Aboriginal Scholarships and Service Awards Program

MEDIA RELEASE:

WINNIPEG 0ctober 05, 2006 - At City Hall today, Mayor Sam Katz announced an Aboriginal Scholarship and Service Awards Program to boost Winnipeg’s commitment to the City’s growing Aboriginal community.

In October 2005, City Council approved the creation of the Awards program for Aboriginal Junior and Senior High School students attending schools within Winnipeg’s inner city. The program was created on the initiative of staff in two City Departments (Planning, Property and Development, and Corporate Services) in partnership with the Winnipeg School Division.

Receiving the 2006 scholarships were: Robyn Rudolph, Grade 6, William Whyte School; Agnes St. Croix, Grade 7, Gordon Bell; Chelsea Kennedy, Grade 8, Shaughnessy Park School; Joshua Hansen Grade 9; Hugh John Macdonald School; Kerri Richards, Grade 10, R.B. Russell School; Stephanie Thompson, Grade 11, Children of the Earth School; and Jessica Sinclair, Grade 12, Children of the Earth School.

“Through this initiative, the City of Winnipeg is demonstrating its commitment to improve employment prospects for young Aboriginal people”, says Katz. “Working with the Aboriginal youth allows us to build a relationship with the next generation of Aboriginal leaders, and support them in their educational endeavours.”

“The Winnipeg School Division is delighted with the Aboriginal Scholarship and Service Awards Program. This program is truly an investment in the future of our Aboriginal youth from the inner city," said Joyce Bateman, Chair of the Winnipeg School Division Board. "It will provide further incentive for our students to excel in their studies and be involved in community leadership opportunities."

“This strategy is consistent with the City Administration’s Human Resource vision of a dynamic and diverse workforce of highly skilled employees,” said City of Winnipeg CAO Annitta L. Stenning. “The award program will help address our recruitment needs for the future and help create a workforce more reflective of the Aboriginal population we serve.”

On September 24 2003, Winnipeg City Council unanimously adopted the First Steps: Municipal Aboriginal Pathways (MAPS) to align with Plan Winnipeg’s direction that the City “Promote Self-reliant Aboriginal Communities”. Among the commitments in this document was one to undertake initiatives to enhance the participation of Aboriginal people in both the civic and community workforce.

This scholarship program builds on First Steps: Municipal Aboriginal Pathways and other partnerships that Mayor Katz has endorsed such as the Aboriginal Employment Partnership agreement he signed in January 2005 with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Manitoba Metis Federation. Consistent with MAPS, the new program will act as a “doorway” to civic government through mentorship, education and employment.

Background: The Aboriginal Scholarship and Service Awards Program

The objectives of the Aboriginal Scholarship and Service Awards program are:

• To provide a continuing scholarship to selected students who exemplify leadership in both school and community.
• To identify aboriginal youth who exhibit interest in the planning and property development fields and to provide opportunity for summer employment, professional mentorship and related training towards post-secondary education.
• To identify potential candidates for employment with the City of Winnipeg over the long term.
• Scholarships will be renewed annually to those students who continue to meet the objectives of the program.
• Funding for the Aboriginal Scholarship and Service Award Program will be cost-shared between the Planning, Property and Development and Corporate Services Departments.
• The following scholarships are available to students who have successfully completed their school year and demonstrated academic achievement and community involvement:
  • $250 will be awarded to one Aboriginal student in each of Grades 6, 7 ,8 and 9(S1);
  • $400 will be awarded to one Aboriginal student in each of Grades 10(S2) and 11(S3);
  • $1,500 towards tuition expenses for one student who has successfully enrolled in post-secondary education at a recognized university or community college;
  • Two full time student summer placement positions will be dedicated to students who have been recognized through the scholarship service awards program. (Must be at least 16 years of age or older).
• Deadline for applications is on or before April 30th of each school year.
• A Committee is reviewing this year’s applicants and the award recipients will be notified by the end of June.
• For additional information about the program for to Winnipeg.ca/hr/scholarship.stm or call Jackie Halliburton, Equity & Diversity Coordinator at 311.