Young Heritage Leaders Scholarship

The Ontario Heritage Trust’s Young Heritage Leaders program celebrates youth achievements in identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting local heritage.

Canada Life is proud to sponsor Young Heritage Leaders, a program that fosters a sense of local pride, community involvement and volunteerism. Along with the Ontario Heritage Trust, they reward the young person whose leadership in preserving, protecting and promoting heritage is deemed to be the most exceptional with a $3,500 scholarship for post-secondary education. Note: Only individual nominees are eligible for this scholarship. Individuals must be nominated for the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement to be eligible for the scholarship.

What is the difference between the Young Heritage Leaders program and the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement?

The Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement is awarded to the top individual and top groups nominated for the award. The Young Heritage Leaders program recognizes young volunteers who have also made important contributions to conserving Ontario’s heritage. Nominees to the Lieutenant Governor’s Award who do not receive the award can be recognized through Young Heritage Leaders if both program options have been selected on the nomination form.

Who can be nominated?

The successful candidates – whether individuals or all members of groups – must meet the following criteria. They should: be 

• age 24 and under at the time of the nomination submission deadline
• be residents of Ontario
• have made exceptional volunteer contributions (i.e., have not received payment) to heritage conservation
• have demonstrated:
  • leadership
  • commitment
  • creativity
  • positive impact on the community, region or province
  • good conservation practices

Note: Directors and employees of the Ontario Heritage Trust and members of their immediate families are not eligible.

Who can nominate?

Nominators can include:

• local, regional or provincial youth organizations
• local, regional or provincial heritage organizations
• university and college registrars and/or department heads
• school principals
• conservation authorities
• municipal or regional councils
• First Nations band councils
• Métis community councils
• Ontario Heritage Trust staff

Note: Nominations submitted by municipal councils, regional councils, First Nations band councils or Métis community councils must be supported by a motion of council.

What projects are eligible?

• service to cultural heritage and natural heritage/environmental organizations or institutions, including:
  • municipal heritage committees
  • conservation authorities
  • land trusts
  • diverse cultural communities
  • environmental organizations
  • museums
  • historical and archaeological sites
• fundraising and promotion to support conservation activities
• research and writing, development of publications, creation and delivery of public programming and interpretation and exhibits, websites and other educational material on local history, cultural/natural heritage, the environment, and/or natural history
• conservation and interpretation of:
  • artifacts
  • archival materials
  • photographs
  • environmental information and collections
• development and delivery of activities or events that identify, safeguard and promote intangible cultural heritage, including:
  • oral traditions
  • expressions
  • language
  • performing arts – e.g., music, dance or theatre
  • social practices
  • rituals/ceremonies and festive events
  • knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
  • traditional craftsmanship
• promotion, celebration and preservation of cultural heritage and biological diversity
• activities that protect, steward and conserve natural heritage, including:
  • restoring species-at-risk habitats
  • areas of natural and scientific interest
  • provincially significant wetlands
  • watersheds
  • other environmentally sensitive areas
• activities that protect, steward and conserve cultural heritage, including:
  • buildings/structures
  • streetscapes
  • gardens
  • cultural landscapes
  • heritage conservation districts