Clarington Diversity Leadership Bursary

• Clarington residents between the ages of 17 and 21
• Full-time high school students in good standing in Grade 12 attending school in Clarington
• Demonstrate leadership in advancing diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility and belonging in their school and community
• Demonstrate a financial need
• Enrolled/accepted in any Canadian post-secondary education program at the college or university level or an accredited trades/apprenticeship program with a full-time course load.

Please note: Students currently employed by the Municipality of Clarington or who are immediate family members or relatives of Municipality of Clarington employees, Clarington Council members or Diversity Advisory Committee members are not eligible to apply. Being eligible for a bursary does not guarantee funding.

• All applications are reviewed and assessed fairly by the Clarington Diversity Advisory Committee, which will select the recipients for the Bursary based on 
  • Meeting eligibility requirements;
  • Submission of the required application documents; 
  • Demonstration of their leadership in advancing diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility and belonging in their school and community
  • Demonstration of financial need;
  • A short informal interview; and
  • Reference checks.
• All applications are kept confidential and securely disposed of in accordance with our data collection policy.
• Interviews will be held on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2, from 3 to 6:30 p.m.
• All applicants will be notified of final decisions by June 12, 2026.

• Confirmation of enrollment in a post-secondary or trades program must be provided before funding is released.
• No funds are released before the start date of your program. Funds will be issued by cheque to the school or the student.
• The recipients of the Bursary will be presented with a congratulatory certificate at the June 22, 2026, Clarington Council meeting.

The post-secondary institution and program must be accredited and recognized by the provincial ministry. For example, in Ontario, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities is responsible for accrediting post-secondary institutions and ensuring the programs offered meet specific standards.

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) maintains a directory of recognized post-secondary institutions and programs, providing a reliable resource for verifying accreditation.

The Bursary is intended for students who will be attending a Canadian post-secondary institution.

Students must be Clarington residents and enrolled in a high school in Clarington. 

No, the Bursary is intended for grade 12 high school students. 

The Bursary is intended for students aged 17 to 21 years AND currently enrolled full-time in grade 12.

You will need to submit:

• A 1,000 word (max) essay answering specific questions in the application.
• Official high school transcript (or unofficial if you have not received the official copy yet).
• Acceptance letter for your post-secondary education program.

Yes, you will need to provide one to three references through the web application.

If you have a disability and would like to discuss submitting your application in an alternative format, please contact the DEI & Accessibility Specialist at 905-623-3379 x 2131 or email accessibility@clarington.net. 

Students who have already received the bursary are not eligible to reapply. 

References will be contacted after the interview with the final recipients using the preferred method provided by the reference. Please ensure the references are aware that you have provided their name and contact information.

Yes, use the save button at the bottom of the application form to save your progress. You will be emailed a link that you can use to access the application again.  

Students can email diversity@clarington.net. The previous application can be withdrawn, and a new application can be uploaded.

We do not accept late applications.

If you have a question that wasn’t answered here, please email diversity@clarington.net or call 905-623-3379 ext. 2131.