AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
CELEBRATING YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT
JA Canada’s national awards and scholarships recognize outstanding youth across the country who have taken part in a JA program during the current school year.
2026 Awards & Scholarships
Thank you to those who applied for the 2026 national awards and scholarships. Applications closed on April 10, 2026. Award winners will be notified in May 2026 and highlighted with our past recipients below.
Seymour Schulich JA Canada Scholarship
2026
Award Value:
$2,000 CAD
Application Deadline
Closed
Mr. Seymour Schulich, a long-time investor in Junior Achievement and a former Governor of Junior Achievement of Canada, created this scholarship to encourage the development of entrepreneurship in Canada.
Award Topics
JA Company Program focuses on equipping youth with the essential skills they need to become strong entrepreneurs. Essay: Drawing on your experience as a JA Company Program participant, describe what you have learned about entrepreneurship and business operations and explain how this knowledge will support your future success. Video: How has being part of JA helped you see the value of entrepreneurship in Canada? Share an example or takeaway. |
JA Skills in Action Award
2026
Award Value:
$2,000 CAD
Application Deadline
Closed
JA programs provide youth with opportunities to learn new skills, show competency and potentially move toward expertise. This award is to showcase how you’ve developed competency with transferable skills through your experience with a JA program or event.
Award Topics
Essay: Explain how your JA experience helped you develop competency – or move towards expertise – in one or more of the following transferrable/essential skills: adaptability, collaboration, communication, creativity & innovation, digital, numeracy, problem solving, reading or writing. Video: Please share at least one example of how building competency in these skills has prepared you for success. |
JA Resilience Award, Presented by Sandra Rondzik Popik
2026
Award Value:
$2,500 CAD
Application Deadline
Closed
Sandra’s journey as a teenager moving to Canada was defined by intense culture shock and a total language barrier – unable to speak a word of English, she found herself temporarily unable to share her values, aspirations, beliefs, and sense of self. Facing these challenges gave her deep empathy for students overcoming adversity and a true appreciation for the courage and determination it takes to thrive.
Award Topics
This award recognizes JA participants who were newcomers to Canada within five years of their high school graduation and equity-seeking youth who have demonstrated exceptional resilience. This award celebrates students who have navigated challenges with determination, perseverance and strength from overcoming obstacles. Essay: Describe a personal moment where you faced adversity and had to adapt, persevere, or find a new path forward. Explain what helped you through and reflect on how this resilience can influence your future. Video: Tell us about a challenge you’ve overcome and how it has prepared you to succeed. If applicable, how did the skills you developed through JA programs help you move forward? |
Award Recipients
2025
Chris Tao
JA South Western Ontario
Seymour Schulich Entrepreneurship Scholarship
“JA reshaped my leadership philosophy. I learned that being a leader is not about standing in the spotlight, but being the metronome that keeps the team in sync."
2024
Anson Lee
JA Central Ontario
JA CP Community Award
“I’ve come to realize that JA is a space for students to meet other community-minded achievers, to develop our skills, and to drive collective change.”
2024
Rafael Nicholas Bugan
JA Quebec
JA Future Leader Award
“JA helped me learn how each entrepreneurial role works, and I was able to experience this firsthand. The skills I developed I will take with me in my future studies and career.”
2024
May Sharma
JA Northern Alberta
Seymour Schulich Entrepreneurship Scholarship
“Through JA, I gained not only a fundamental understanding of business principles, but also invaluable lessons about leadership, resilience, and the power of vision.”
2025
Chris Tao
JA South Western Ontario
Seymour Schulich Entrepreneurship Scholarship
“JA reshaped my leadership philosophy. I learned that being a leader is not about standing in the spotlight, but being the metronome that keeps the team in sync.”
2024
Anson Lee
JA Central Ontario
JA CP Community Award
“I’ve come to realize that JA is a space for students to meet other community-minded achievers, to develop our skills, and to drive collective change.”
2024
Rafael Nicholas Bugan
JA Quebec
JA Future Leader Award
“JA helped me learn how each entrepreneurial role works, and I was able to experience this firsthand. The skills I developed I will take with me in my future studies and career.”
2024
May Sharma
JA Northern Alberta
Seymour Schulich Entrepreneurship Scholarship
“Through JA, I gained not only a fundamental understanding of business principles, but also invaluable lessons about leadership, resilience, and the power of vision.”
2023
Samuel Huang
JA Central Ontario
JA CP Community Award
2023
Hayden Peckitt
JA South Western Ontario
JA Future Leader Award
2023
Williams Thottungal
JA Ottawa Seymour Schulich
Entrepreneurship Scholarship
2022
Eldon MacDonald
JA Nova Scotia
Public Speaking Scholarship
2022
Konsoler Mandah
JA Northern Alberta
Company Program Impact Scholarship
2022
Logan Curle
JA Saskatchewan
JA Future Leader Scholarship
2022
Coral van Vessem
JA Nova Scotia
Seymour Schulich
Entrepreneurship Scholarship
2021
Estelle Pu
JA British Columbia
Al Beech Award
2021
Maya Bezubiak
JA Northern Alberta
Evelyn Ruskin Scholarship
2021
Nicolas Dostie
JA Quebec
Seymour Schulich
Entrepreneur Scholarship
2023
Chris Tao
JA Central Ontario
JA CP Community Award
2023
Hayden Peckitt
JA South Western Ontario
JA Future Leader Award
2023
Entrepreneurship Scholarship
2022
Eldon MacDonald
JA Nova Scotia
Public Speaking Scholarship
2022
Konsoler Mandah
JA Northern Alberta
Company Program Impact Scholarship
2022
Logan Curle
JA Saskatchewan
JA Future Leader Scholarship
2022
Coral van Vessem
JA Nova Scotia
Seymour Schulich
Entrepreneurship Scholarship
2021
Estelle Pu
JA British Columbia
Al Beech Award
2021
Maya Bezubiak
JA Northern Alberta
Evelyn Ruskin Scholarship
2021
Nicolas Dostie
JA Quebec
Seymour Schulich
Entrepreneur Scholarship