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  • Volunteer Centres in Canada

    Volunteer Centres in Canada

    As you know, high school students require 40 hours worth of volunteer work/community service in order to graduate. Use our handy guide below to discover how your hours can best be used!

    Volunteering and Community Hours

    What is a Volunteer Centre?

    Volunteer Centres are non-profit organizations or groups dedicated to fostering and developing volunteerism in the community as a whole. While other organizations contribute to sustaining our national heritage of volunteering through their programs and outreach, Volunteer Centres serve the broadest membership; this includes volunteers and organizations/volunteer-involving organizations. Volunteer Centres reach across the non-profit and public sectors to include organizations working in human and social services, health care, education, the arts and recreation – regardless of their source of funding.

  • November Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    November Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Welcome to our listing of ten new scholarships for November! Be sure to check out the information for each one to see if you are eligible to apply. It’s never too early to start working on your applications for scholarships next year! You work hard for your grades – now go out and get that free money!

    1. Terry Fox Humanitarian Award – National scholarship program. Amount: Up to $7,000 per year for a maximum of 4 years. Application deadline: February 1, 2013.

    2. University of Toronto National Scholarship Program – National scholarship program. Amount: $35,000 – $50,000 plus incidental fees for 4 years. Application deadline: November 9, 2012.

    3. The Leonard Foundation Financial Assistance Program – National scholarship program. Amount: $1,000. Application deadline: March 15, 2013. NOTE: Your application must be submitted on your behalf by a nominator. See website for details.

    4. D&R Sobey Atlantic Scholarship – Regional scholarship program – must be a student from Atlantic Canada enrolled in the Queen’s University Commerce program. Amount: $68,000. Application deadline: December 1, 2012.

    5. Toyota Earth Day Scholarship – National scholarship program for students who demonstrate leadership in environmental issues. Amount: $5,000. Application deadline: February 15, 2013.

    6. Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship – Regional scholarship program for students from rural communities. Amount: $1,500. Application Deadline: May 25, 2013.

    7. Assumption Foundation Scholarship – National scholarship program for students enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution and who have an average of 70% or above. Amount: $1,500. Application Deadline: April 30, 2013.

    8. Burger King Scholars Program – National scholarship program for students graduating from Grade 12 this year. Amount: Between $1,000 and $50,000, depending on the scholarship stream applied for. Application deadline: January 10, 2013. NOTE: Applications can only be submitted online. The online form does not become active until November 15, 2012.

    9. MADD Youth Services Bursary – National scholarship program for students who have lost an immediate family member to an impaired driver. Amount: $2,000. Application deadline: May 31, 2013.

    10. Schulich Leaders – National scholarship program for students who have been nominated and accepted as the Schulich Leader for their school. NOTE: You must first be nominated as a Schulich Leader via their website no later than February 5, 2013. Once accepted, the scholarship application for all Schulich Leaders commences. Amount: $60,000. Scholarship application deadline: March 31, 2013.

  • Choosing A Career Path

    Choosing A Career Path

    Whether you are in grade 8 or grade 12, there is always pressure to choose a career. While the pressure increases as you get closer to graduation, it’s never a bad time to think about your future. The key to choosing a career is to follow the SMART goals formula. Always remember to set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed. This is a formula that is hugely useful when setting career goals.

    To begin, start thinking about some hobbies, interests and/or school subjects that you enjoy. Ask yourself – what am I good at? What kinds of things do I like to do? Are you a people person or a person who prefers to work with machines and technology? Especially important is to know your preferences in terms of work environment. You are trying to set a specific goal, so think about if you would like to have an office job, be on your feet, or be outdoors doing work in the field. Whatever specific subject you choose to pursue, remember that there will be variety within each of them in terms of what kind of jobs are available.

    Next, is to make the goal measurable. What time landmarks will be important to you? The first step could be choosing a subject of interest, then researching careers, then choosing a few careers of interest with similar requirements. Setting dates for each step is hugely important. Remember that your interests change, so some subjects can be ruled out very easily.

    The next question is to ask yourself if the goal is achievable, and why not hit two birds with one stone and ask yourself if the goal is realistic at the same time. In other words, is the career you are choosing something that you really think you can do and achieve? Is the career compatible with the subjects you are able to succeed at?

