Scholarship Program

CFUW Nanaimo offers scholarships, awards and bursaries to local female students each year.   Scholarship funds are raised through the generous donations of our members as well as a variety of fund-raising activities.  We continue to add to our endowment, which is held at the Vancouver Island University Foundation, as well as ensure that our Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District 68 awards are fully funded.

100 women donate
A huge bouquet of gratitude to 100+ Women Who Care Mid-Island. They chose CFUW Nanaimo to receive their September 2023 donation, and the gift is truly fantastic.

CFUW Nanaimo Scholarship Fund is a registered charity.  Donations are gratefully accepted. Amounts over $20 are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.  Please contact our treasurer for email transfer or cheque payment instructions, and find us on Canada Helps.  

CFUW Nanaimo funds a variety of awards:

1. High School Awards, School District 68 NLSF

Four awards for which selection and disbursement is managed by Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation.  Application information is found here.

  • The CFUW Nanaimo Scholarship – Degree – $1,600 increased to $2,900 for 2023
  • CFUW Nanaimo Bursary #1 – $1,200 increased to $2,400 for 2023
  • CFUW Nanaimo Bursary #2 – $1,200 increased to $2,400 for 2023
  • CFUW Nanaimo Scholarship – Diploma – $1,300 increased to $2,400 for 2023

One award for which selection is managed by the Awards Committee of Ladysmith Secondary School, disbursement managed by Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation:

  •  CFUW Nanaimo Scholarship – Ladysmith – $1,100 increased to $2,000 for 2023

2. Vancouver Island University Awards

Selection and disbursement of these awards is managed by VIU Financial Aid and Awards Office.  Application information is found here.

  • CFUW Nanaimo Scholarship – $1,500
  • CFUW Nanaimo Re-Entry Award – $1,500
  • CFUW Nanaimo Bursary – $1,500
  • CFUW Nanaimo Adult Basic Education Award – $1,500
  • CFUW Nanaimo Margaret Strongitharm Memorial Award – $1,500
  • CFUW Nanaimo Ocean Sciences/Marine Biology Celebration Award CFUW 100th Anniversary – $2,000
  • CFUW Nanaimo Susan Murphy Memorial Award – $2,000
  • CFUW Nanaimo Clemente Award of $500 towards tuition for a full-credit course at VIU is made annually, at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, to a female student in the Clemente Program, as recommended by the Program’s Director.   This Clemente Program is offered by Vancouver Island University as a no cost adult learning course for individuals of low economic and educational opportunities designed to allow them the opportunity to expand their horizons. The program has been suspended since 2021.

CFUW Nanaimo respects and safeguards the privacy of our award recipients.

News from VIU click here.

3.  Short-term Awards

From 2019 – 2023 (one award each year), with selection and disbursement managed by VIU Financial Aid and Awards Office:

  • CFUW Nanaimo Vilma Dubé Memorial Award  – $1,000

4. CFUW National

CFUW Nanaimo members also donate annually to our CFUW national charity, the CFUW Charitable Trust which funds and awards fellowships and awards at the post graduate level.  For details and application information, please visit www.cfuwcharitabletrust.ca

To read more about the history of CFUW scholarships click here.