Legion encouraging more students to apply
Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services
NNSL (Jul 24/98) - It's a bursary fund that goes virtually untouched.
Within the last five years only four students have tapped into the Royal Canadian Legion No. 164 poppy fund.
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Unlike the Legion, the Yellowknife Elks Lodge No. 314 and Order of the Royal Purple No. 143 have had a steady stream of students looking for scholarship applications. "I've given out probably well over 70 applications because you don't have to be a member. They're just for anybody," said Heather Oliver, office assistant at the Elks Lodge. Scholarships are offered to residents of Yellowknife, Ndilo, Dettah, Rae-Edzo and the Ingraham Trail.
This year the Elks and Royal Purple have made available $25,000 for student scholarships. Deadline for submission of applications is July 31. |
Merlyn Williams, first vice-president of the Yellowknife Legion, said it's time city residents were better informed of this available money.
"This is poppy campaign money," said Williams, who is also chair of the fund. "It should be spent."
Students can access between $250 to $1,000 per semester to pursue post-secondary studies.
Since November, close to $14,000 has been collected through the poppy campaign and is available to students who are children or grandchildren of former members of Canadian Armed Forced or those of other Commonwealth or allied country.
"A lot of people are not aware of it," said Williams.
In the past when money accumulated in the campaign, which the legion holds in trust, grants have been given to the a seniors group.
"We are allowed to purchase medical equipment. We've donated a large amount to the accessibility van for the Avens Centre. We've bought a special medicine dispenser cabinet and a bath lift," said Williams.
The money can be used either to purchase equipment for seniors or disabled persons or for student bursaries.
When the legion makes big expenditures of the poppy fund -- to the seniors centre, for example -- they have to get permission from Legion command. If money is not spent in the fund they are also encouraged to donate it to the central legion office.
Williams would prefer to keep the money in the North to help youth and seniors here in need.
Students can apply for a bursary by writing a letter to the legion, illustrating their connection to an ex-armed services person and giving notification of admission to a post-secondary institution.
The legion said it would like to advertise its poppy fund but cannot afford to do so. It is not permitted to use poppy money to promote the poppy fund.