    The last step is to ensure that your career goal is timed, in terms of setting realistic targets for completing each required step. If you want to be a lawyer, you will have to complete high school, university and law school. This is a considerable amount of time, so breaking it down into sizable chunks is your best shot at success. Remember that your interests might change as time goes by, but it’s better to be caught with a sketch of a plan than to be caught without any plan at all!

  • You’re Not Alone On A Budget

    You’re Not Alone On A Budget

    As young people, we are often faced with circumstances of lower than desirable monetary funds. This is something that affects almost all of us, and is a great reason to get a part-time job. Having money available to spend on the things that you want and need will facilitate your everyday life, especially once you start college. However, quite often we might have to put in time at a workplace where we are counting down the hours and can’t wait to get home and take off our uniform. The important thing to remember is that whenever you feel forced to work in unfavorable conditions, you are not alone! People often say that the only thing that gets them through a work shift is the people that they work with (along with the paycheque, of course!)

    Once the paycheque comes, you may have a list of more than 50 items that you would love to purchase. The reality is that you may not be able to afford all of these things. This is frustrating, but it helps to remember that other people are going through the same thing. When we look at television shows like Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, we may feel that we fall short and we wish we could have what they have. These shows, we must remember, are meant for entertainment purposes and they do not reflect a reality for most young people in Canada. Comparing yourself to people on television never produces positive results, and you end up feeling depressed and discouraged.

    When you are feeling down, remember that your financial situation is temporary and will not last. If you plan well, you should be able to land yourself a good job after school. You can also help to reduce your financial burden by applying for as many scholarships as possible. Learning to manage your money is one of the most important things you can do as a young person. If you know how much money you make and how much money you spend, you can figure out the best way to go about spending and saving it. Talking with your parents, friends and people at your banking institution will help you to inform yourself and make smart choices.

    What are you waiting for? Start informing yourself today!

  • Gum Recycling

    Gum Recycling

    Do you ever chew gum? How many times have you heard your parents or teachers tell you to put your finished gum in the garbage instead of spitting it out onto the sidewalk or leaving it under your chair? That’s good advice, since no one likes to have gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe or on their clothes or hair. Gum is sticky, and it can create a mess that is very difficult to clean up. Even in the garbage, however, gum can be a problem, since it never biodegrades. It would be far better if the gum could be reused or turned into something different. What if you could reuse gum and make it into a chair, a plastic container or fertilizer? Some scientists and inventors have found ways to turn discarded gum into many different products, and it’s helping to make cities cleaner.

    Cleaning up used chewing gum might not seem like a big problem, but it can be very expensive and difficult for city governments. According to research company Euromonitor International, Canadians bought more than 15,600 tonnes of gum in 2011. Much of that gum ended up on the streets. In one small area of a Toronto sidewalk, city officials once counted 2000 gum stains. Getting rid of that much gum can be difficult because it’s so sticky.

    One way to get rid of discarded gum is to use high-powered hoses that spray water and chemicals, but that can be expensive and wasteful. In Calgary, the government spends $50,000 each year on removing gum just from its light rail train stations, besides the money it spends to remove it elsewhere. The process ends up wasting a lot of water, as well as uses chemicals that might harm the environment. However, gum recycling might help to provide a solution for the problem.

    One of the first people to discover a way to recycle gum was a student named Anna Bullus from England, who found a way to change gum, which is made of rubber, into plastic. She now uses this plastic to make bright pink Gumdrop Bins where people can put more of their used gum. The bins come in 250-piece and 500-piece sizes and are appearing all over the country.

    Officials at the Southampton Airport in southern England, for example, claim to have the first airport in the world with gum recycling bins. Some of the gum from these bins ends up being recycled into a rubbery material used for construction and for running tracks. Some of the gum even ends up as toys. The United Kingdom already has a thousand gum bins in bus depots, train stations and other public areas. Some people estimate that the bins have reduced gum litter by 75%, and the project is still growing.

