RR Smith Bursary in Education

The RR Smith Memorial Fund Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of an endowment at each of the public universities in British Columbia that grant degrees in education. These institutions are: The University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, The University of Victoria, Thompson Rivers University, Malaspina College-University, and The University of Northern British Columbia.

Each of these universities will use the endowment to create at least one RR Smith Bursary in Education for students enrolled in an Education Degree program or a professional teacher-training program. From now on, these universities will award RR Smith Bursaries in Education annually. To qualify students must be enrolled in an Education program, demonstrate financial need, and have an academic record indicating that they are likely to succeed in the program. Students who qualify may apply through the university they are attending.

These endowments were given based on the number of students enrolled in Education programs with a minimum of at least $10,000 being awarded to each university.

The $150,000 used to establish these bursaries came from a donation that the BCTF made to the RR Smith Memorial Fund Foundation. This donation was one of three charitable donations made by the BCTF instead of paying a fine to the court as a result of the teachers' strike last year. The directors of the RR Smith Memorial Fund Foundation have worked carefully to comply with the agreements made in court when this donation was agreed to instead of a fine.

Aware of the work done by some BCRTA chapters in providing scholarships to students graduating from high school, the directors of the RR Smith Memorial Fund did consider the possibility of trying to award some of the scholarship money through those chapters. However, in order to ensure that the conditions agreed to in court were followed, it proved more workable to give the bursaries at the university level after the students were actually enrolled in an Education faculty. By providing bursaries at all public Universities that grant Education Degrees, the directors believe there will be an impact in all geographic areas of the province. Now that these endowments have been established any amount may be added to the endowment at any time. BCRTA chapters or individual members can make donations to be added to the original endowment thereby increasing the size or number of scholarships a particular institution could make.

The first of these bursaries will be awarded next September. We hope that members of the BCRTA will help to ensure that qualified students know of this opportunity.