How To Support The Next Round Of Bow Valley Health Care Scholarships
In 2022, The Canmore & Area Health Care Foundation (now the Canmore Hospital Foundation) came together with the Canmore Hospital Ladies Auxiliary to launch our first-ever Bow Valley Health Care Scholarships. Three scholarships were unveiled as part of this new program, a Nursing Scholarship, General Health Care Fields Scholarship, and an Emergency Services Training Scholarship. The three scholarships, each $1,000, were available to any person who had been accepted into or was currently enrolled in post-secondary or equivalent training programs in pursuit of a career in health care. In addition, applicants were required to be permanent residents of the Bow Valley with plans to return to work in the Bow Valley and surrounding areas.
We were delighted to open the application period, and we marvelled at the inspiring young locals who submitted. After much consideration by our selection committee, three successful applicants were notified that they’d received the scholarships. The recipients, Noah Larsson, Hamill del Prado and Jake Larsson.
Let’s meet the recipients
Noah Larsson recently graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and is studying to become a Primary Care Paramedic. “I am only one person, but that does not mean I cannot be part of the solution and help our most vulnerable citizens. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 2020 when Covid was just emerging, I reflected on my past and looked to what the future may bring. Firstly, I wanted to be a part of a profession that can make a difference, a place where I am given an opportunity to help others,” Noah shared. He is currently preparing for his licensing exam and is eager to get started in his future career as a Paramedic.
Hamill del Prado is pursuing a career in Nursing and is currently doing casual work as a health care aide at the Canmore General Hospital.
“In 2020 we saw the streets empty but the hospitals overflowing. Stories of exhausted and burnt-out health care workers surfaced in every media outlet. And that’s when I noticed it - the term “health care.” There is a reason that it is called that and not just, health workers or health practitioners. If a person not only works but also cares, then patience shouldn’t be too hard to find.”
Hamill intimately understands this community and what it means to work in the health care field.
Jake Larsson is attending Medical School at the University of Alberta. “Listening to oncologists solemnly explain to parents that their child has been diagnosed with cancer and witnessing the profound elation sweep over a family as their child is declared cancer-free illustrated the tremendous impact a physician has on the lives of patients and their families,” he said.
Jake plans to hone in on his medical knowledge, clinical abilities, and “necessary experiences to best serve the community [he] will be fortunate enough to work in as a Physician” while studying at the University of Alberta.
2023 Scholarship Opportunities
We were pleased with the success of the first round of Bow Valley Health Care Scholarships and we are enthusiastic about opening applications once more. Though, we’d love to expand the impact of this program by adding more scholarship opportunities. Between the Foundation and the Ladies’ Auxiliary, we are able to fund the three existing scholarships. So, we are turning to you, our community, to see if you might be interested in supporting the program or sponsoring a brand new scholarship. There are a few different ways you can contribute to this effort.
OPTION 1: DONATE TO THE “PROGRAMS” FUND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
You can make a donation as you normally would. Simply select the “programs” fund when directing your donation. If you’d like to restrict your donation to the scholarships program (we have a number of programs that this fund supports), indicate this in your donation notes. We’ll be sure your funds are directed to support the future of an aspiring healthcare professional in the Bow Valley.
OPTION 2: SPONSOR A SCHOLARSHIP AS A BUSINESS OR AN INDIVIDUAL
The scholarship can be named in tribute or memory, named after you or your business, or branded based on its intention (we can support in brainstorming).
If you would like to sponsor an entire scholarship ($1,000 or more), we will partner with you to ensure your vision for the future of health care in the Bow Valley is brought to life. First, you will indicate the amount you would like to put forth for your scholarship. Next, you will select the purpose/recipient type of the scholarship (examples below). You will note any scholarship criteria you’d like to add or any specific parameters you’d like us to put forth to applicants. Finally, we will work together to name, brand, and market the scholarship.
Here are some potential scholarship purposes/recipient types:
Nursing Studies
Doctoral Studies
Emergency Feilds
Health Care General
Further/Continuing Education
Community Care
Indigenous Students/Professionals
Women in Medicine
Need-Based Scholarships (Socioeconomically Disadvantaged)
OPTION 3: MAKE A DONATION DIRECTLY TO ONE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS, SPONSORING A PORTION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Get in touch, and we will let you know which scholarships are available for contributions and how much support is needed.
OPTION 4: SET UP AN ENDOWMENT TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YEARS TO COME
Get in touch with the Foundation to discuss the process and details.
Kristen Pauch-Nolin, Executive Director
contact@canmorehospitalfoundation.com
1 (403) 678-4358