By Maria Granados, The Navy League of Canada, Maxim Corneau, Army Cadet League of Canada & Anthony Langlois, The Air Cadet League of Canada
While most commonly known for supporting the training of thousands of cadets across the country, the Leagues also provide a number of scholarships geared towards helping cadets pursue post-secondary education.
Some of the scholarships come from various sources and organizations that support and believe in our youth as they pursue their goals. “The Young Citizens Foundation is proud to partner with the Leagues in promoting citizenship among Canada’s youth,” says Mr. Gary Bennett, President of The Young Citizens Foundation. “It is critically important for our collective future that these young Canadians, who have experienced the benefits of participating in the cadet program, further their formal education so that they may have a better opportunity to take on positions of leadership in our future.” The Young Citizens Foundation provides one $5,000 scholarship to a deserving cadet from each element.
Many of the opportunities that each individual League offers stem from the generosity of their members, who are often past cadets themselves or parents of cadets who became active and influential individuals within the organizations. Based on the goals of the cadet programs, our members believe in supporting the development of future leaders by assisting and encouraging them to pursue higher education. The Honourable Rear-Admiral Fred Mifflin was the Navy League’s Honourary President for over 12 years, actively supporting the Navy League’s Maritime Affairs portfolio. Now, the Navy League provides a memorial scholarship in his name to preserve his dedication to maritime affairs in Canada.
The Air Cadet League offers scholarships to cadets specifically entering an aviation program. Madeleine Landreville received a scholarship funded by Jazz Aviation to jumpstart her goal of entering a career in aviation. She is currently studying at the University of Western Ontario in the Commercial Aviation Program. “Since the time I realized that I wanted to be a pilot, I have been dedicated to pursuing a career in aviation. [This scholarship] will help me develop my skills as a pilot and provide me with deep knowledge of the world of business, in which I am keenly interested.”
As of 2018, the Air Cadet League also offers the Alex Venebles Scholarship in Engineering, a $2,500 bursary for a cadet entering the field of engineering. This scholarship, like others, was made possible by a generous donation to create an annual scholarship.
The Major Terence Whitty, CD, KCStG Memorial Bursary is available annually to Army Cadets. The surviving members of Terry Whitty’s family and the Army Cadet League of Canada (ACLC) created the bursary jointly, as a formal method of memorializing his contributions to the Army Cadet program. Whitty was past Executive Director of the ACLC, a long-time league member and former cadet himself. Throughout his life, Whitty assisted a number of cadets who, for a variety of reasons, found themselves to be in financial distress or in need of a simple helping hand. As a result of his generosity, The Major Terence Whitty Memorial Bursary was created to assist an Army Cadet pursuing post-secondary education and in need of financial assistance. The ACLC also administers, in partnership with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association, an annual scholarship for one deserving Army Cadet who qualifies on the Canadian Forces Basic Parachute Course.
These are not the only scholarships available to cadets. Cadets of any element entering general post-secondary education, as well as those demonstrating a financial need, may be eligible for additional scholarships provided by each League. Combined, the three Leagues provide over $100,000 in scholarships to these young leaders at the national level. Provincial committees or branches also provide scholarships to cadets in their region.
Without the support of our generous partners and individuals, these scholarships would not be available to assist young, determined leaders entering the professional world. If you would like to make a donation to establish a scholarship or find out more about specific opportunities, please contact the Leagues by visiting: aircadetleague.com, armycadetleague.ca, or navyleague.ca.