ISSofBC Education Bursaries

Arbutus Financial Services Ltd 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, allowing 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 who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.

For this new bursary, community members contribute to support the recipient’s post-secondary education aspirations.

De Jager Volkenant provides a comprehensive range of legal services to meet the special needs of charities and non-profit organizations and help them achieve their unique purposes. Their experienced team of lawyers and staff understands the challenges of its non-profit sector clients, who are often dependent upon volunteers with limited time and resources.

The 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 who requires financial assistance to pursue a career in the legal sector.

Dr. Andrew Chan came to Canada in 1972 and obtained his Dentistry degree from the University of Toronto. Dr. Elaine came to Canada in 1974 and obtained her degree in dentistry from the University of British Columbia. Both are now retired and enjoying lots of traveling, golfing, hiking, and volunteering.

Various staff members at ISSofBC contribute to this new $5,000 bursary, which supports the recipient’s post-secondary education aspirations.

This bursary is named after 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 to celebrate and recognize Jim’s service to ISSofBC and its mission.
Supporting Donor: Lida Paslar, ex-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 who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.

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 their goals. 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 has been a current or former ISSofBC client, student, or volunteer within the past three years and requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of study.

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.

The 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 who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.

Pietro Widmer grew up and completed his studies in Electrical Engineering in Switzerland and immigrated to Canada in the mid-seventies. He has twenty years of 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 in major public, private, and corporate collections nationwide, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The Pietro Widmer and Renée Van Halm Bursary of $2,500 is presented to one eligible recipient, 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 who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.

Sasha Ramnarine is a lawyer with Remedios and Company. He helps local and international entrepreneurs and small businesses establish themselves in British Columbia. Sasha is a strong supporter of the business and newcomer communities and was also a member of the ISSofBC Board of Directors.

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 who requires financial assistance to pursue their chosen course of studies.