Each year, the grants are “awarded based on a combination of criteria, including academic merit, extracurricular activities and leadership potential,” according to the foundation’s website. (New window)

Nearly 4,800 Canadian students have applied for Canada’s largest undergraduate scholarship.

The four-year program includes summer internships, mentorship, academic meetings, an annual scholarship, and tuition waivers at one of 25 partner universities.

A first youth center

Scholar Cadena Brazeau is the youth committee chair of the Keeseekoowenin First Nation in western Manitoba. She is a community representative on the Contract 2 Youth Council and a member of her school’s student council.

It is truly an honor to be a 2023 Loran Scholar of the Year, it has changed my life and I will always be grateful for it as it takes a lot of stress out of my post-secondary educationShe says.

The 17-year-old student founded the first youth center in her community and organizes activities and programs for the youth of her community there.

” It’s a place for young people to socialize, but a lot of the work we do here focuses on keeping them safe and sober. »

She adds that another goal of the center is to address food insecurity in her community by making food available to young people. I would say it had a very positive impact on her. I’ve heard testimonials from some of them and I think many are gratefulShe says.

Cadena Brazeau wants to study law at the University of Calgary because she believes she can It is important, like Anishinaabekwe, to pursue a law degree not only to represent but also to regain responsibility for one’s legal system [et pour récupérer] also our sovereignty.

well-being and mental health

Ridhwanlai Badmos is the founder of Wake up mental health, a non-profit organization that offers workshops on wellness and mental health. He is co-chair of the student council and founder of his school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council. Windsor Park College in Winnipeg.

During the pandemic, he found refuge in reading, writing, sports and the arts. However, when he returned to the classroom, he found that not everyone had coping skills.We were back in school and it seemed like a lot of young people were still stuck in the pandemiche mentions.

He decided to hold a series of workshops to share his wellness and mental health tips with fellow students. At the end of the workshop he saw a difference in the participants. I took them to a nearby park and they ran and played everywhere. It’s burned into my memoryhe remembers.

” I knew then that I wanted to continue doing this and help my community in this way. »

During his studies, Bodmas wants to combine medicine with his passion for computers to make healthcare more accessible through technology.

With information from Marjorie Dowhos and Chloe Friesen