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  • March Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    March Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Another month, another list of great scholarships and bursaries that can help fund your educational ambitions! Remember to read the full description in the links to ensure you are eligible to apply. There is a scholarship for everyone!

    1. Steve Bonk Scholarship – Awarded to a student that has successfully completed at least one year of post secondary education and is embarking on careers associated with municipal water supply or wastewater. Amount: $500. Deadline: June 1, 2015.

    2. Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest – Open to students from high school to university who submit an essay based on selected criteria. Amount: Up to $1500 depending on category. Deadline: June 1, 2015.

    3. Algoma University Alumni Entrance Award III – Open to students transferring to Algoma U under a college articulation agreement who have the highest GPA in the last full year of their college program. Amount: $2000. Deadline: August 15, 2015.

    4. SIAST Libraries Arts Award – Open to students enrolled in a full-time program (20 weeks or more in length) at any SIAST campus. Amount: $500. Deadline: May 31, 2015.

    5. Learning That Works – Skills Canada National Competition Grant – A grant to support travel and accommodation costs for Saskatchewan Polytechnic students who are going on to compete in the Skills Canada National Competition. Amount: $500. Deadline: June 30, 2015.

    6. Friends of Sable Island Society Scholarship – Open to all grade 12 students in Nova Scotia school system to be applied to a post-secondary educational opportunity in 2015. Amount: $1000. Deadline: April 15, 2015.

    7. The Andrew Rok Foundation Scholarships – Open to students attending an Ontario university and studying computer science, computational mathematics or technology. Amount: Up to $40,000. Deadline: March 31, 2015.

    8. SOS Children’s Safety Scholarship – Open to students who creatively prepare and upload an essay, action plan, or resource guide that outlines prevention of the social issues covered in SOS Magazine. Amount: $5000. Deadline: August 31, 2015.

  • Residence & Campus Accessibility

    RESIDENCE ACCESSIBILITY
    Most residence buildings offer accommodations to students with disabilities or other special needs. During the residence application process, there is often a Special Needs Form that students can complete and submit with their residence application. Residence accommodations may include:

    • Wheelchair accessible room and bathroom
    • Visual fire alarms
    • Carpet-free rooms
    • Extra-long beds

    Universities and colleges will generally do their best to accommodate for the needs of students with disabilities or other special needs. However, it is important to note that residences are high-density living environments, and it can be difficult to accommodate for all special needs, particularly for students with environmental health concerns.

    For specific information about accommodations in residence, students should contact the housing department at their college or university.

    CAMPUS ACCESSIBILITY
    Campus buildings are required to have accessible entrances, washrooms, and parking available. Some campuses may provide detailed information about accessibility online, whereas other schools may not have a map showing all accessible features. For specific information regarding campus accessibility, students should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities.

    TRANSIT
    Many schools provide students with a transit pass through fees included in tuition. Most cities offer accessible buses on their regular routes, or they have options for riders that have other accessibility needs.

  • Offices for Students with Disabilities

    Offices for Students with Disabilities

    Educational institutions have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations that promote equity for people who have disabilities. To adhere to their legal obligation, provincial/territorial governments provide publicly funded colleges and universities with operating funds to set up special services for students with disabilities.

    Note:
    For the purpose of this guide, we will refer to the disability services centres as the “Office for Students with Disabilities” or OSD. The name and location of the centre at each college or university can be found on the school’s website.

    WHAT KIND OF SERVICE DOES THE OSD PROVIDE?
    Staff at Offices for Students with Disabilities assist students in a variety of ways. Given that each student’s needs are unique, services and accommodations are established on an individual basis and based on the documentation of the student’s disability. A complete list of services and required documentation will either be available on the website of each post-secondary institution or by contacting them directly.

    WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OSD?
    – Assess requests for accommodations, on the basis of each student’s submitted documentation
    – Recommend and provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or support services for students with disabilities
    – Provide information regarding policies, procedures, rights and responsibilities to students with disabilities in accessible formats upon request
    – Assist students in communicating with faculty (when needed) about their disability and required accommodations
    – Maintain confidentiality of all information pertaining to a student’s disability
    WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AT THE OSD?
    – When possible, contact the OSD before classes start to make a face-to-face appointment
    – Submit all required documentation to the OSD prior to the appointment (according to the school’s policies)
    – Attend the appointment to create an accommodation plan based on the submitted documentation
    WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL THE OSD REQUIRE?
    Each institution will have its own policies and procedures regarding the required documentation to show proof of a disability. Staff at the OSD can assist students in obtaining up-to-date documentation or assessments as needed. Be sure to check with the OSD at each institution to determine specifically what documentation requirements that they have.

