We are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Bursary Awards. Thank you to everyone who applied this year, and, if you were unsuccessful, we encourage you to apply again next year when we open applications in the summer of 2024.
We also want to thank our generous bursary donors for making $50,000 in financial aid available for our 18 bursaries. As you can read below, their support has made a hugely positive impact on the lives of our bursary recipients.
Please see below for the full list of our bursary recipients this year. A huge congratulations to all of them.
We had a huge number of very strong applications this year, so thank you again to all those that applied but were unfortunately unsuccessful this year. We of course want to keep supporting you here in BC, so please explore our free language, career and settlement services.
Please note: some of our recipients have asked not to be named publically for their own privacy.
Recipient: Heaven Hadgu Tadesse
Arbutus Financial provides comprehensive financial services to businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals to achieve peace of mind through financial confidence. Arbutus Financial established this bursary for newcomers to provide financial assistance towards their education, which will allow them to reach their career goals.
The Arbutus Financial Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Mohammed Fayad
“Since arriving as a refugee in Canada, I have faced financial hardships and difficulties in finding employment and I am still looking for any funding that can help me to return to my former occupation as a Cloud specialist and computer network administrator and programmer, so I really need this bursary to upgrade my skills through AWS cloud Foundation and Architecture training course at BCIT, before I can find a good job in BC.
I feel this bursary will be a great step toward my career goal, thank you!” – Mohammed Fayad, BCIT student
De Jager Volkenant provides a comprehensive range of legal services to meet the special needs of charities and non-profit organizations and to help them achieve their unique purposes. Their experienced team of lawyers and staff understand the challenges of its non-profit sector clients, which are often dependent upon volunteers with limited time and resources.
De Jager Volkenant Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue a career in the legal sector.
For more info, please click here.
Recipients: Dongli Shi & Masoumeh Ghahremanibejandi
Dr. Andrew Chan came to Canada in 1972 and obtained his Dentistry degree from the University of Toronto. Dr. Elaine She came to Canada in 1974 and obtained her Dentistry degree from the University of British Columbia. Both are now retired and are enjoying lots of traveling, as well as golfing, hiking, and volunteering in between.
Dr. She and Dr. Chan Bursary of $5,00 is presented to two eligible recipients ($2,500 each) who are current or former ISSofBC clients (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), students, or volunteers. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Ni Bor Cin
“Thank you ISSofBC staff for this bursary. I am currently in a part-time relief position at a daycare while continuing my education. I plan to pursue a career as a Special Needs caregiver with the long-term goal of completing an Early Childhood Educator Post-Basic (ECEPB) diploma. Currently, I am enrolled as a full-time student and plan to graduate from Stenberg College in Spring 2024 and transfer to a 7-month program to complete my ECEPB.
By awarding me the ISSofBC Staff Team Bursary, you have reduced my financial burden, which allows me to focus on my schoolwork and not worry so much about how I am going to pay for school. I hope one day that I will also be able to help struggling students reach their goals in higher education by assisting them in the same way you are helping me.” – Ni Bor Chin, Stenberg College student
For this new bursary, various staff members at ISSofBC contribute toward this $5,000 bursary in support of the post-secondary education aspirations of the recipient.
Supporting Donors include:
Arina Tanase
Jonathan Oldman
Mahi Khalaf
Anonymous supporting donor
Recipient: Lelibeth Savilana
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for this opportunity, to the donors of the Bursary Program of ISSofBC ,and to all the efforts of all the of ISS staffs for helping the students in need.
“I am one of those students that really needs financial assistance. I arrived as an immigrant to BC in November 2022.
I took the risk of going to school again for the future of my son and my family. I want to land a job that I love, which is working with children with special needs.
The Jim Tallman Bursary will help me to fulfill my dreams here in Canada, with that I want to give my sincerest thank you to all the people at ISSofBC, may God Bless you all.” – Lelibeth Savilana
This bursary is named for Jim Tallman, a former long-serving ISSofBC Board member, and volunteer. ISSofBC is proud to present this bursary to support newcomers pursuing their post-secondary education in an accredited institution in celebration and recognition of Jim’s service to ISSofBC and its mission.
Supporting Donors:
Lida Paslar, Board of Directors
The Jim Tallman Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Bodvinn Kalumba
Michael Danchuk, a financial consultant with Investors Group, has been a strong supporter of various community initiatives and has actively contributed his time, energy, and resources to furthering the goals of these initiatives. He established this bursary as part of his commitment to helping newcomers settle in Canada.
The Michael Danchuck Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipients: Abhijay Patwa & Undisclosed
Vince and Amy Sara are the sponsors of this bursary. They are the owners of three medical clinics in the Lower Mainland. Vince and Amy have long been supporters of newcomers and their clinics focus on providing healthcare services to newcomers.
Lower Mainland Urgent, Family & Primary Care Centre Bursary of $5,000 is presented to two eligible recipients ($2,500 each) who are current or former ISSofBC clients (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), students, or volunteers. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Undisclosed
The purpose of the Millennium Development Group Bursary is to provide aid to newcomers in Canada to help them adjust to their new environment and feel at home in British Columbia while obtaining the skills and education necessary to thrive and make a positive contribution to the country.
