All connected with the Workers Health & Safety Centre are committed to education – education in the workplace and beyond. To this end the WHSC has long offered student scholarships for post-secondary education.
Funds for these scholarships are raised from The Clifford Pilkey Memorial Golf Fundraiser in honour of our late founder and first WHSC President.
This annual scholarship contest aims to raise health and safety awareness among graduating Ontario high school students who are headed for post-secondary education—a segment of the workforce who face excessive and significant occupational hazards leading to work-related injuries and deaths.
Student applicants are asked to write an essay on an occupational health and safety topic, submit a profile outlining their contributions to their school and/or community, as well as a letter of endorsement from an educator or community leader. Students who best demonstrate an understanding in their essay submissions, along with consideration of school and community activism, will be awarded much-needed funds for post-secondary education.
The two top submissions each receive $2,000. One to honour the late Clifford Pilkey, WHSC’s founder and a second to honour social justice champion, Fred Upshaw. Up to three additional entries may be selected to receive $1,000 each.
WHSC will once again be conducting our student scholarship contest in 2023. Watch our web and social media channels for soon-to-be-released specifics, including the precise June 2023 deadline.
Meet WHSC Annual Student Scholarship 2022 Contest Winners.*
*As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged our communities and workplaces, the Clifford Pilkey Memorial Golf Fundraiser and the WHSC Annual Student Scholarship Contest was put on hold in 2020 and 2021.
Funding Sources
No portion of government grants from employer WSIB assessments or WHSC revenue generation support these important occupational health and safety awareness initiative. Student scholarships are financed solely through funds raised at our golf tournament and the generous support of member organizations and community partners.