    Gum recycling is also coming to other parts of the world. Gumdrop Bins have appeared in an amusement park in the United States. In Canada, a company called Envyrobubble collects gum in 1000-piece containers and recycles it into fertilizer. If the idea of gum recycling catches on, who knows where it might appear next!

  • Online Learning: The Best Sites On The Web!

    Online Learning: The Best Sites On The Web!

    Finding information on any given subject is as easy as clicking a button on a search engine. Gone is the need for rows of encyclopedia’s, dictionaries and tangible books. Everything is available online at your discretion. Wading through the options, however, can take the shine off of the ease of accessibility. If you are looking for something specific, you still need to wade through your choices until you find a reliable source. This is not as easy as it sounds. Wikipedia, the wonderful, epic, online encyclopedia, is not considered a trustworthy website as it is user-generated. Literally any one can add and edit information at their discretion.

    Yet the World Wide Web is an amazing resource of quality material, knowledge from experts and an educational smorgasbord at your fingertips. It is argued that a quality education should not cost as much as some private universities are charging and that influential change makers are creating ways to offer learning opportunities through the internet that are solid and authentic. So how can you navigate your way through the dead ends, cobwebs and arm chair educators to find what you need? With a little research and a lot of time you can hunt out the best, but I have compiled a list of quality geography, history and science sites to get you on your way.

    Seterra is a geography program that offers a free download for a multiple level map game. Players choose their continent and go from there with either a wide focus, such as labeling the countries, or a more narrow one, such as finding the capital cities. The great thing about Seterra is the fun factor. It is easy to become addicted to improving your score and to forget that you are learning!
    www.seterra.net

    National Geographic is a trusted name and the organization has done a fabulous job of utilizing the internet to engage students of all ages with a variety of learning strategies that often come under the guise of games and videos.
    www.nationalgeographic.com
    http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

    The History Place is a gift to those who appreciate the past and love to dig deeper. It is a website filled with detailed information and pictures. The site has also won numerous awards.
    www.historyplace.com

    Ted Talks is an amazing website with hundreds of video presentations about ideas worth spreading by innovative change makers from around the world. You can find just about anything worth knowing about on this website.
    www.tedtalks.com

    Khan Academy is a free world class education that changed the way people learned online. It recently got a grant of money which has resulted in a lot more lessons and a lot more exposure.
    www.khanacademy.org

    BBC history section is an incredible source of material, both compelling and richly informative. Anyone who visits this website leaves with a better understanding of the world we live in.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/

  • The Bully, The Bullied and The Bystander

    The Bully, The Bullied and The Bystander

    There is a dangerous notion of what normal is for today’s young person, defined in part by media images, Hollywood and reality television. The rest in a cocktail definition is pieced together by those with a voice and a platform. Whether that platform is prom queen or king, fashion icon or cultural diva, it matters little for the message is clear from wherever it is preached; normal is what normal does and if you don’t fit the mold you do not fit in.

    The reality is that you either fit in or you are cast out. As long as you have a group to fit into, life should pace itself to the rhythmic meter that is everyone else’s. This is the important distinction. Friendship circles do not have to mimic each other, in actuality the only common factor they might have is the willingness to accept each other. What happens when there is no peer group that accepts you? What does a young person do when no one extends welcome and isolation creeps in? Suffer in silence? Dig deep for resilience and self-respect? Perhaps, but the number of suicides in this country has reached an all-time high. More and more teenagers are choosing to end their lives rather than fight for them.

    Why?

    The simple answer is that bullying is also on the rise, but this is an unsatisfactory conclusion. Bullies have always existed. Cruel pranks and hurtful words are nothing new. So why the percentage increase? It comes down to one thing, neither small nor easy to fix – the internet. Cyber-bullying is an emerging form of cruelty that is wreaking havoc on many a teen life and there is little to no awareness on the part of parents and teachers. Think of how fast gossip used to travel before Facebook, text and Twitter. We may live in the age of technology, but when it comes to human decency it appears we are in the dark ages. Kindness, acceptance and grace for our mistakes do not seem to exist.

