each of this year's grant recipients!  

    More Information

    Learn more about the Built Heritage Fund
    If you have a distinctive County home, and would like to participate     or volunteer, please contact the Christmas House Tour Committee at : countyhousetour@gmail.com.

    Support the Built Heritage Fund

    Supports the care of heritage buildings within Prince Edward County and ensures that historic structures in the County are protected. To donate you can do so online through CanadaHelps by selecting the “Prince Edward County Built Heritage Fund” from the dropdown menu. by selecting the “Prince Edward County Built Heritage Fund” from the dropdown menu. 


    If you prefer sending a cheque then you can mail your donation to: The County Foundation, Suite 107-35 Bridge Street, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0. The cheque must be addressed to "The County Foundation" and list "Built Heritage Fund" in the memo so we know where you would like your donation directed.  

    ]]>    Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:11:57 -0400    <![CDATA[Vital Impact Fund 2025 - Updates]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/vital-impact-fund-2025

    Vital Impact Fund 2025: Rising Impact

    Last year, The County Foundation launched its new signature fund – The Vital Impact Fund, which brings together the work of our Vital Signs data and our grants to better serve the needs of the Prince Edward County community.

    For 2025 , we are excited to announce some changes that will make it bigger and better. We are looking for impactful ideas, so we have decided to increase the maximum grant size to $60,000. This will be the largest grants we offer through our public calls for applications.

    We want ideas that have clear and actionable steps, use Vital Signs data to guide decisions, and show how collaboration will amplify the effectiveness of the work. 

    About The Vital Impact Fund

    What We're Looking For

    Initiatives that can create a tangible, measurable impact in the short to medium term.

    Actionable results that can be tracked and assessed. A solid plan for data collection and analysis is essential.

    Collaboration is often the key to meaningful change. How are you pooling resources, knowledge, and networks? 

    2025 Program Details

    For 2025, the Vital Impact Fund will once again be accepting applications for projects related to ALL of the key issues of Vital Signs including Community, Economy, Education, Environment, Food Security, Health, Housing, Safety, and Transportation. 

    For 2025:
     Total Funding Available: $180k
     Max Grant Size: $60k  

    Grants from the Vital Impact Fund can be applied toward project/program or operational costs (including salaries, equipment purchases, etc).  

     

    Organizations are limited to submitting 1 application for funding, unless they are part of a collaborative project which must be approved by The County Foundation in advance of submitting. The collaborative project must also be distinct from any individual application ensuring applications are clearly defined. 


    Organizations that have never received funding from The County Foundation are only eligible to apply for up to $10,000.

    Eligible

    ·Must be a Qualified Donee as defined by the Income Tax Act

    ·Must provide benefit to Prince Edward County residents

    Must meet TCF’s General Granting Conditions

    Must demonstrate how they will generate positive impact in Vital Signs area/s

    Ineligible

    Projects/programs/services that are already supported by The County Foundation’s public grant programs (including the Municipal Community Grants and the Huff Family Fund)

    Funding for fundraising activities for sustaining support

    Funding solely for research or development

    Funding to cover deficits or retire debts

    Funding for sectarian, religious, or political purposes
     *Places of worship can apply for support through the Vital Impact Fund for non-denominational and inclusive projects.

    Support the Vital Impact Fund

    • Donate using a credit card through Canada Helps. Select "Vital Impact Fund" from the drop down menu. 
    • We can accept Interac e-Transfers sent to info@thecountyfoundation.ca. Indicate "Vital Impact Fund" in the notes section. 
    • Make cheques payable to The County Foundation, and use the memo line to specify the Vital Impact Fund.
      Cheques can be mailed to: The County Foundation, Suite 107 – 35 Bridge Street, Picton, ON  K0K 2T0.

    ]]>    Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:52:00 -0400    <![CDATA[Closed for Canada Day!]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/TCF-Office-Closed-for-Canada-DayThe TCF office will re-open on  Wednesday, July 2nd. ]]>

    Closed for Canada Day!

    The TCF office will re-open on Wednesday, July 2nd.

    Please be advised that The County Foundation offices will be closed on June 30th for Canada Day, with staff returning to work on July 2nd.


    If you need to drop off an application, please slip it under our office door and we will contact you to confirm receipt when we return. You can also send a message to info@info@thecountyfoundation.ca or leave us a voicemail at 613-519-4470.