Millennium Development Group Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Parnian Akrami
Patricia Woroch is a former CEO of ISSofBC, serving in that role for 24 years prior to her retirement in 2021. Patricia is a strong supporter of several community organizations and currently serves on three boards of directors in addition to supporting various charitable initiatives. This bursary is part of her commitment to helping newcomers in their integration into Canadian society.
Patricia Woroch Bursary of $5,000 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Yeseol (Sol) Kim
“First of all, thank you to Pietro Widmer and Renée Van Halm, it’s an honor to have received their bursary.
The last few years have been challenging for everyone. There has been dynamic change in the world and it’s something we all need to adjust to. During this time, I was faced with an unexpected career issue but ISSofBC gave me substantial help, basic knowledge about the IT industry, boot camp, and a chance to volunteer. That was such a nice start for me.
It led me to pursue studies at BCIT’s Full Stack Web Development program.
Again, thank you for all the support. I look forward to an exciting year and hope in the future I can help others achieve their career goals as well.” – Yeseol (Sol) Kim
Pietro Widmer grew up and completed his studies in Electrical Engineering in Switzerland and immigrated to Canada in the mid-seventies. He has twenty-year experience in project and operation management and is now dedicating significant time to volunteering including a leading role with pm-volunteers.org.
Renée Van Halm grew up in Vancouver after emigrating from Holland with her parents in the early fifties. She is a practicing visual artist with work in major public, private, and corporate collections across the country including the National Gallery of Canada and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Her most recent solo exhibition called Nudge was held at the Equinox Gallery in Vancouver.
Pietro Widmer and Renée Van Halm Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Gang Liu
“In 2018, I visited this lovely country with my family for the first time. Once we saw the beautiful environment and the friendly Canadian people, we decided to move here the year after. Luckily, we became Permanent Residents last year, after my 3 years of local work experience as a salesperson and an installer.
My family and I have been liking this adventure very much so far and we feel relaxed, free and excited here.
However, my most recent goal is to go back to my previous field to be a psychologist and mental health worker since I used to be a psychologist before I came to Canada.
I thought there would be fewer mental issues in Canada, but I was totally wrong, especially during the toughest Covid-19 years. I saw more and more people suffering from mental issues despite their gender, race, age or culture. As my stay in Canada continued, I soon realized, as an immigrant and a father of two girls, there are many challenges for young immigrants, incuding culture shock, identity issues and sometimes financial pressure.
I decided to try my best to go back to the mental health field to support, comfort and accompany such newcomers. Fortunately, I was accepted by Douglas College and am participating in the Community Mental Health Work (CMHW) program. Hopefully I can graduate by the end of the program and will serve the people suffering with mental illness and issues in the future.
The Community Bursary will have a direct and positive impact on my studies, so thank you for helping me achieve my goal.” – Gang Liu
In 2018, I visited this lovely country with my family for the first time. Once we saw the beautiful environment and the friendly Canadian people, we decided to move here the year after. Luckily, we became Permanent Residents last year, after my 3 years of local work experience as a salesperson and an installer.
The Community Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Aimal Sarwari
Sasha Ramnarine is a Business Lawyer with Remedios and Company helping local and international entrepreneurs and small businesses establish themselves in British Columbia. Sasha is a strong supporter of the business and newcomer communities. He is also a current ISSofBC Board of Directors member.
The Sasha Ramnarine Family Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.
Recipient: Undisclosed recipient
The Stocking & Cumming, Chartered Professional Accountants was established in 2009. Its predecessor firms had 25 years of history in Langley and White Rock as well as the surrounding community. Craig Stocking and Jeff Cumming have both worked for many years with large multinational firms and have experience in a variety of industries.
The Stocking & Cumming Bursary of $5,000 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to support further education in business-related studies.
Priority will be given to the applicants who demonstrate commitment to community service, including supporting youth sports.
Recipient: Hyo Jung Jung
“I am from South Korea and studied music education at the University of Victoria in 2017. After I completed my master’s program in 2021, I started my PhD. My research is on music teachers’ identity and the music teacher communities that create musical experiences.
Before coming to Canada, I was a learning resource teacher in Korean public elementary schools, a homeschooling mother of two sons, and a songwriter and piano performer. Now I teach students piano and music composing at my home in Langley. It is my great enjoyment to explore my students’ individual musical journeys together.” – Hyo Jung Jung
Thrive Refuge is a student-led non-profit organization established in Vancouver, British Columbia. It seeks to provide incoming refugees access to musical education in Canada. As humanitarian crises and challenges remain prevalent in third-world countries, Thrive Refuge’s mission is to provide those refugees with the aspects of life often overlooked in such situations: music.
The Thrive Refuge Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their education in an accredited music-related program.
Recipient: Sanaz Koupaei
Wolfgang Strigel grew up in Munich, Germany. In the mid-seventies, he relocated to Montreal to complete a M.Sc. in Computer Science at McGill. He worked for 15 years in software development, completed an MBA degree at SFU and started two software companies. Since selling his companies in 2007, he volunteered as a mentor for over 60 companies in Canada and internationally.
Wolfgang Strigel Bursary of $5,000 is presented to one eligible recipient who is a current or former ISSofBC client (immigrants, Government-Assisted or Convention Refugees), student, or volunteer. The recipient must have been a client within the past three years and who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.