Who Received the ELNOS 2022 Bursaries?

Every year, ELNOS presents bursaries to high school graduating students in the region to put toward their post-secondary studies. The ELNOS Bursaries are intended for students who are planning to pursue an education to develop technical or professional skills and potentially return to the region to work in their home community. There are six bursaries awarded, each valued at $3,000 split between the first two years of post-secondary education. Pursuing post-secondary education can be very expensive and these bursaries are much appreciated by students and their families, especially if they have more than one child going away to school. There were three recipients from Elliot Lake Secondary School (ELSS) in Elliot Lake and three recipients from École Secondaire Catholique Jeunesse-Nord (Jeunesse-Nord) in Blind River.

At the ELSS Scholarship Banquet, over $43,000 was given to well-deserving students to put toward their education. ELNOS Board Director Steve Antunes presented the three ELNOS bursaries to Grace Mair, Maliika Daigle, and Vanessa-Line Olmstead. Grace will be attending Queen’s University in Kingston in the fall for a Bachelor of Arts degree. She aspires to become a teacher and return to Elliot Lake to teach and contribute to the community. Maliika will be attending Canadore College in North Bay for the Recreation and Leisure Service program. She hopes to return to Elliot Lake and work in the tourism industry. Vanessa-Line will be attending the University of Guelph for the Animal Biology program. She aspires to be a veterinarian and open a clinic in Elliot Lake. We are very proud of what these students have accomplished and are looking forward to them returning to the region with the skills their education will bring them.

Grace Mair and ELNOS Director Steve Antunes

Maliika Daigle and ELNOS Director Steve Antunes

Vanessa-Line Olmstead and ELNOS Director Steve Antunes

At the Jeunesse-Nord graduation, the ELNOS bursaries were the last to be presented and the joy was clear on the recipients’ faces. The names of the bursary recipients are kept confidential until the award/graduation ceremony, so it is a (pleasant) surprise. ELNOS Board Director John Thomas awarded the three bursaries to Audrey Fournier, Benjamin Dennie, and Madison Fallu. In the fall, Audrey will attend the University of Ottawa’s integrated French Literature and French Education program. She hopes to return to the ELNOS region to be a francophone teacher. Benjamin will be attending the University of Ottawa for the combined Political Science and Juris Doctor program. He aspires to be a francophone lawyer and an MPP for the Algoma-Kapuskasing riding. Madison is going to the University of Ottawa for the bilingual nursing program. She plans to continue her education at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and become a dermatologist in the region. More French educators, lawyers, and medical professionals will be a welcome addition to local communities.

Audrey Fournier and ELNOS Director John Thomas

Benjamin Dennie and ELNOS Director John Thomas

Madison Fallu and ELNOS Director John Thomas

Steve Antunes and John Thomas shared that it was very meaningful to be able to see the joy and impact that the ELNOS Bursaries have on the students. Congratulations and best of luck to Grace, Maliika, Vanessa-Line, Audrey, Benjamin, and Madison on their journeys ahead!