    Some common requirements are:

    – Learning disabilities: a recent psychoeducational assessment (conducted within the last 3-5 years)
    – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a diagnosis by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician with appropriate training in neuropsychological disorders
    – Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a medical form or letter from a qualified specialist or a psycho-educational assessment
    – Physical and medical disabilities, and mental health disorders: a medical form or letter from a qualified specialist indicating the student’s diagnosis, limitations, and recommendations for academic accommodations
    – Deaf or hard-of-hearing: an audiologist report
    – Blind or low vision: CNIB registration number

  • Disabled Students’ Leadership On-Campus

    Disabled Students’ Leadership On-Campus

    Student leadership and disabled student groups are important on post-secondary campuses if positive change is to occur. Just as a student council is a vital tool for bringing the needs and concerns of all students to a post-secondary school’s administration, a disabled students’ group can serve to address the needs of a school’s disabled population. Such groups can allow students to network with their peers and to share ideas, offer counseling and information services, and often house a resource library on disability-related information.

    Many Canadian colleges and universities have groups or access committees for students with disabilities. Each offers unique programs, services and features that make it an important part of a school’s structure. The following profiles, taken from NEADS’ CampusNet Web site, identify four groups as exemplary models of student leadership in our community.

  • School vs. Life

    School vs. Life

    When you  make the move to junior high and high school, everyone seems to think that there is no way to balance both having a social life and excelling in you academics. However, there is always a way – as long as there is a will!

    The way I see it, you need to earn your breaks, vacations and time off; That is what used to drive me to finish up my last essays and my final projects. I would look at the calendar and mutter to myself, “It’s almost March Break – I got to work hard now so that I can fully enjoy my time off school”. Then I would put all of my effort into my work until the very last class and forget about (almost) everything! Essentially, you want to be able to relax during your breaks and long weekends, so you just have to think of this as a “crunch time”.  Even now, in university, I do this to myself – I work and study hard and once I finish the exam, I shop! Sounds odd to some people, but I call it a “Celebratory Spree Day”, the day when I get to relax after pushing myself to study so hard for my exam period.

    One can also practice time management by planning when you will study and setting aside a few hours for fun with friends, too. For example, give yourself some hours to hang out with your friends before heading home to finish assignments and study.  It’s possible to have great academic standing and a social life, you just need to have the determination and the planning.

    Always remember to enjoy life!

  • Reasons to Use Kids Help Phone

    Reasons to Use Kids Help Phone

    Kids Help Phone is a free, anonymous resource that is there for you 24/7. Its purpose is to give young people someone to talk to when they feel they have no one who will listen to them. It is important to know that there are people who care and want to help you with any problems you may have. Kids Help Phone has many uses – here are just a few.

    1) You need an objective opinion or want to ask questions anonymously.
    If you need to talk with someone who will listen to what you’re going through, and you don’t trust or want to speak to friends or family, then the Kids Help Phone is a great resource for you. Sometimes you don’t want the people closest to you to know what it is that you are feeling or thinking about. It may be because of a fear of losing their respect or simply of changing the image that they have of you. Whatever your reason, speaking with someone who is trained and knowledgeable on how to handle the information you will share with them is often a good option. When you call the Kids Help Phone you can rest assured that the information will remain confidential, unless it involves information that must be reported to the police (such as reporting a threat to your own or someone else’s life).

    2) You are undergoing a traumatic period in your life and would like support.
    Sometimes we suffer because of life’s circumstances, and in this case it is really important to talk with people about what you are going through. You may not want to talk with friends or family because you feel they may not understand, but with Kids Help Phone you can talk to a person who has been trained in dealing with emotional crises. They will be able to talk to you about relationships, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders or anything else that you feel is affecting you.

