
Anne Stafford Light Up the Future Bursary
The Anne Stafford Light Up the Future Bursary is awarded to people who have an intellectual disability who are seeking to pursue a professional development opportunity through an educational program or personal interest course. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 at 5pm EDT. If you have any questions, please email bursary@communitylivingontario.ca.
Download the application below.
Vision
Vision
Beneficiaries of the Anne Stafford Light up the Future Bursary will have the opportunity to share in all elements of living in the community as a result of their pursuit of an educational program or personal interest course.
Beneficiaries of the Anne Stafford Light up the Future Bursary will have an enhanced social role as a result of their pursuit of a personal development opportunity.
Background and Purpose
Background and Purpose
Anne worked for Community Living Ontario for almost 30 years, helping our movement in many ways, including the pursuit of alternatives to institutionalization. The Light up the Future Bursary launched in 1993 in honour of Anne’s retirement, in hopes of leaving a legacy that would support people who have an intellectual disability to pursue personal development opportunities. The fundraising efforts at Community Living Ontario and the generous donations of many member organizations have supported the bursary.
Your Content Goes Here
Eligibility
The Bursary is open to Ontario residents aged 18 and older who identify as having an intellectual disability and are seeking to pursue an educational program or personal interest course. Please include a description of the course with the application.
2021 Recipients
Your Content Goes Here
Ali Francis, McDougall
Angus Ng, Belleville
Ashley Mitchell, Chatham
Barret Hall, Ingleside
Calum Fox, Burlington
Daniel Buttera, Ottawa
David Robbins, Kingston
Eric Martens, Drayton
Fredrick Dixon, Ottawa
Jennifer Fedora-Perrotta, Campbellville
Joel Ashton-Fogle, Toronto
Josh Bajpai, Ottawa
Joshua Bell, Ajax
Joy Peeling, Bloomfield
Your Content Goes Here
Justin McKenna, Russell
Kayla Taaffe, Oshawa
Launa Mallish, Cornwall
Madison Shaw, Orleans
Manar Swidan, Toronto
Nicholas Lauriola, King City
Nicholas Stewart, Whitby
Rachel Hirtz, Trenton
Roan Missaghi, Richmond Hill
Tyler Richardson, Etobicoke
Ryan Duncan, Waterloo
Sandra Regalo, London
Timothy Grant, Burlington
Travis Layzell, Bancroft
William Hackett, Prescott
Light Up The Future Bursary Recipient: Sam's Story
Your Content Goes Here
For many students across Ontario, a new world filled with opportunities and interests opens up when they attend college or university. The learning, collaboration, and social interactions with peers are all critical as a young person transitions into adulthood. Post-secondary education has become increasingly important when obtaining employment and a decent standard of living.
Sam Forbes wanted the same opportunities, and thanks to Community Living Ontario’s Anne Stafford Light Up the Future Bursary, his college experience has taken off.
As a young man with autism, Sam didn’t imagine that post-secondary education was a possibility until he was nominated for the bursary. More than a financial award, the scholarship was a recognition that other people believed in him.
With a new-found confidence, Sam enrolled at Humber College this past September, and he walked through the doors as a student of the Community Integration through Co-operative Education program. Designed to provide adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities with the opportunity to experience college life, the program fosters and promotes experiential and transformative learning.
Sam’s classes are helping to advance not only his life skills and goals but also his advocacy work.
“Taking the Introduction to Developmental Social Worker course has taught me a lot about other conditions that I didn’t know about,” he explained, “and it gave me great information on how to approach people and care for people in a really good way.”
As an active advocate for inclusion, Sam also talks enthusiastically about the importance of treating people equally wherever he goes.
Anne Stafford started the Light Up the Future Bursary in 1993 when she retired from Community Living Ontario. After 30 years of tirelessly working to create a more inclusive province, Anne’s bursary was intended to provide opportunities that would support people who have an intellectual disability to pursue professional development through either an educational program or a personal interest course.
Since then, more than 325 people who have an intellectual disability have received the bursary. It has created exciting possibilities and enabled people to gain the skills and confidence they need to seek out their goals.
Your Content Goes Here
As the demand for the Anne Stafford Light Up the Future Bursary far exceeds our capacity, we urgently need your support to grow this fund to help young people pursue a passion that leads to a more full and inclusive life within their community— just like Sam! Please donate today.
All online donations will receive an automatic tax receipt.