Every year, with the help of our sponsors, CFIG awards scholarships to deserving students across Canada.

Shopping for a Career?
Through our scholarship program, we encourage students to learn more about the endless career opportunies that the food industry has to offer in fields such as:
Accounting - Advertising - Business Development - Category Management - Communications - Customer Service - Culinary Arts - Economics - Finance - Floral Design - Food Science - Food Service - Human Resources - Hospitality - IT Management - Marketing - Merchandising - Nutrition - Pharmacy - Produce Management - Product Innovations - Public Affairs/Relations - Sales - Store Design - And much much more!

Awards

National Scholarship
One National Scholarship award of $6,000 AND a trip to Toronto, Ontario to receive the Anthony G. Wilshaw Memorial Trophy at Grocery Innovations Canada in Toronto

Regional Scholarships
4 First Place Regional awards of $1,500
4 Second Place Regional awards of $1,000
4 Regional High School Graduate awards of $1,500

Regions:
Atlantic Canada and Québec
Ontario
Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba/Nunavut
British Columbia/Yukon/Northwest Territories
*Regions have been determined based on proportionate estimate of applications.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the CFIG National Scholarship Program:

1. Applicants must be Canadian residents studying in Canada.
2. Applicants must be enrolled or expected to enroll in a post-secondary program of at least 2 years.
3. High school students must be in their last year or second-to-last year of secondary studies (Grade 11 or 12 in most provinces).
4. College or University students must be enrolled in at least one more full year of study as of Spring 2010.
5. Applications must be sponsored by a *CFIG Member Store.
6. Only complete applications containing full and accurate information will be considered.
7. Plagiarism is an infringement of Copyright Laws. All essays must be properly referenced.

*CFIG Member Store Sponsors

Each application must be sponsored by a CFIG retail member located either in the student's hometown, or in the city where the student resides while pursuing his/her post-secondary education. It is recommended that students select a sponsor located in their expected place of residence in Summer 2010 as all Regional Winners MUST attend their presentations at their sponsor store.

The is no cost for a CFIG Member to participate as a Scholarship Sponsor. The Store Sponsor's role is to offer guidance to the student in his/her application and to host a scholarship presentatiion in his/her store should the student win a Regional Scholarship.

Benefits to sponsoring a student include:
1. A plaque for the Store Sponsor of each scholarship recipient.
2. Personalized assistance with any publicity opportunities.
3. Invitation to accept the store's plaque for sponsoring the National Scholarship Winner at Grocery Innovations Canada.

If you require assistance in finding a CFIG Store Sponsor, please contact us at kkwo@cfig.ca

***APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 31, 2010***

Applications

Applications MUST include:

1. A 1,000-word essay on ONE of the following questions:
a) In these challenging economic times, how do independent grocers continue to sustain growth? OR
b) What impact has the media and consumer awareness had on the food safety demands of the independent grocer? OR
c) How do environmental practices promote cost-effective business operations for the independent grocer?
*Please note that ONLY essays containing proper referencing will be accepted.

2. A list of academic achievements, awards, and extracurricular activities.

3. An official grade transcript of your last completed year.

4. An application form with all pertinent information properly filled in.


If you wish to submit only your application form in advance so that we may have you on file, you may do so by e-mail, fax, or mail at the coordinates below. Advance applicants will receive email deadline reminders.

NEW! To help you with your application, we've compiled a list of Do's & Don'ts to consider when preparing your scholarship application.

*Only official transcripts will be accepted. These can be mailed to the address below.

Mail to
CFIG National Scholarship
2235 Sheppard Avenue East
Suite 902
Toronto, ON
M2J 5B5

E-mail to kkwo@cfig.ca

Fax to 416.492.2347

YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE HERE
Please note that if you come across this message: "There is a problem with this website's security certificate," please click on "Continue to website." We assure you that it is safe.

OR download the application form below and send to the coordinates above.

The Do's and Don'ts of a Great Scholarship Application

Before you begin your application, please make sure to read our Do's and Don'ts. Follow these simple tips and you'll be sure to submit a a successful application.

Citations and Referencing

All essays must be properly referenced to be eligible. This is a universal standard for any post-secondary institution. Failing to reference your work constitues as plagiarism and is not tolerated by any respectable institution. Just as you would reference an essay for school, please reference your application essay.

Referencing style is entirely your choice. We accept all styles as long as it is done.

Here are some great webpages on referencing styles:

Concordia University
http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations.html

University of Guelph
http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/assistance/writing_services/undergraduates/citations_&_referencing/

McGill University
http://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-assistance/how-to-cite/guides/

Simon Fraser University
http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing

Finding a Sponsor

If you are in need of a sponsor for your application, please send your request, along with your postal code to Kimberley Kwo at kkwo@cfig.ca.

Important Note on Sponsors: your sponsor must be located in an area that is accessible to you. Should you win a Regional Award, you will be required to visit your sponsor store for your award presentation. Please ensure that you will be in the vicinity of your sponsor store between August and the first 2 weeks of September.

Presenter Tim Berman of Kraft Canada, Raquel Duchen, 2008-2009 CFIG Chair Dave Delchiaro, and Concord Food Centre's Anthony Greco.

On October 26, 2009, National Scholarship Winner, Raquel Duchen was presented with her award and $6,000. Raquel was invited to Toronto, Ontario to attend Grocery Innovations Canada. Concord Food Centre in Thornhill, Ontario supported Raquel's application and was awarded a plaque for their mentorship. Store Owner Anthony Greco accepted the award.

2009 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

ATLANTIC CANADA/QUÉBEC/NUNAVUT

1st Place Winner : Fola Ogunyemi
Store Sponsor: Colemans Food Centre, St. John’s, NL
Owner/Manager: Joanne Hussey

2nd Place Winner : Qing Chang
Store Sponsor: Pete’s Downtown, Halifax, NS
Owner/Manager: Melissa McPherson

High School Graduate Scholarship: Natasha Hillier
Sponsor: Colemans Food Centre, Corner Brook, NL
Owner/Manager: Bill Skeard


ONTARIO

1st Place Winner : Julianne Cavanagh
Store Sponsor: Lady York Foods, Toronto, ON
Owner/Manager: Gabriele Torchetti

2nd Place Winner : Meaghan Henderson
Store Sponsor: Henderson’s Grocery, Lancaster, ON
Owner/Manager: Jim Henderson

High School Graduate Scholarship: Tina Karamchandani
Sponsor: Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc., Mississauga, ON
Owner/Manager: Robert Mancini


ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN/MANITOBA

1st Place Winner : Riley Honess
Store Sponsor: Market Street Vulcan, Vulcan, AB
Owner/Manager: Scott Mitchell

2nd Place Winner : Kristel Kriel
Store Sponsor: Biggar Super A Foods, Biggar, SK
Owner/Manager: Reginald Laxdal

High School Graduate Scholarship: Donald Alexander Sheets
Sponsor: Freson Market Supercenter IGA, Peace River, AB
Owner/Manager: Mike Lovsin


BRITISH COLUMBIA/YUKON/NWT

1st Place Winner : Alicia Cundall
Store Sponsor: Cobble Hill Country Grocer, Cobble Hill, BC
Owner/Manager: Mark Guthrie

2nd Place Winner : William Strachan
Store Sponsor: Quality Foods Comox Valley, Comox, BC
Owner/Manager: Dan Gigliotti

High School Graduate Scholarship: Roslyn Johnson
Sponsor: Choices Market White Rock, Surrey, BC
Owner/Manager: Steve Lockhart