Eduardo Bilanes lived a long life with selflessness in one hand and compassion in the other, always caring for those around him first. Eduardo-Jose Martinez carried happiness and positivity wherever he went, lending a helping hand while bringing a smile to your face. Both Eduardos were diagnosed with cancer, and in 2022, peacefully passed away surrounded by their families. They were heroes who embodied acts of service, leadership, and love to each community they touched. This award was created to honour both Eds and continue their meaningful impact on Earth.

This scholarship will be open to Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic grade 12 students whose lives have been touched by cancer and who are enthusiastic about giving back to their community through leadership or volunteer work.

Learn more about the Bilanes-Martinez Memorial Scholarship here.

Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.

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As part of our 20th Birthday campaign EducationMatters plans to endow at least ten new student awards to support Calgary students in perpetuity.

The sky's the limit when you're creating your own student award - do you want to support a specific school, a specific area of study, or is it wide open? Are you rewarding academics, volunteerism, or athleticism? Do you want to help choose the student or leave it up to our awards committee? Check out the second page of the PDF below for more ideas on how to create an award you will be proud to call your own.

Please contact Alicia Hope-Ross to discuss options, ideas, and needs, and help us create a bright future for Calgary's young folks.

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Every year thousands of Calgary students apply for the more than $500,000 EducationMatters has available in student awards. There are so many deserving students, and even with half a million dollars, there's still not enough to go around, so as part of our 20th Birthday Campaign we are creating and endowing a brand new award - the EducationMatters Legacy Award.

The EducationMatters Legacy Award winner(s) will be selected each year by the EducationMatters student award committee; there will be no formal application process - every student who applies for an award in any given year will automatically have the opportunity to be selected as a Legacy Award recipient. There is no specific criteria for this award - our committee will be rewarding excellence in several areas, from academics and sport, to volunteering and community service, to resilience and perseverance, and more.

Fundraising for this award will happen throughout 2023, with the inaugural award(s) being presented in 2024. The size and value of the award will be dependent on fundraising - every year endowment funds pay out 4.5% of their value so for every $12,000 raised approximately $500 will be available to disburse. This fund will continue to grow over time and will truly help leave a lasting legacy for our 20th birthday.

Students are outstanding for so many reasons, and we want to ensure that we can support as many of our amazing young folks as possible, now and for generations to come.

Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.

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By choosing to give a regular monthly donation, you will be helping us to plan ahead and make long-term improvements toward students' success. A regular gift allows us to plan for the future because we know, day in and day out, that we will have a group of dedicated supporters like you.

Monthly donors help students in so many ways! From supporting a specific school to providing barrier removal funding, to investing in specific initiatives - your commitment to donating all year long helps us provide even more opportunities all across Calgary. Help us plan for the future, and consider turning your gifts into a monthly contribution. By Investing in students' futures you are providing a strong foundation for success.

If you want to make a monthly gift to a specific school, head here, find your school in the dropdown menu, and select 'recurring gift' before making your donation.

Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.
 

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From tragedy springs hope

A tragic avalanche in February 2003 rocked our community like never before. It left more questions than answers about the unfathomable loss of seven high school students. In its aftermath, the trail of destruction and chaos spread down the mountainside, across southern Alberta, and into the lives of everyone who knew the victims and hundreds more who did not. Ben Albert had been among the victims and had been a popular teammate on the Lake Bonavista hockey team for many years.

The Legacy Hockey Tournament started in 2004 through the efforts of a small group of parents who were inspired by the young lives that had been lost in an avalanche a year earlier. We could raise money, encourage athletics through participation, support education through bursaries and honour the example set by an outstanding friend, student and sportsman – Ben. During the following five years, The Legacy Tournament evolved into a sixteen-team event that has attracted participation from all over Western Canada and as far away as Switzerland, with the winning team receiving the Ben Albert Championship Trophy. A capital pool of $70,000 was created and paid out $9,000 in bursaries to players who were going on to post secondary studies.

The hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, players, coaches and parents are proud to have started a Legacy that will continue in perpetuity to influence and enhance lives and provide incentive for further education.

The next logical step to ensuring that the original vision would remain intact was the creation and financial seeding of an endowment fund with EducationMatters. This initiative will provide funding for a wide variety of people and programs that will enhance and promote learning, while making a positive change in many lives, forever. In supporting this fund, you not only honour the memory of a special young man, but you give the gift of learning.

Ben Albert’s personal passion for sports and school will now live to make a significant difference in Calgary and the world.

Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.

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[video poster="https://www.educationmatters.ca/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo_educationmatters_11.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.educationmatters.ca/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MHCS-Video-1.mp4"][/video]

In support of students who are struggling or have struggled with mental health

Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.

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In partnership between The Skipping Stone Foundation and EducationMatters, the Transgender Community Award recognizes emerging community leaders and their impact.

The award is open to Grade 12 (CBE or CSSD) students who are completing the requirements of a high school diploma and identify as a member or ally of the transgender/gender diverse community. Applicants must demonstrate strong commitment to serving/supporting the transgender/gender diverse community.

If you are a student interested in applying for this award, please visit the Student Award Information section of our website or contact your school's scholarship coordinator.

Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.

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Pamela Jane Hardy was a dedicated teacher and brilliant mathematician who excelled athletically. In memory of her passion for teaching, love of math, and adventurous spirit this award will go to a Calgary high school student with a demonstrated financial need, who excels mathematically and athletically in order to offset the cost of a university education.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iek6p6OMhjA

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Supporting post-secondary education in the visual arts

These awards were established in 2012 in memory of Dustin Peers by his family and friends to assist graduating students pursuing studies in visual arts. One award is designated to Centre for Performing & Visual Arts students at Central Memorial High School and a second award is open to all eligible Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District high school students.

If you are a student interested in applying for this award, please visit the Student Award Information section of our website or contact your school's scholarship coordinator.

https://youtu.be/Q6LXYC6be9s

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