BDM scholarship recipient brings union values to her education

Burlington, Ont. – July 21, 2026 – UFCW 175 member Raquel Ferreira is a BDM scholarship recipient. Sister Ferreira, who works at Fortinos, is using the scholarship for her first year of studies in Business Management and Organizational Studies at Western University.

“My experience working at Fortinos and being a proud member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union of Canada has deeply shaped my understanding of workplace dynamics and labour relations,” says Ferreira.  “Being part of a union has taught me the importance of collective rights, solidarity, and advocacy—values that align closely with the principles I’m studying in my program.”

The UFCW Canada – BDM Scholarship offers a total of $18,000 in scholarships to UFCW Canada members and their families and is one of more than 25 union scholarships available to members and their relatives every year, totaling more than $300,000 in support. Application deadline for 2026 is September 30.

To see a full list of scholarships offered by UFCW Canada, or to learn how you can earn university and college credits completely free of charge, visit our Union Scholarships webpage