Applications for the 2025 BCGEU Scholarship program are now being accepted.
Our annual scholarship program of up to $125,000 offers awards of $2,500 for full-time students and $1,500 for part-time students. Scholarships are funded by the dues of our members.
Apply for a BCGEU Scholarship online here
Apply for a BCGEU Indigenous Scholarship here
Eligibility
- A BCGEU member in good standing, or related to a current, retired or deceased BCGEU member or staff; and
- A student or prospective post-secondary or higher learning student enrolled, registered or planning to attend an eligible educational institution in 2025.
[1] Eligible relatives include spouses, (same or opposite and common law spouses); parents; and children and grandchildren (including foster, adopted, and stepchildren and step-grandchildren).
[2] Eligible educational institutions must be recognized by Employment and Social Development Canada. A list can be found here.)
Previous BCGEU scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply.
For eligibility requirements for the Indigenous scholarship please see below.
Essay
In addition to personal information and details of your education plan, you will be asked to answer two short personal questions, and a longer essay in response to the questions below.
Part 2 can be in essay format, or a creative submission such as a video, infographic, or song. Infographics must be submitted in a PDF format. Videos must be submitted via a link to the video uploaded to YouTube.
Select one of the topics below for your submission:
a) Public protests and counter protests are becoming a more common occurrence in British Columbia. Reflect on an experience that has impacted you. How does it align with your values and that of the labour movement?
b) Indigenous peoples are the keepers of the land and essential to governing climate change. What does "land back" mean to you? How does that align with the values of the labour movement?
c) The current state of the world poses many challenges. What inspires you towards making a positive change? How can the BCGEU drive that change?
d) Communication and outreach methods have evolved greatly. What communication and outreach strategies would you employ to effectively engage our diverse membership base? How would your strategies differ for urban versus rural areas and how do they align with the values of the labour movement?
We encourage you to base your answer on an interview with a BCGEU member, personal experience, or original research.
Submissions suspected of plagiarism or being written by artificial intelligence (AI) will be disqualified.
Submissions will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Did the application answer the question?
- Did the answer seem original, creative or include interview/research?
- Did the answers show evidence of understanding the importance of the labour movement in Canada?
The deadline for submitting applications is midnight, Monday, Feb.17, 2025.
You may also be eligible for one of the scholarships offered by NUPGE, our National Union of Public and General Employees. Find details and apply directly here.
2025 BCGEU Indigenous Scholarship Eligibility
Apply for a BCGEU Indigenous Scholarship here
For the purpose of this scholarship, an Indigenous person (the legal term is Aboriginal person) in Canada, as recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982, is a person who identifies as First Nations (Status/Non-Status), Métis, or Inuit.
Indigenous identity data is collected solely to determine scholarship eligibility.
For First Nations applicants
You must provide one of the following:
- a copy of your Secure Certificate of Indian Status, or
- a copy of your Certificate of Indian Status, or
For Métis applicants
You must provide one of the following:
- a copy of a Métis Nation Citizenship card from one of the 4 regional/provincial affiliates of the Métis National Council (Métis Nation British Columbia, Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, and Métis Nation of Ontario); or
- a copy of a valid Métis Citizenship and Harvester Identification Card from the Manitoba Métis Federation; or
- a copy of a valid Citizenship card from the Métis Settlements of Alberta; or
- a copy of a valid Citizenship card from the Northwest Territory Métis Nation.
For Inuit applicants
You must provide a copy of an Inuit membership card issued by any one of the 4 Inuit Treaty Organizations or Governments that are covered by the Inuit Nunangat Policy:
- Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated,
- The Nunatsiavut Government,
- The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
For all applicants (voluntary)
In addition to any one of the types of legal documentation listed above, all applicants are welcome to submit an alternative identity term (e.g., Kanien'kehá:ka, Anishinaabe, Treaty #3, etc.) with their application.
Please note that membership to pan-Indigenous organizations will not be recognized.
Option 2 - Candidate self-declaration
If a candidate does not possess proof of the documentation listed in Option 1, they must submit a statement (minimum 200 words) about their lived experiences and ongoing relationship to a legally recognized Indigenous community, Nation, or people. This includes specific information about their First Nation, Inuit, or Métis community and can include copies of historical documents or oral testimony.
The statement must be signed by 2 guarantors who are part of the community, Nation, etc. that the applicant describes their ties to. Guarantors must be over the age of 18 and cannot be members of the applicant's immediate family (i.e., no siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, or any step variations).
Questions: email [email protected]
Download a copy of the 2025 Scholarship brochure here
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