admin In a joint effort to nurture future leaders and community builders, the recipients of the 2024 Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship program (QES) were unveiled by the Rideau Hall Foundation and Universities Canada. The program will receive a substantial infusion of $1.6 million in funding to support 133 students across six Canadian universities, with a vision to foster innovative leaders committed to bettering society.
Details on the Winners
The 2024 winning project proposals promise to provide students with invaluable experiences, including work-integrated learning such as internships and practicums, as well as study and research opportunities, all centred around critical areas of health, education, and social and economic development.
The six distinguished universities that secured these coveted scholarships and their respective projects are as follows:
- Algoma University is pioneering a project to build global leaders through community-based experiences aimed at advancing decolonisation and cross-cultural education.
- Mount Royal University is focusing on developing leaders and fostering community growth through sports-related initiatives.
- The University of Northern British Columbia is launching the “Knowledge that Moves” project, a journey of travelling knowledge.
- The University of Prince Edward Island is at the forefront of integrating multidisciplinary, community-based, innovative research and training to enhance sustainable livelihoods in a farming region of Kenya.
- Toronto Metropolitan University is undertaking the “Water for Life” initiative, aiming to build resilience in dispersed and reserved communities in northern Colombia.
- The University of Victoria is putting “Academic Diplomacy in Practice” as the core of its winning project.
Acknowledging Accolades
Teresa Marques, President and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation, emphasised the importance of this opportunity for Queen Elizabeth Scholars, thanks to the generous support from Community Foundations of Canada in collaboration with the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation. She highlighted the program’s ability to foster empathy, a global outlook, and idea sharing in today’s complex world.
Philip Landon, interim President and CEO of Universities Canada, lauded the program for its role in empowering students with a deeper understanding of global communities and the means to advance health, education, and social and economic development worldwide.
Victor Dahdaleh, reflecting on his own transformative global education experience, expressed excitement about the potential impact of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars in making a difference in these critical fields.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship program, established in 2012, has already benefited more than 2,500 scholars from Canada and across the world. It stands as a testament to the enduring importance of cultural exchange, leadership, and civic engagement. This recent wave of funding will enable 47 Canadian universities to participate in 112 impactful projects across 80 countries worldwide. The future is promising as these young global leaders embark on their journey to effect positive change on a global scale.
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