Applications Now OPEN
Deadline to Apply is August 16th
Eligibility
The 2024 Epilepsy Ontario Scholarships are awarded to students across Ontario who are living with epilepsy and who meet the following criteria:
• be a person living with epilepsy.
• be a Canadian citizen, Protected Person or Permanent Resident of Canada (proof of status required)
• be a resident of Ontario
• be enrolled in or accepted for full-time or part-time post-secondary studies in a College or University, accredited professional or apprenticeship training institution (part-time students must be completing at least one course each semester)
• should not be related to any member of the Board of Directors or staff of Epilepsy Ontario
• Have not been a previous Scholarship Recipient
About the scholarship
Are you a student with Epilepsy enrolled or about to be enrolled in a post-secondary education program this September? Then congratulations, you are already well on your way to beating the odds. Only one in three people with disabilities earn a post-secondary degree in Canada. We at Epilepsy Ontario want to improve those odds and we want to celebrate your success in getting as far as you have already.
If you have Epilepsy and you are pursuing a post-secondary education anywhere in Ontario, you are eligible for one of four $1,500 scholarships. You could become a member of our Scholarship community of past winners like Melanie Jeffrey, who has since gone on to become a member of the Board of Directors of Epilepsy Ontario and has become a passionate advocate for Epilepsy awareness.
Comments from Previous Recipients
“The OBCL Epilepsy Scholarship benefited me by helping pay for my tuition. It was a great help and I was also able to spread the word and knowledge about epilepsy.” – Cassidy S.
“I never let epilepsy become a barrier. I made it a part of my life and a part of who I am. Because of epilepsy I am a more determined and persistent person who never lets anything stand his way. The OBCL Scholarship gave me the chance to show this to my family, friends, professors, and community.” – Rahman M.
“I was not successful at my first post-secondary attempt. With the hope of receiving the OBCL Epilepsy scholarship I applied to the Recreation and Leisure program, something I had always dreamed of. I’m finding Centennial College and the faculty very supportive and love the program. Thank you so much Epilepsy Ontario. You are the Best!” – Jaimie M L
Past Scholarship Recipients:
2023 – Congratulations to the Epilepsy Ontario Scholarship Winners:
- Taylor Thomas – Welland
- Amber Demers – Niagara Falls
- Matthew Farrish – Thunder Bay
- Lyndsey Canini – Port Perry
- Angelique Erry – Markham
- Luke Jan – Toronto
2022 – Congratulations to the Epilepsy Ontario Scholarship Winners:
- Alexa Graham – Timmins
- Emily Greer – Toronto
- Tyler Herrington – Waterloo
- Isabella De Sousa – Ajax
2021 – Congratulations to the Epilepsy Ontario Scholarship Winners:
- Chloe Gallagher – Guelph
- Harjot Shoker – Mississauga
- Joleen Secord – Little Current
- Mercedes (Sadie) Augustyn – Kingston
2020 – Cancelled due to COVID 19
2019 – Congratulations to the Osler Epilepsy Scholarship Winners:
- Alexandra Crowes – Chatham-Kent
- Alexandra Law – Oakville
- Morgan McIntyre – Russell
- Logan Place – Ancaster
- Megan Sherwin – Toronto
- Sierra Spence – St Catharines
2018
- Bronwyn Clifton – Nepean
- Eric Jose – Oshawa
- Sarah McKenzie-Kerr – Toronto
- Rebekah Pregent – Ottawa
- Olivia Tomchik – Strathroy
2017
- Heather Perl – Toronto
- Mary-Katherine Rowe – Haileybury
- Mackenzie Fast – St Thomas
- Sarah Picotte – Ottawa
- Vanessa Wadge – Belle Vallee
2016
- Emily Greer – London
- Emily Hoover – L’Amable
- Heather Beckett – Barrie
- Kate Selway – Burlington
2015
- Andreia Real – Toronto
- Amanda Cook – Toronto
- Anya-Belle Brown – Mississauga
- Sarah Hysenaj – Toronto
2014
- Samantha Hetherington – Ottawa
- Courtney Tobin – Kingston
- Duncan Green – Whitby
- Elizabeth Paley – Burlington
- Heather Girardin – London
- Lia Turner – Burlington
2013
- Chloe Gallagher – Burlington
- Tori Gleason – Smiths Falls
- Alexander Johnson – Mississauga
- Kirsten Leusink – Cambridge
- Katelyn Lewis – Thunder Bay
- Suzanne McGuire – Niagara Falls
2012
- Brooke Corner – Barrie
- Chelsea Ellis – Kanata
- Danika Dupuis – Kingston
- Jaimie Morgan-Lynette – Toronto
- Michel Leroux – Ottawa
- Mikaela Morrell – Porcupine
- Rahman Mohamed – Toronto
- Vanessa Orlando – St. Catharines
2011
- Lindsay Bennett – Niagara
- Julia Chriss – York Region
- Megan Judith Donnelly – York Region
- Johnathan Healy – Simcoe
- Joanna Marie Hearn – Kingston
- Jasmyne Jagpal – London
- Alexandra Potvin – Simcoe
- Christopher Rychlo – Simcoe
- Cassidy Sankey – Durham
- Jennifer Ward – Durham
2010
- Daniel Adamo – Toronto
- Amanda Beitz – Waterloo
- Kate Cochrane – London
- Robert DeMarco – London
- Darcy Enns – Niagara
- Aliza Jo Gold-Ruvolo – Toronto
- Melissa Kerr – London
- Brandyn McCarthy – Halton Peel
- Cowathamen Mohan – Halton Peel
- Aly Singh – Ottawa
2009
- Alexe Lalonde – Ottawa
- Laryssa Bilinsky – Sudbury
- Meryn Winters – Toronto
- Alesha Ross – Windsor
- Jaclyn DeWolf – London
- Hilary L. Scarrow – Halton Peel
- Emma Rossi – Waterloo Wellington
- Christine Kirkwood – Ottawa
- David Benoit – Ottawa
- Geertje Visscher – London
- Hannah King – Toronto
2007
- Emily Banks – London
- Heather Bartok – Niagara
- Jacquelin Chatterpaul – York Region
- Skye Corey – London
- Alex Dolan – York Region
- Carolyn Harris – Windsor
- Nathalie Holroyd – Durham
- Nadim S. – Toronto
- Melissa Seichter – Hamilton
- Lindsay Smyth – Durham
- Chelsea Tobin – Kingston
- Lynn Wilkins – Toronto
How it began
Before OBCL, a drug company (Pfizer in 2002 and Lundbeck Canada in 2003) offered the epilepsy scholarships in the early 2000s. Back then, Osler already took on an active role as a member of the committee that read through the students’ applications.
When the drug company decided to discontinue the scholarships, Osler was ready to take the lead. How did Osler feel about his new initiative? Click here to find out.
To read our press release from the first OBCL Epilepsy Scholarship Awards, click here.