    Barbara Coloroso, international speaker, author and expert on the topic of bullying, says bullying is about contempt; putting one down to build the bully up. She also asserts that bullying is a learned behaviour and that home is where children first learn how set their moral compass. Those who are bullied typically remain secretive about it. They don’t want their parents to think of them as weak and are afraid of retaliation. They endure while quietly losing themselves. The bystander is the one who watches the bullying and does nothing to prevent it. They may even contribute with laughter or taunts. Bystanders are usually afraid of bullies as well and may have low self–esteem. They worry about becoming a target themselves or go along with the bully for lack of a better option. Even if a bystander would never bully on their own, by not stepping in they are picking the side of the bully and in essence enabling them.

    It is too late to care after the fact. A suicide is not the time to ‘tsk’ the sad situation or wish something had been done about it. Kind words for those around us, a smile, inclusion and a willingness to see into the heart and soul of a person will make a difference. The greatest desire in all of our hearts is to be known.

    We all need to have a story. What do you want to do in the future? What are your goals? What would you like to get better at and how can you make that a reality? When we have a story we have focus on the horizon and all that lies ahead, which makes the daily struggles a little easier to endure.

  • Boosting Confidence with Scholarships

    Boosting Confidence with Scholarships

    If you are a student and facing financial problems to back your education, scholarships are your best option. There are numerous scholarships for students at university and college levels which go unclaimed every year. Many students are not even aware of them and they eventually end up losing a good opportunity to fund their college fees. With the growing fee structure of almost all professional courses, not all students can afford to fund their education. Many bright and intelligent students are not able to continue studies or pursue their dream courses due to lack of money.

    There are many renowned organizations who sponsor good and bright students for higher studies. Lack of information and awareness is the reason that several scholarships go unclaimed every year. Today, social media and different educational forums are playing an excellent role in providing all the necessary information to students to find these scholarships. Getting scholarships for students can be critical for their future as it will not only save money from their parents’ pocket, but also prevent them from taking student loans. This can save students from paying down debt for a large portion of their lives.

    The basic types of scholarships available for claiming vary, such as merit scholarships which are given to people who excel in their academic scores. These are highly competitive and come in various types. Another important type is athletic scholarships, which are given to students performing well in sports. It is designed to motivate and support young talents in different sport categories. With the help of these funds, many athletes complete their education free of charge. Another type is school-based scholarships, which are given out by the individual university or college a student attends. They are given to overall academically performing well students in specific streams, or to those who demonstrate a financial need.

    There are several websites and books designed to provide useful information on scholarship for students. Students and parents need to keep checking and searching the web as they can surely find at least one or two scholarships that will match their interests and qualifications. All they need is patience and time to find the right kind of opportunity to get the important funds flowing in their favour!

  • Making A Great Impression: 10 Tips For Job and Scholarship Applications

    Making A Great Impression: 10 Tips For Job and Scholarship Applications

    Are you applying for a job or scholarship? The following list of pitfalls to avoid apply to ALL aspects of the process: resumes, cover letters, essays, and even your interview and thank you note. Here are 10 tips to help you distinguish yourself from the competition!

    1. Not answering the question – If an employer or committee asks a question, be sure to answer it! They ask questions in part to hear your answers and in part to make sure you can follow instructions and stay focused. The perfect essay or interview response answers the question and shows off your key strengths and accomplishments.

    2. Exceeding the word or page limit – Your application can get thrown out if you do not comply with the word and page limits. Do not take that chance! There is no point in writing a brilliant essay if it never gets read. Would you rather write 511 words that never get read or 500 words that do? If you are having trouble staying within the word and page limits provided, work with an expert to help you concisely say everything you want to say.

    3. Pointing out why you do not qualify – Why would you highlight the reasons an employer would not want to hire you, or the reasons why someone else might be a better recipient of that scholarship? Many applicants make that very mistake. You can be sure that the people reading your application or sitting across from you in an interview already know what’s missing from your application – they have seen your resume. If they are talking to you, it means they are willing to overlook some of your weak points. Showcase your strengths so that the committee trusts you to do the job even if you don’t meet every qualification on paper.

