The MD values education, and offers scholarships and bursaries each year to encourage local students to pursue further educational opportunities, and to enhance the ability of young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Rugged & Real
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Each spring, local students apply for the MD's Rugged & Real Post-Secondary Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.
Join us in congratulating this year's recipients and take a look at their current or intended fields of study.
2023-24 Rugged & Real Post-secondary Scholarship
The MD’s annual Rugged & Real Scholarship is designed to empower local students to achieve their post-secondary education goals.
Overview and Ground Rules
Each year, the MD awards at least one Rugged & Real Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each year to a student whose permanent residence is within our municipal boundaries, and who plans to attend a post-secondary institution within the upcoming year. Council reviews each application and determines the year's scholarship recipients based on the merit of their submissions.
If you don’t live in Lesser Slave River, but you’re a student who has a seasonal gig with the MD, you can apply for the 2023-24 Rugged & Real Scholarship. Mature students are also strongly encouraged to apply.
Important Scholarship Dates
- Scholarship applications become available in spring of each year
- The scholarship submission cutoff date will be announced
- Application review and scholarship awards occur in late summer
If you don't live in Lesser Slave River, but you're a student who has a seasonal job with the MD, you can apply for the Rugged & Real Post-Secondary Scholarship!
Community Assistance Board Grant
Launched in 2020, the Community Assistance Board (CAB) grant helps local groups enhance social programming, community events, and facilities.
The CAB grant program has four intakes during the year: January, April, July and September. Applications are evaluated on a given project’s alignment with the MD’s community values.
Application Review and Fund Allocation
The Council-appointed Community Assistance Board meets four times per year (February, May, August and November) to review applications and allocate funding toward community-focused opportunities, initiatives and programming.
Eligibility Thresholds
All not-for-profit societies, community groups, clubs and individuals that offer a direct benefit to the citizens of the MD, and that align with the region’s community values (some of which include fellowship, generosity, compassion and volunteerism) are eligible to receive community assistance funding.
Religious entities, registered charities and for-profit organizations do not qualify for CAB grant funding.
Groups that align with the MD's expressed values fellowship, generosity, compassion and volunteerism are encouraged to apply for CAB grant funding.
Supporting Documents
Other Regional Grant Funding Opportunities
The following scholarship and bursary opportunities are provided by different regional associations that recognize the importance of education and continued learning in rural communities.
AHS/NADC Joint Bursary Partnership Program
Alberta Health Services (AHS) & the Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC) are proud to offer this unique bursary opportunity. AHS and the NADC match between $1,000 and $3,000 per student up to a total of $6,000 per year for each recipient in exchange for a return of service within northern Alberta.
To learn more, visit the Joint Bursary Partnership Program website.
The application window for the 2022-23 academic year has passed.
LSWC Elliott & Rosche Memorial Bursary
Lesser Slave Watershed Council (LSWC) co-founders Brian Elliott and Brian Rosche will be memorialized through the recipient of this annual bursary. Brian Rosche served as Councillor for the MD of Lesser Slave River from his election in 2005 until his untimely passing on August 16, 2020.
The $1,000 bursary will be awarded to a watershed resident furthering education in environmental and watershed related topics. The successful applicant will be a post-secondary student pursuing environmental sciences, biology, earth sciences, or a water-focused program. Learn more about the Memorial Bursary on the LSWC website, and download the 2022-23 application form.
The application window for the 2023-24 academic year has passed.
Northern Alberta Development Council Bursary Program
The NADC Bursary is a return service bursary of $6,000 per year for a maximum of two years, and is offered to students in their final two years of post-secondary studies. It is meant to encourage students to train for jobs that are in demand in northern Alberta.
To learn more, visit the NADC Bursary Program website.
The application window for the 2023-24 academic year has passed.
RMA Post-Secondary Scholarship Program
Recognizing the importance of an educated population to the future well-being of rural communities, the RMA Scholarship Program is designed to encourage young rural Albertans to pursue further education, and thereby enhance the ability of these young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities in subsequent years. RMA provides funding assistance to five rural students each year (one student in each of the five RMA geographic districts).
To learn more, visit the RMA Scholarship website.
The application deadline for the 2023-24 academic year is August 31, 2023.