    Happy Canada Day! We look forward to connecting with you once we are back. 

    Warm Regards,

    The County Foundation team


    ]]>    Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:48:07 -0400    <![CDATA[Willi Fida Culinary Bursary Increased]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/Willi-Fida-Culinary-Bursary-Increased

    The Willi Fida Culinary Bursary Has Increased!

    The bursary will now award $2,500 annually to up to two young people from Prince Edward County who are pursuing a post-secondary culinary education. 

    We are excited to share that the Willi Fida Culinary Bursary has increased from $1,500 to $2,500. 

    The Willi Fida Culinary Bursary was established in honour of renowned chef Willi Fida, to celebrate his pioneering efforts to develop fine culinary experiences in Prince Edward County. 

    Willi Fida was born in Austria, trained as a chef and worked in many fine restaurants before moving to the County to open Angeline’s Restaurant in Bloomfield in 1988.

    Willi was a great promoter of the County, and made every effort to showcase locally grown food. He gradually attracted other chefs to the area, thereby helping to establish the County as a culinary mecca. He passed away in 2007. His two children, Alexandre and Melanie, continue to run the restaurant.

    Each year, a bursary is awarded to up to two young people (up to age 30) from Prince Edward County who are pursuing a post-secondary culinary education. 

    The Willi Fida Culinary Bursary is currently accepting applications for 2025. Please visit www.thecountyfoundation.ca/grants-funds/scholarships/willi-fida-culinary to learn more about how to apply.

    More Information

    ]]>    Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:39:17 -0400    <![CDATA[New Bursary ‘theROC Grade 10 Bright Future Award’ Now Open for Applications ]]>https://www.thecountyfoundation.ca/news-and-events/post/theROC-Grade-10-Bright-Future-Award-Now-Open-for-ApplicationsWe are pleased to announce that the ‘theROC Grade 10 Bright Future Award,’ recently established by theROC Youth Services in partnership with The Count ]]>

    New Bursary ‘theROC Grade 10 Bright Future Award’ Now Open for Applications 

    We are pleased to announce that the ‘theROC Grade 10 Bright Future Award,’ recently established by theROC Youth Services in partnership with The County Foundation, is open for applications until April 27th. 

    The new annual bursary will award $1,000 to a Grade 10 student living in Prince Edward County who has demonstrated growth and progress toward personal success through overcoming barriers. theROC created this fund with the aim of increasing the chances of PEC youth graduating from high school and enrolling in trades programs, apprenticeships, or post-secondary school.  

    "At theROC, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. This new bursary, in partnership with The County Foundation, will provide meaningful support to a Grade 10 student who demonstrates resilience, leadership, and commitment to their goals. In our 25th year serving youth in PEC, we are humbled by the endless support from the community. Through our commitment to a collective investment in youth today, we are building a stronger, more vibrant community for the future." - Alison Kelly, Board Chair of theROC Youth Services  

    “This new bursary established by theROC is an innovative approach to supporting Grade 10 students, recognizing their dedication and perseverance during a pivotal part of their educational journey. As our 2024 Vital Signs report highlighted, our Grade 12 graduation rates still lag behind the provincial average, and I believe this unique award can play an important role in encouraging students to continue striving toward their goals.” - Gillian Armstrong, Interim Executive Director of The County Foundation.

    In contrast to many post-secondary bursaries and scholarships, the 'Bright Future Award’ will be awarded to Grade 10 students and held in trust for up to 3 years following their graduation from secondary school.  

    The County Foundation will manage theROC Youth Services Bursary, accept applications, and accept donations for those interested in supporting the bursary directly. Applications can be self-applied or by nomination and will be forwarded by The County Foundation to theROC for their review. 

    Grade 10 students are encouraged to apply for this new bursary, which is accepting applications for 2025 until April 27th.

    The recipient of this year’s award will receive: 

    • $1,000 for tuition that will be held up to 3 years following graduation from secondary school until they enroll in a trades program, apprenticeship, or post-secondary school. 
    • A personal laptop gifted by CGI, a Canadian company that provides global IT and business consulting services.
    Apply for theROC Grade 10 Bright Future Award

    Learn More:

    ]]>    Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:10:00 -0400