Canadore College recipient of Queen Elizabeth Scholarship
Dec 12, 2024 | Cindy Males, Public Relations and Communications Specialist
Canadore College is proud to be one of 22 post-secondary institutions across Canada selected to receive a 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship. The funding will support Canadore's initiative, Partnerships for the Goals: Building Better Communities, which emphasizes fostering collaborative efforts to strengthen global and local communities.
“Canadore College is deeply honoured to be selected for the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship program,” said Jesse Russell, Sustainable Canadore Project Leader. “This opportunity empowers our students to engage in transformative global learning experiences while fostering community connections and driving sustainable development initiatives. Through the Partnerships for the Goals program, we’re preparing the next generation of leaders to make a lasting impact locally and globally.”
Over the program's duration from 2025 to 2028, 24 Canadore students will benefit from this funding which includes up to $8,000 per student to cover travel and living expenses. Each student will embark on a 60-day experiential learning trip to Costa Rica.
“Canadore College is deeply committed to sustainable development and the bringing together of impactful student learning and experiences while making the world a better place to live,” said Shawn Chorney, Vice President, Strategic Infrastructure, Indigenous and Learner Services. “With support from the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, Canadore is able to engage our students in making an impact. We can change the world with every incremental, global action.”
The program begins with a cultural awareness course that explores key themes including sustainable production, environmental protection, and Indigenous culture. Students will also gain valuable insights into well-being from residents of the Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world's renowned blue zones, where individuals are known to live longer and healthier lives. Students will then apply their learning for academic credit or additional credentials by engaging in hands-on activities on Canadore-owned land in the Los Santos cloud forest. Planned projects include:
- Constructing an outdoor classroom;
- Conducting forest inventories and planting trees; and
- Building an accessible walkway to the Savegre River.
Canadore College’s initiative integrates climate adaptation and resilience into its educational framework. Students will collaborate with Green Communities Costa Rica, participating in sustainable development projects such as permaculture, organic farming, and community recycling workshops. They will also learn and apply nature-based solutions including reforestation and planting shade trees to conserve water and mitigate the effects of changing rainfall patterns.
“This scholarship funding is life-changing for students,” said Jeannette Miron, Registrar and Senior Director, Enrolment and Student services. “It opens doors for those who might not otherwise have the means to participate in these transformative global experiences, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to grow, learn, and contribute meaningfully to communities around the world.”
Established in 2012, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship program is managed by the Rideau Hall Foundation in partnership with Colleges and Institutes Canada and Universities Canada. This prestigious initiative supports global leadership, multidisciplinary learning, and collaboration. To date, the program has funded 134 international projects in over 80 countries, cementing its status as Canada’s leading academic platform for global engagement.
Canadore College is proud to contribute to this legacy, empowering its students to make a meaningful impact through education and community building.