    4. Bragging – While you do not want to speak negatively about yourself, you also do not want to brag. A caveat: Many people think they are bragging and they are not – they are just stating their accomplishments. However, sometimes an essay or interview response can sound too self-congratulatory, even to someone wanting to hear about your best. The best policy is to provide facts that demonstrate something extraordinary about your accomplishments.

    5. Making grammatical and spelling errors – Employers and committees want candidates to demonstrate attention to detail and the ability to communicate effectively. Grammatical and spelling errors demonstrate the lack of these abilities. Slow down in an interview so that you sound professional. Never submit a resume, essay or application without having an someone else review it!

    6. Lack of clear organization or focus – If your writing or speaking lacks organization or focus, you are almost sure to lose your audience’s attention. In a good essay, the writer is clear about the purpose of every word and every sentence. Stay focused as to what you are writing, where you are going, and why you’re saying what you’re saying. Sometimes focus is difficult to maintain on your own; after all, you understand yourself perfectly and have infinite patience for yourself! It takes trained eyes and ears to evaluate whether you’re really getting your point across.

    7. Speaking in generalities – Here’s an example of a sentence that is too general to have its intended effect: “I am a hard working, determined individual driven by success and the love for acquiring knowledge.” Without examples of this hard work, determination and love of knowledge, this sentence doesn’t say much of anything. The applicant would be better served by giving a concrete example of even one of these attributes. By describing a challenge she faced and how she handled it, she will keep the audience’s attention and make the impression she wants.

    8. Complaining or speaking negatively about past experiences – If you say anything negative about a prior position, your reader or interviewer will expect you to be complaining about your new position in short order. There are ways to give even the most negative experiences a positive spin.

    9. Using formal or stilted language in written materials – You are writing to human beings. Write to them in conversational English. Although you do not want to get too casual with your language, you also do not want to sound awkward or pretentious. We recommend reading your writing aloud before pushing the send button. You might realize things about your language – and your punctuation – that you would never have noticed by reading silently!

    10. Including extra information or attachments – Unless expressly invited to do so on an application, do not attach outside information, attachments, videos, links to websites, PDFs, etc. as supplementary materials. If you are unsure about the guidelines, there is no shame in calling the company to ask. It’s better to be safe and to follow instructions exactly.

  • Fresh Air Is Good For You

    Fresh Air Is Good For You

    Fresh air is good for you; it’s as simple as that. High school, college, university, academia or whatever path you choose to follow can be tiring and stressful. Long hours combing through forgotten history textbooks, memorizing flow charts and questioning minute details of your latest assignment can, and often will, be central to your formal education. So take a break – get outside!

    This isn’t a new concept. Many of us were fortunate enough to have parents push us out the backdoor when we were younger despite how much we wanted to watch just five more minutes of television or play one last level of our video games. Apparently they were right after all.

    With our technological era, the roles, responsibilities and resources of and for students are increasingly found behind the warm glow of a computer screen. Though such advances allow access to information and creates communication possibilities that our parent’s generation could never have dreamed of, it’s important not to forget the world beyond online academic databases, social networks and online video.

    Whether it’s a walk to the grocery store, a jog or finding a spot in a nice piece of shade, the outdoors can prove to be a welcome change from the fluorescent lighting, long lectures and minuscule texts typically found on campus.

    If you’re having trouble concentrating, how about a walk? If you’re experiencing a mental block, try working in a different environment (maybe your back porch?). Getting fresh air doesn’t necessarily mean excessive physical strain or avoiding your academic responsibilities. It can be as simple as sitting on a lawn chair or taking the scenic route back from your classes. It can be a welcome break, a stress reliever or just plain fun.

    Being outside, and physical activity, has its obvious benefits as well. One issue that many students face, particularly when beginning their post-secondary studies, is malnutrition and the dreaded weight gain of the “freshman 15”.

    For the first time, especially if going away for school, you will be in charge of your own physical fitness and for many this can be difficult. Sometimes there are too many temptations in the school cafeteria, or the ease of fast food during exam time is far too alluring. Physical fitness and personal well-being is an important part of student life and one that is often understated.

    So get outside! Whether for your physical well being, to help cope with academic stress and emotions or just for some fresh air, don’t forget there’s a world outside of the school’s facilities.

    You won’t regret it, I promise.