We all know how important a post-secondary education is to compete in today’s job market. A college or university education can significantly assist our youth in obtaining the invaluable skills and tools needed to make a difference in our community and our country. Unfortunately, the costs associated with a post-secondary education can often be too great for many students and their families. However, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation has been making post-secondary education a reality for students across Canada and right here in Dufferin-Caledon since 1999.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation was created by the Federal Government in 1998, to provide a range of bursaries, awards, and scholarships to improve access to Canadian post-secondary education by reducing student debt. These financial offerings are not loans and will not have to be repaid. Since its formation, the Foundation has distributed more than $1.6 billion in funding to more than half a million students across Canada.

The Foundation aims to improve access to post-secondary education for all Canadians, especially those facing economic or social barriers; to encourage a high level of student achievement and engagement in Canadian society; and to build a national alliance of organizations and individuals around a shared post-secondary agenda.

The Millennium Excellence Awards continue to recognize thousands of high achieving and engaged students whose dedication to their community is an inspiration to all Canadians. The Foundation has been able to make this possible through its many partnerships and volunteers all across Canada.

There are three types of scholarships offered by the Foundation: i) the Millennium Bursary Program, ii) the Millennium Excellence Award Program, and iii) World Petroleum Congresses Millennium Scholarship Program.

The financial support of the Millennium Scholarships has significantly touched youth in Dufferin-Caledon. For example, in 2007, 379 students from Dufferin-Caledon received awards valued at $970,289. Our constituency has benefited from the scholarship program in previous years as well. Between 1999 and 2006, a total of 1,881 awards were given for a total value of $5,416,077, which has made post-secondary education far more accessible to many youth here in Dufferin-Caledon, who have given so much to our community.

For those interested in learning more about the program, as well as application information, please feel free to visit the Foundation’s website at www.millenniumscholarships.ca.