Union Scholarships
Expanding access to quality education is a top priority and core principle for UFCW Canada.
With universal access to education yet to be achieved in Canada, and the cost of post-secondary tuition continuing to rise, the United Food and Commercial Workers are committed to fighting for education justice and, at the same time, assisting members with tuition relief through a number of scholarship opportunities.
Every year, more than 25 scholarships, bursaries, awards and grants – totalling more than $300,000 – are available to UFCW Canada members and families.
These scholarships, and how to apply for them, are listed below.
In addition to the union scholarships, UFCW Canada members and families can earn university and college credits completely free of charge through the union’s online platform, webCampus.
Union Scholarships for UFCW Canada members
UFCW Charity Foundation Scholarship
UFCW International Union
Amount: $8,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: Varies
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members and their unmarried dependents under the age of 20.
Deadline: May 14
Apply for the union scholarship
Beggs-Dowling-Mathieu (BDM) Scholarship Program
UFCW Canada
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 18
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in Canada and their dependents
Deadline: September 30
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW Canada Equity Grant Program
UFCW Canada
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 3
Restrictions: None
Deadline: September 30
Local 12R24 Annual Scholarship Awards
UFCW Local 12R24
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 30
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 12R24 members and their dependents
Deadline: October 1
Apply for the union scholarship
McKay, Thompson, Hoebink, Gibson, Williamson, Kensit, Lachance, Hoffman, Labelle, and Northern Joint Council Technology Scholarship (Solidarity Scholarship)
UFCW Locals 175 & 633
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 88
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW UFCW 175 & 633 members and their dependents
Deadline: September 30
Apply for the union scholarship
Iorio Scholarships & Eddy Education Grants
UFCW Local 247
Amount: $750 to $1,500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 18
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 247 members and their dependents
Deadline: September 30
Apply for the union scholarship
Robert McWilliams Memorial Scholarship
UFCW Local 401
Amount: $2,500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 2
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 401 members and their dependents
Deadline: September 30
Apply for the union scholarship
Grant Notley Memorial Scholarship
UFCW Local 401
Amount: $500 to $2,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: varies (up to $25,000 awarded in total)
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 401 members and their dependents
Deadline: December 31
Apply for the union scholarship
François Lauzon Scholarship
UFCW Local 500
Amount: $500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 25
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 500 members and their dependents
Deadline: October 16
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW 501 Scholarship
UFCW Local 501
Amount: $501
Total Number of Scholarships available: 4
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 501 members and their dependents
Deadline: October 16
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW Local 649 Scholarship Fund
UFCW Local 649
Amount: $500 each
Total Number of Scholarships available: Varies by year
Restrictions: Open to children of full time or permanent part-time UFCW Local 649 members that are employed by Federated Co-op.
Deadline: September 10
Apply for the union scholarship
Local 1006A Scholarship Program
UFCW Local 1006A
Amount: $1,006
Total Number of Scholarships available: 42
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 1006A members and their dependents
Deadline: September 30
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW Local 1400 Youth Committee Scholarship Award
UFCW Local 1400
Amount: $500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 1
Restrictions: Open to UFCW 1400 members who are young workers
Deadline: May 31
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW Local 1400 Scholarship Awards
UFCW Local 1400
Amount: $500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 2
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 1400 members and their dependents
Deadline: May 31
Apply for the union scholarship
Albert Tholl Scholarship Awards
UFCW Local 1400
Amount: $500 to $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 5
Restrictions: Open to UFCW 1400 members who work at Westfair Foods, Canada Safeway in Moosejaw, all security units, Great Western Brewing Co., and Brewers Distributor Ltd.
Deadline: May 31
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW 1518 Affiliation Scholarship #547
UFCW Local 1518
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 20
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 1518 members and their dependents
Deadline: September 15
Apply for the union scholarship
Retail Meat Program Scholarship at Thompson Rivers University
UFCW Local 1518
Amount: Full tuition and partial living expenses
Total Number of Scholarships available: varies
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 1518 members
Deadline: September 15
Apply for the union scholarship
UFCW Eastern Provinces Council Scholarships
UFCW Eastern Provinces Council (EPC)
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 8
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 864, 1252, 1288P members and their dependents
Deadline: September 15
Apply for the union scholarship
George Semeniuk Scholarship
UFCW Saskatchewan Provincial Council (SPC)
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 1
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW 248P, 649, and 1400 members and their dependents
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Apply for the union scholarship
MFL Al and Alma Cerilli Young Activist Scholarship
Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL)
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 1
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in Manitoba, aged 35 or younger
Deadline: May 31
Apply for the union scholarship
James A. Whitebone Memorial
New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL)
Amount: $500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 2
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in New Brunswick and their dependents
Deadline: June 30
Apply for the union scholarship
Tim McCarthy Environment
New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL)
Amount: $500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 2
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in New Brunswick and their dependents, who are pursuing higher education in fields relating to environmental protection and education
Deadline: June 30
Apply for the union scholarship
NBFL Solidarity Bursaries
New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL)
Amount: $500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 2
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in New Brunswick and their dependents
Deadline: June 30
Apply for the union scholarship
NSFL Bursary Awards Program
Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL)
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 6
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in Nova Scotia
Deadline: July 10
Apply for the union scholarship
Muriel Duckworth Memorial Bursary
Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL)
Amount: $1,000
Total Number of Scholarships available: 1
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in Nova Scotia
Deadline: July 10
Apply for the union scholarship
OFL/AIL Labour Post-Secondary Scholarships
Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL)
Amount: $2,500
Total Number of Scholarships available: 2
Restrictions: Open to all UFCW members in Ontario
Deadline: August 24
Apply for the union scholarship