All connected with the Workers Health & Safety Centre are committed to education – education in the workplace and beyond. To this end the WHSC has long offered student scholarships for post-secondary education.
Funds for these scholarships are raised from The Clifford Pilkey Memorial Golf Fundraiser in honour of our late founder and first WHSC President.
This annual scholarship contest aims to raise health and safety awareness among graduating Ontario high school students who are headed for post-secondary education—a segment of the workforce who face excessive and significant occupational hazards leading to work-related injuries and deaths.
Student applicants are asked to produce a video, design a poster or write an essay exploring an occupational health and safety topic, submit a profile outlining their volunteer activities aimed at improving the lived experiences of fellow students and/or members of their community both in their own words and in a letter of recommendation from a teacher, other educator or representative of a community organization. Students who best demonstrate an understanding of the occupational health and safety topic chosen for this year’s contest through their submissions, along with consideration of school and community volunteerism, will be awarded much-needed funds for post-secondary education.
The top applicant (regardless of medium) will be awarded the Clifford Pilkey, WHSC Founder Memorial Scholarship and receive $6,000. The second-place applicant (regardless of medium) will be awarded the Fred Upshaw, Champion for Social Justice Memorial Scholarship and receive $4,000. Up to two additional successful applicants in each medium category will receive $2,000 each.
2025 Scholarship Application Form
2025 Scholarship Rules
Meet the 2024 WHSC Student Scholarship Competition Winners
Funding Sources
No portion of government grants from employer WSIB assessments or WHSC revenue generation support these important occupational health and safety awareness initiative. Student scholarships are financed solely through funds raised at our golf tournament and the generous support of member organizations and community partners.