    3) You want to speak with someone who will listen to you.
    Often in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there is so much going on that we can feel ignored or that we don’t matter. It can be very hard to find someone who will just listen to what it is that you are going through. The time rarely comes up where you feel it is okay to pour out your soul, and because of this you can be left with some important issues bubbling just under the surface. It is important to “vent” and to talk about your life and what sorts of challenges you are facing.

    4) You need to report an incident.
    If you don’t feel comfortable speaking directly to the police or don’t know what to do after an incident, the people at Kids Help Phone will listen and help you to deal with the situation. This can range from bullying, an incident of physical or sexual abuse or a crime like theft.

    5) You are in a crisis and need to talk to someone as soon as possible.
    If you are feeling that you are in a crisis and are having thoughts of suicide, a counsellor at the Kids Help Phone will be a great person for you to speak with. They can help to “talk out” your problem and ensure that you get the assistance you require. Remember that you are never alone! Suicide is not the answer. Reach out to someone at Kids Help Phone and they will be there for you when you feel no one else is.

  • Paying It Forward

    Paying It Forward

    I recently heard about someone in a Tim Horton’s drive-thru paying for the coffee of the driver behind them. I thought it was such a nice thing to do for a complete stranger. I also couldn’t help but think about how great it would be if more people did kind things for others without expectations of owing them back.

    Couldn’t our society use a couple more acts of kindness? It all starts with one person, and that person could be you. Small acts of kindness can make a huge difference, even if it may seem like they aren’t. Something as simple as smiling at someone accompanied by a good morning greeting can really make someone’s day.

    On a larger scale, volunteering for different charitable causes can contribute to a larger issue. Many organizations rely on volunteers to bring about social change. You will be helping others who really need it and doing it out of the goodness of your heart.

    Paying it forward with kindness is a wonderful, selfless thing to do. It doesn’t have to require any money and doesn’t have to take a lot of time. There is no reward greater than doing nice things for others and making others happy. Although the reward isn’t in the form of money or recognition, the way you will feel about yourself after you pay it forward with kindness will be a reward in it itself. The key to paying it forward is that it comes from a genuine and sincere place within you. You should want to do kind things for others not because you think you will get something out of it, but for the betterment of the other person.

    The last time somebody held the door open for you, you probably felt gratitude. Maybe you made sure to hold the door open for the person that was behind you. Even a small gesture of kindness can make you feel great and make the world seem like a better place. Often kindness works in a chain reaction effect. It can start with one person doing something kind for another person and then that person wanting do to something kind for another, and so on and so forth. It can be almost infectious, in a good way.

    Doing kind things for others can also help strengthen the community. It allows you to connect with another person even if only for a short period of time. It brings people closer together and allows them to co-operate. People begin to act as a support system to one another and look out for each other’s best interests. So, today, why not try paying it forward and doing something kind for someone else? I guarantee that you will feel awesome after!

  • Dream Job: Hockey Player

    Dream Job: Hockey Player

    Many people dream of being a famous sports star when they grow up, but not everyone achieves that dream. Have you ever wanted to become a star in a sport like hockey? A Canadian athlete named Hayley Wickenheiser has become well known for her amazing athletic abilities and for her work in helping others. Like other hockey players, she has worked hard at her sport while also balancing it with the rest of her life.

    Becoming a professional hockey player takes a combination of talent and hard work. Hayley Wickenheiser discovered her athletic abilities early. She grew up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, where she became skillful at several different sports, including hockey and softball. When she was fifteen years old she started playing hockey at the Women’s World Championships as part of the Canadian National Women’s Team. The team won seven gold medals over the next years. Hayley later played on men’s teams in Finland and Sweden, and she has won gold and silver medals at several Olympic Games. She is now known as one of the best athletes in the world.

    For most athletes, the time they spend on playing their sport every year is fairly short because the work is seasonal. However, they spend a lot of time during the rest of the year on training and keeping themselves healthy. They run, lift weights, swim, cycle, and continue to practice their skills. They try to keep themselves healthy by eating good food and avoiding anything that might make them sick. They keep themselves strong so that they can play well.

    A career in sports is not usually very long, and most athletes move on to other jobs by the time they are about thirty years old. Some athletes have to leave sports because of injuries, but most of them leave because of age, when they no longer have the energy to keep up with the demands of the sport. Hayley Wickenheiser has continued in professional sports longer than many other athletes, but she is also preparing for a different career after she finishes playing hockey. In 2013, she received a science degree in kinesiology from the University of Calgary, which will help her if she works to help other athletes play better.

