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Council receives report detailing Mayor’s Student Bursary Program
May 28, 2026 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
New Tecumseth council reviewed the 2025 Mayor’s Student Bursary Program at its May 25 meeting.
The report recommends that 12 applicants be selected through a lottery process and awarded a 2026 Mayor’s Student Bursary in the amount of $2,000.
It also recommends that the remaining 52 applicants in the application summary be awarded a 2026 Mayor’s Student Bursary in the amount of $1,000.
The funds awarded will be allocated from the Mayor’s Charity Event Reserve.
This year, 64 applications were received and met the Program Requirements for the Bursary Program.
The total cost of awards will be $76,000 with a surplus of $10,202 in the Mayor’s Charity Reserve Account.
The Mayor’s Student Bursary Program provides Student Bursaries in the amount of $2,000 each, up to $24,000 annually, to be funded from the net proceeds of the Mayor’s Charity Event.
Additional funds may also be provided to youth groups and organizations, or to other projects that provide educational, community service, or athletic opportunities benefiting youth, as Council may deem appropriate, should there be a surplus of funds once the annual bursaries have been awarded.
The Bursary Program is available to any graduating student who is a resident of New Tecumseth and attending Banting Memorial High School, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School, or any other accredited educational institution in New Tecumseth.
Student applicants must have high enough scholastic achievement to gain acceptance into the post-secondary program they choose.
Student applicants must provide proof of acceptance into either a university, college, or apprenticeship program, a copy of the current year transcript to confirm a high standard of scholastic achievement, and information relating to community programs, organizations, and volunteer activities that they have been involved in, along with their hobbies, interests and any employment information.
An application must also include personal letters of reference supporting the bursary application, and a 500-word essay on their educational aspirations and goals, any extracurricular activities, and how the bursary would assist in their future educational aspirations and/or goals.
The application deadline for 2026 was May 4.
In 2026, an unprecedented number of applications were received through the bursary program. As a result, the Review Task Force determined that awarding 12 bursaries in the amount of $2,000 each, as per the program’s requirements, with the remaining 52 eligible applicants receiving $1,000 each, would best align with the program’s intent.
This distribution allows the Town to provide meaningful financial assistance while ensuring that all eligible students who have applied receive support.
In total, 64 applications were received. This includes 19 from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School, 42 from Banting Memorial High School, 2 from Alliston Learning Centre, and one from Unity Christian High School.
The Student Bursary Review Task Force met on May 7, 2026. The Task Force consists of the Mayor, Director of Recreation, Facilities and Culture, the Deputy Clerk, plus one member from the Tottenham, Beeton & District Chamber of Commerce, and one member from the Alliston District Chamber of Commerce.
The Task Force agreed that a lottery system is the fairest and most equitable method for determining which 12 students will receive the maximum award.
Council could deny or amend the Review Task Force’s recommendations.
The 2026 opening balance of the Mayor’s Charity Reserve Account was $89,705, which includes funds generated from the 2025 Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament in the amount of $34,653.
Student bursaries will be paid directly to the post-secondary institution or apprenticeship program specified by the student, or in special circumstances, it will be paid to the student or family member for reimbursement of post-secondary school expenses paid.
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