This gift will be our university’s most generous strictly financial aid renewable bursaries and will establish The Joyce Family Foundation Bursaryto fund four annual bursaries. Each one will be valued at up to $5,500 each and renewable each year, for a total of $22,000 of continuous support over a 4-year undergraduate degree.
The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary will be awarded to students who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming challenges and have financial needs. This generous gift, which will cover the costs of studies for an entire four-year degree, will help change the lives of students who may have thought that higher education was beyond their reach.
Empowering Students to Overcome Adversity
The Foundation was created by Ronald V. Joyce, the famed Canadian entrepreneur who invested in the first Tim Hortons and grew the business into one of the most successful food service chains in the world. His philanthropic endeavours have been dedicated to fostering educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. And now, his trustees ensure that his charitable philosophy lives on.
"Our strategy as a Foundation is to do what we can to assure that a young person’s financial circumstances does not dictate a student’s ability to achieve academic success,” said The Honourable Ed Lumley, Chair of The Joyce Family Foundation. “By supporting students through this endowment, we are establishing a perpetual cycle of success and affirming our belief that education is a pivotal steppingstone for at-risk youth in Canada."
“We are immensely grateful to the Joyce family Foundation for this generous donation and their unwavering support of students who may need a little help to achieve their goals”, said Jacques Frémont, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Ottawa. “A gift of this magnitude will really make a difference in their lives.”
This donation significantly strengthens the University of Ottawa's position as one of the most generous providers of scholarships and bursaries in Canada, which helps support its commitment to student success.
Students entering the University of Ottawa in the fall of 2025 and meeting the eligibility criteria can begin to apply for The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary.
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About The Joyce Family Foundation
The Joyce Family Foundation is committed to supporting the social, economic, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Their primary focus is providing access to education for those facing significant financial need or other socio-economic barriers to success.
About the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada’s capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.
As one of Canada’s most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.
Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world’s largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.
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