    Besides her sports and her studies, Hayley has been working in several other areas. She works with several groups that encourage girls to get into sports, and she also works with a group that buys mosquito nets for people in countries that have trouble with a deadly disease called malaria. Hayley has traveled to Africa to work with the charity that she started, Right to Play. Her personal life is also busy, since she is looking after her son in addition to everything else that she does. She is already well known for her hockey skills, but people also recognize her for this charitable work.

    Are you good at playing hockey?  If you practice your skills and become part of local teams, you might someday be able to make hockey your career.

  • What Is the Canada Student Loans Program?

    What Is the Canada Student Loans Program?

    The Canada Student Loans Program provides financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to post-secondary students who demonstrate financial need.

    Application Information
    – Students must first apply for a provincial or territorial student loan. Students are automatically considered for a Canada Student Loan when they apply for a provincial or territorial student loan.
    – Loan application forms are available from provincial and territorial student assistance offices and at financial aid offices in educational institutions.
    – Students must apply every year in order to receive funding.

    Important Information
    – Students must give loan providers proof of enrolment within six months of finishing their last study period in order to maintain interest-free status while studying. Confirmation of Enrolment forms are issued by educational institutions.
    – The governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec do not participate in the Canada Student Loans Program but offer their own financial assistance programs for students.

    Student Loans
    Government student loans are a great way to help you pay for your post-secondary education at a designated college, university or other post-secondary institution.

    The Government of Canada and most provincial or territorial governments work together to deliver federal and provincial student loan and grant programs. This makes things simpler for you.

    – In Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada and the provincial governments work together to provide financial assistance through Integrated Student Loans.
    – In Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada Student Loans and Grants are available alongside provincial or territorial student financial assistance.
    – In Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Quebec, Canada Student Loans are not available. These jurisdictions have their own student loan programs.
    – In Yukon, only Canada Student Loans and territorial Grants are available to permanent residents of the Yukon.

  • Books and Bills: Financing your Post-Secondary Studies

    Books and Bills: Financing your Post-Secondary Studies

    An education is a worthwhile investment—but if you’re making the decision to go to college or university, you may find yourself questioning the amount of money going into your studies. Tuition fees can pile up, and can range anywhere from five to eight thousand dollars per year. Specific programs, like business or engineering, are even more expensive at many institutions. When examining the costs of it all, post-secondary education seems more and more daunting, but (though it might take a little work) there are ways to get the learning you’re entitled to without breaking the bank.

    When you’re looking at a post-secondary program, finances should be one of your points of consideration. Depending on the university or college, tuition rates can vary, and if you know your program is offered in equal quality at a cheaper school, this could be a logical deciding factor. The thing is, post-secondary finances are comprised of much more than tuition payments: in all programs there are auxiliary costs, like textbooks, that you have to consider. Furthermore, there is the issue of residence; you may choose to live at home in order to save some money, since residence can cost you up to ten thousand dollars every year. But if you’re looking at an institution that’s a little further from home, living expenses are mandatory costs as well.

    Overall, going to college or university can be a financial ordeal if you don’t have the funding. That being said, don’t feel you have to miss out on educational opportunities due to financial problems. Scholarships that are awarded based on academic merit are often included upon your admittance to a post-secondary program, provided you fall into a certain grade category (typically, very large schools tend to have more stringent academic requirements for entrance scholarships). There are also scholarships you can apply for, whether based on grades, extra-curriculars, or community involvement, and these scholarships can be offered by the school itself or available through external sources. You just have to do your research.

    Financial assistance can be available to you even if you don’t qualify for scholarships—bursaries, which are based solely on financial need, are also offered by many universities. These require an application, but are definitely a worthwhile investment. Bursaries are grants, not loans, so they don’t need to be paid back! If scholarships and bursaries don’t work out, consider applying for a student loan (basically, borrowing money from the government). Programs like OSAP in Ontario are in place specifically to help people get through school, even if they don’t have the funding for it. They also allow some time after you graduate to get yourself organized until you are able to pay the money back.

    Post-secondary can be a financial burden, but don’t let yourself miss out on the opportunity to get an education. With scholarships, bursaries and loans in place, there are always ways to get the help you need.