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Bursaries & Scholarships

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Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries and Scholarships

Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries and Scholarships (BBF) program opens doors through education.

Since 1996, Indspire has provided over $248 million in financial support through more than 75,000 bursaries, scholarships and awards to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students. For a complete listing of Building Brighter Futures supports, please visit indspirefunding.ca.

How BBF is Supporting Students

Our Program is Growing

Our program has more than doubled in the last six years! This year, over 6,000 applications were processed – the highest number of applications ever received!

This year we were able to provide more money for individual First Nation, Inuit and Métis students

On average, the award amount for 2019-2020 recipients was over $800 higher than last year. This means more money goes to individual First Nation, Inuit and Métis students to help with their education.

Our team continues to work to improve our program, reduce wait times and fund as many students as possible

We have upgraded our student information database to ensure we can quickly match students with awards and make it easier for students to submit applications.

Our focus remains on YOU!

Building Brighter Futures’ funding model is unlike any other in the country, wherever possible funds are awarded to a student to use as they wish – tuition, childcare, food, cultural support, shelter, travel, etc.

Bursaries and Scholarships for Post-Secondary Education

Post-Secondary Education Programs

Full and part time studies in college, university, skilled trades, apprenticeships, and technology programs.

There is one application for all of Indspire’s bursaries and scholarships (with a few exceptions that you’ll see below). You only need to complete the application once to be considered for all applicable bursaries and scholarships. September 2025 to August 2026 academic year.

Deadlines: August 1, November 1, February 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries and Scholarships program is made possible thanks to generous supporters and federal and provincial governments. While we work to increase the amount of funding available each year, due to the growth in the number of applications, we’re not able to fund every student that applies.

Apply Now

Bursaries and Scholarships with unique deadlines

Petro-Canada Award for Indigenous High School Students

The Petro-Canada Award for Indigenous Students is for Canadian First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students who are enrolled in a Canadian high school program and are under the age of 19. This is a one-time award of $700.

Requirements: 

  • Enrolled full-time in a high school within Canada.
  • Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number.
  • Students must be under the age of 19 and a Canadian citizen.

Deadline to apply is July 1, 2025.

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Horatio Alger Indigenous Achievement Scholarship

The Horatio Alger Indigenous Achievement Scholarship is for Indigenous students starting a four-year post-secondary program in the fall.  This is a renewable award of $2,500.  While enrolled in post-secondary students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and a full-time course load to receive the renewed support each year.

Requirements:

  • First Nation (status and non-status), Inuit and Métis students must be in their final year of high school.
  • Students whose home Indigenous community are in the Northwest or Yukon Territories or Nunavut.
  • Enrolled full-time in a high school within Canada at time of application.
  • Must be starting in a four-year post-secondary program within Canada full-time in September.
  • Have a valid Social Insurance Number.

Deadline to apply is August 1, 2025.

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Post-Secondary Education – Skilled Trades

Post-Secondary Education Programs: part-time or full-time certificate or diploma programs (1 month to 4 year programs)

Deadlines: August 1, November 1, February 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries and Scholarships program is made possible thanks to generous supporters and federal and provincial governments. While we work to increase the amount of funding available each year, due to the growth in the number of applications, we’re not able to fund every student that applies.

Apply Now


Student Success Stories

Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures program is helping them realize their educational dreams. Hear from students, in their own words, how Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures program is helping them through their educational journey.


Questions?

We can help!

For more information or if you have any questions, please visit our FAQ page, or email education@indspire.ca or call 1-855-INDSPIRE (463-7747) x0223 (bilingual support x039).

BBF Program Policy

If you would like to review our Program Policy, you can access the document below.


Building Brighter Futures Sponsors

$5 Million +

$2 Million – $4,999,999

 

Joyce Family Foundation

 

$1 Million – $1,999,999

 

 

$500,000 – $999,999

Feiga Bresver Academic Fund

James Kennedy and June Pick

David and Susan Rattee

$250,000 – $499,999

Hilary Pearson Award

 

 

 

$100,000 – $249,999

Bourse de Montreal

Leslie Helson

Pat Hogan Endowment

Pat Kealey

Kornhauser Family

Rob and Shirley Metka

Herma Neyndorff

OTIP

Ralph M. Barford Foundation

Daniela Tiger

Turkstra Foundation

Unit E Investments

Kirsten Yip

 

 

$25,000 – $99,999

Margaret Atwood

Averbach Family Foundation

Michel and Doreen Bell

Paul and Cathy Binhammer

Steve Bornemann

The Boyd-Myles Foundation

Bryn and Margaret Davies Giving Fund

Manuel and Cheryl Buchwald

Cassoulet Palace Inc.

Church of St. Clement

College of Fellows

Susan Diamond

Rob Dowler and Lisanne Hill

The Driving Force Group

Julie George

Yvette & Ken Graham

Judith Hamilton

Stewart and Julie Hamilton

Robin Henry

Indigeno Travel

Indigenous Women Leadership Scholarship

Roberta Jamieson

John and Catherine Kelly

Len Flett Bursary

Lynn Haley Foundation

Naomi McCormack

Michael McKiernan

Yvonne Mercer

Sara Morrisey and Damien Medina

Muskoka Community Foundation

Mara O’Brien James

Fran Odette

Shannon Pestun

Bernard & Carol Roitberg

Dr. Eduard Schludermann

Seger Family Foundation

Shakerhill Foundation Inc.

Small Goslings Family

Joan Willingham

James Yan

 

Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades and Technology Bursaries

 

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