Who: Seymour Schulich, chairman, The Schulich Foundation
The donation: $525K
The recipient: Algonquin College
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The inspiration: “We are proud to promote the skilled trades and support students pursuing this rewarding career path,” says Judy Schulich, director, The Schulich Foundation. “Canadians rely on the trades to build and maintain infrastructure critical for prosperous communities. Our challenge today is not having enough of these talented people to meet the demand.”
The shortage of skilled labour has been making headlines for years. Skilled trade workers are essential to ensure Canada stays innovative on the global stage. There is a gap in funding and a gap in future talent. The challenge is to remedy the serious issues the sector is facing, such as attracting young people into college programs and keeping the trades strong as many skilled workers are due to retire in the next decade.
The Schulich Foundation, founded by Seymour Schulich, wants to be part of the solution through scholarships at various colleges across the province of Ontario. The Schulich Builders Scholarships for Skilled Trades are for students enrolled in an eligible, full-time skilled trades program.
The Schulich Foundation is looking for unique ways to attract talent and colleges are a primary driver of the discipline. Algonquin College was awarded 10 scholarships: five for one-year certificate programs, and five for two-year diploma programs. The one-year scholarships are valued at $20,000 each and the two-year scholarships are valued at $40,000 each.
Students taking programs at Algonquin College, such as building construction technician, urban forestry, aircraft maintenance technician and powerline technician have been awarded these life-changing scholarships.
“I am confident that these Algonquin College students will go on to make a meaningful impact in their chosen skilled trade. I want to express my gratitude to The Schulich Foundation for their generous support, which has made these scholarships possible. Together we are building a brighter future for our learners and our community,” says Mark Savenkoff, vice-president of advancement and strategy at Algonquin College. Philanthropy in Ottawa is supported by The Foundation (WCPD), an Ottawa-based philanthropic tax planning advisory firm that helps individuals and foundations increase the size and impact of their charitable donations.
Seymour Schulich, a philanthropist, author and respected business leader, helped to create Newmont Mining Corp., one of the largest gold mining companies in the world. Schulich was awarded a scholarship to attend McGill University in 1965. He attributes much of his success to his education and believes it is important to pay it forward to the next generation. Schulich is married to Tanna and they have two daughters and four grandchildren.
