Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Post-Secondary Education Program

When the Post-Secondary Education Program launched in 1995, $15,000 was awarded to nine students in the Toronto area. Today, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of donors — including a recent transformational $10 million endowment from The Joyce Family Foundation — the program has grown into a national leader in education access for young people with experience in the child welfare system.

Each year, approximately $2 million is invested in hundreds of scholarships, education-based awards, and flexible wraparound supports, reaching close to 600 post-secondary students across Canada. The Post-Secondary Education Program includes:

Scholarships

To meet the diverse needs and goals of young people with lived experience of the child welfare system, the scholarship program supports four education pathways:

• Full-time studies at accredited colleges or universities
• Graduate studies, supporting advanced education and research
• Part-time studies, for learners balancing education with work or caregiving responsibilities
• Short-term programs (under one year), including certifications and skill-building courses

Graduation Awards

Graduation Awards are granted to previous scholarship recipients upon completion of their post-secondary program. These awards both celebrate academic achievement and help ease the financial transition into the workforce or further education.

Educational Support Fund

Educational Support Funds deliver essential, flexible resources that help current and recently graduated scholarship recipients thrive throughout their academic journey. These supports may include grants for technology and equipment, tutoring, transportation, food and housing relief, and emergency assistance.

BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Program

In 2020, BMO Capital Markets welcomed Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada to join their Equity Through Education Program.

Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workplace by offering support to help bright, deserving people realize their educational ambitions by giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have. In the first year of this partnership, BMO Capital Markets supported 30 scholarships and 30 bursary students through Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s National Post-Secondary Education Program.

The Joyce Family Foundation National Education Access Fund

To mark its 30th anniversary, The Joyce Family Foundation has established a $10 million endowment to create the Ron Joyce Excellence Awards at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. This landmark endowment honours the legacy of Ron Joyce (1930–2019), the legendary Canadian entrepreneur, humanitarian, and philanthropist, who believed that potential is universal, even when access is not, and dedicated his life to expanding opportunities for young people facing adversity.

Through this partnership, this generational gift will help ensure that more youth from care—who face significant systemic barriers to post-secondary education—have the stability and support they need to stay in school, graduate, and build the futures they envisage.