Building a Better Future Bursary

The Building a Better Future initiative provides financial support to eligible Syilx Okanagan Nation members. This scholarship, bursary and award initiative recognizes student perseverance and achievement to encourage our members to continue their educational pursuits. These scholarships, bursaries and awards are for students starting or continuing a post-secondary program in the fall of 2024.

Applications will open for the Building a Better Future Bursary in Spring 2024.

Important!
Read the terms carefully before completing your application and relevant supporting documentation. Students are welcome to apply for multiple awards – please see all available awards below:

Available Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards
FortisBC an Education for Life Awards – $3,000

While building the Terasen Gas Southern Crossing Pipeline, Terasen Gas (now FortisBC) forged strong relationships with the member communities of the Okanagan Nation Alliance. In recognition, Fortis BC has established a Financial Award for Okanagan Nation Alliance members who are committed to building a better future for themselves and their community through post-secondary educational studies. This bursary has been available since 2009.

$1500 Education for Life Award (2 available)
Open to students enrolled in full time studies in a minimum two-year university, undergrad, graduate school, college diploma, certificate or trades program at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2023.

EMB Awards for Syilx Students – $8,000

Formed in 2014, EMB Management Ltd. (“EMB”) offers project development, project delivery, engineering, construction management and construction inspection services to utility and infrastructure clients across Western Canada. To help support Syilx Okanagan Nation members in furthering their education, EMB introduced $10,000 in awards in 2022 as a component of our Building a Better Future Initiative. Their contribution will provide the following awards:

$3500 Engineering Scholarship
This scholarship is open to students studying Engineering in the fall of 2023.

Other Requirements:
• Planning to attend an accredited post-secondary institution on a full-time basis pursuing a full-time (4 course minimum) engineering program.
• Applicants must be enrolled in or display proof of acceptance in a post-secondary institution

$1500 Surveying, Mapping, or Geomatics Bursary
This bursary is open to an undergraduate student studying surveying, mapping, or geomatics in the fall of 2023.

$1500 Business Bursary
This bursary is open to an undergraduate student enrolled in full time studies in the fall of 2023 who intends to study Business, Business Administration, Commerce, or Management.

$1500 Walking My Learning Forward Award
Open to students enrolled in full time studies in a two-year college diploma, undergrad, graduate school, certificate or trades program or a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2023

Progressive Fence Syilx Bursary – $1,500

Progressive Fence Installations Ltd. has been providing fencing and security solutions in British Columbia for over 35 years. In 1981 Progressive Fence started out as an installation company and expanded into an industry leader providing customers with state of the art technology in fencing, security products, access controls and entry gate systems. Their contribution has provided $1500 towards students pursuing post-secondary education.

$1500 Progressive Fence Syilx Bursary
Open to students enrolled in full time studies in a two-year college diploma, undergrad, graduate school, certificate or trades program or a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2023.

Syilx Siya Awards For High School Graduates of 2022/2023 – $3,000

$1000 High School Graduate Bursary (3 available)
The Syilx Siya Bursary is awarded to 3 Syilx Okanagan high school graduates who have demonstrated a willingness to dream big for themselves, their Nation, their community, and/or their family. Award recipients will have educational goals and the drive to make them happen!

Open to students who graduate high school within the 2022/23 school year.

  • Provide thoughtful, planned, and fully developed essay (written or video) responses

Sponsors of the Syilx Siya Awards

EMB: Formed in 2014, EMB Management Ltd. (“EMB”) offers project development, project delivery, engineering, construction management and construction inspection services to utility and infrastructure clients across Western Canada. To help support Syilx Okanagan Nation members in furthering their education, EMB introduced $10,000 in awards in 2022 as a component of our Building a Better Future Initiative. For the Syilx Siya Bursary, EMB has donated $2000 towards two of the three Syilx Siya awards available.

Hi Traxx Contracting and Lance McLean: Hi Traxx Contracting and Lance McLean have donated $1000 towards one of the three Syilx Siya awards available.

Applications

Who is Eligible to Apply?

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • You must be attached by ancestry and identity to the Syilx Okanagan Nation
  • Registered or applied to attend an accredited post-secondary institution on a full-time basis between: September 2023 – April 2024 (unless otherwise noted in the specific award listing)
  • Each scholarship, bursary and award has its own set of additional criteria and deadlines.

Important Dates

  • Application deadline: Applications to open Spring 2024
  • Award Announcement: July 23-24, 2024
  • Payments: Summer 2024

Application package requirements

  • Students must ensure all application requirements are met before submitting an application. (see Checklist)
  • Students must take responsibility to ensure that all information is up-to-date and included in the submission package.
  • Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Include all attachments in one email. We will send you an email notification when your application has been received.

High School Application Package

Post-Secondary Application Package

Read the terms carefully before completing your application and relevant supporting documentation. Students are welcome to apply for multiple awards.

SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATIONS:

By Email: tmontgomery@syilx.org

For More Information Contact:
Tara Montgomery, Communications Lead
Phone: (250) 707-0095 ext 120
Email: tmontgomery@syilx.org

Thank you to our Partners:

    

Please join us in congratulating the 2023 Building a Better Future Bursary recipients!

2023 High School Bursary Recipients
2023 Post-Secondary Bursary Recipients