Smillie Family Education Award

What you will need

• ✓ Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• ✓ Confirmation of residence in a rural Canadian community
• ✓ Proof of enrollment in a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program (first or second year)
• ✓ Verification that your program leads to a career in agriculture, education, or health care
• ✓ Academic transcripts showing a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or 70% or higher
• ✓ Documentation demonstrating financial need

About this award

You can win one of three awards valued at approximately $2,000 each. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have grown up in a rural Canadian community and have spent your time leading and volunteering to help others. Applications closed on June 1, 2026. Ask Calgary Foundation whether it will run again and when the next deadline falls. Also ask how and when you'll hear back — whether it is by email, phone, or through the application portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Calgary Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. The money is applied directly to your tuition. Confirm with Calgary Foundation if there are any specific steps you need to take to ensure the funds reach your school account. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Calgary Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has resided in rural towns, villages, hamlets or on agricultural operations across Canada. You must be entering the first or second year of a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program at a qualified Canadian post-secondary institution. Your program of study must be one that can lead to a career in agriculture, education, or health care. You also need to show financial need and maintain good academic standing with a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average — the average of all your final grades) greater than or equal to 2.7 or 70%. Finally, you must demonstrate active leadership and volunteerism in your school and community.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to certificate or undergraduate students
• ✓ Resident of Alberta
• ✓ Studying agriculture, education or health care

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's own page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   This round closed on June 1, 2026

   Check the award's own page for the next round before you prepare anything.

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