Scholarship for Excellence
CBC Scholarships remove barriers and create pathways for Black students across
Calgary to pursue their dreams.
Overview of Scholarship
Since 2019, CBC has been elevating Black students, youths and professionals to aspire to their biggest dreams. In partnership with the Calgary Foundation, the Calgary Black Chambers Scholarship Fund (CBCSF) was established in 2020 with the goal of supporting and promoting the academic achievements of Calgary’s Black students.
The CBCSF is adjudicated by a committee of education, government, business and Calgary Foundation professionals, with the fund managed separately from the Calgary Black Chambers Society. This independence allows supporters to directly finance a student’s education while receiving a charitable donation receipt. Scholarships are primarily financed through donations from corporations and institutions, with donors choosing the scholarship name and specific area of study; awards are adjudicated based on academic performance, financial need, community contributions and adherence to CBC core values.
Distinction
Overview of Scholarship Categories
There are two categories which are Business and Corporate Scholarships and Legacy Scholarships
Business and Corporate Scholarships
Includes
- Anderson Ruffin Abbott Academic Achievement Scholarship
- John Ware Fellowship Scholarship
- Olivier Le Jeune Advocacy Scholarship
- Viola Desmond Mentorship Scholarship
Legacy Scholarships
Includes
The Calgary Black Chambers offers four Legacy Scholarships for students who best represent our core values in the community
- BTD Business Leadership Scholarship
- BMO Community Leadership Scholarship
- Blakes Law Scholarships
- Nutrien Community Scholarship
Essentials
Find what you need to know about applying for Calgary Black Chambers Scholarships.
Calgary Black Chambers Legacy Entrance Scholarship – DEADLINE: June 1, midnight
Applicants must:
- Be a Black Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a Grade 12 student graduating this year from a high school in Airdrie, Diamond Valley, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, Springbank or Strathmore.
- Be entering first year of a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- Demonstrate good academic standing (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.7 or 70%).
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Demonstrate school and/or community involvement.
- Provide one reference letter.
Calgary Black Chambers Legacy Scholarship – DEADLINE: June 1, midnight
Calgary Black Chambers John Ware Fellowship Scholarship
- Be attending a Calgary post-secondary institution or graduated from a high school in Airdrie, Diamond Valley, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, Springbank or Strathmore and attending a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Calgary Black Chambers Business Scholarship – DEADLINE: June 1, midnight
One Calgary Black Chambers Business Scholarships application is submitted for consideration for the following scholarships:
- ATB Community Leadership Scholarship – One award of $5,000, applied directly to tuition. Emphasis on involvement in community leadership.
- KPMG Academic Excellence Scholarship – One award of $5,000, applied directly to tuition. Emphasis on outstanding academic achievement (GPA greater than or equal to 3.7 or 80%).
- TD Business Leadership Scholarship – One award of $7,000, applied directly to tuition. Emphasis on involvement in business leadership.
- Be a Black Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be attending a Calgary post-secondary institution or have graduated from a Calgary high school and attending a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- Be entering second year or beyond of a full-time undergraduate Commerce or Business Administration degree or diploma program.
- Demonstrate good academic standing (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.7 or 70%).
- Demonstrate community and business involvement.
- Provide one letter of reference from a business or community leader.
Calgary Black Chambers Nutrien Community Scholarship – DEADLINE: June 1, midnight
Click here to learn more about Calgary Black Chambers Scholarships.
Applicants must:
- Be a Black Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a Grade 12 student graduating this year from a high school in Airdrie, Diamond Valley, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, Springbank or Strathmore.
- Be entering first year of a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- Be studying in the field of agriculture or engineering.
- Demonstrate involvement in community, preferably in the area of environmental sustainability. Provide one reference letter.
Calgary Black Chambers TransAlta STEM Scholarship – DEADLINE: June 1, midnight
Click here to learn more about Calgary Black Chambers Scholarships.
Applicants must:
- Be a Black Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be entering second year or beyond of a full-time undergraduate degree or diploma program, studying in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) program (e.g. biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, engineering, environmental sciences, geology, information systems, mathematics, microbiology, natural sciences, physics, statistics, technology, or zoology).
- Be attending a Calgary post-secondary institution.
- Demonstrate good academic standing (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.7 or 70%).
- Demonstrate school and/or community involvement, preferably with a STEM focus.
- Provide one reference letter.
Need More Guidance?
Our team is here to answer your questions about eligibility and the apllication process.
Partners who power black excellence in Calgary
Getting Started
Your path begins here
These essential steps guides every applicant towards their award.
Eligibility
Confirm you meet our requirements
Black students enrolled full-time at Calgary institutions qualify.
Application
Gather and submit your materials
Transcripts. essays and references demonstrate your committment
FAQ's
Get clarity on requirements, timelines and what it takes to apply
What is the Calgary Black Chambers Scholarship Program?
The Calgary Black Chambers (CBC) scholarship program supports Black students by providing financial awards, recognition, and mentorship opportunities to enable them to pursue post-secondary education.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility generally includes the following criteria:
Be a Black Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or diploma program (or be entering one).
Attend a Calgary post-secondary institution, or have graduated from a Calgary high school and attend a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Maintain good academic standing (minimum cumulative GPA ~ 2.7 / 70%)
Show financial need.
Demonstrate school, community, or business involvement / leadership.
Submit at least one reference letter.
Different named scholarships under the CBC umbrella may have additional or specialized eligibility requirements
What types of scholarships are offered?
CBC supports multiple named scholarships, each with its focus, sponsor, and criteria.
BMO Community Leadership Scholarship – $5,000, for students in commerce/business leadership roles.
TD Business Leadership Scholarship – $7,000 for business leadership.
Blakes Law Scholarship – $7,000, for full-time students in a Juris Doctor (JD) program.
Nutrien Community Scholarship – $7,000, for incoming first-year students in agriculture or engineering.
Pembina Leadership Scholarship – Five awards of $7,000 each. Fields include commerce, engineering, computer science, policy, etc.
Brookes College Scholarship – For students pursuing a Human Services Diploma.
Legacy & Entrance Scholarships – e.g. CBC Legacy Entrance / Legacy Scholarship for first-year or later year students.
How many scholarships are available and what amounts?
The Pembina Leadership Scholarship offers five awards of $7,000 each.
Other awards (e.g. BMO, TD, Blakes, Nutrien) are often single awards of $5,000 or $7,000.
CBC also gives out multiple smaller awards across different named categories (e.g. legacy, academic, mentorship, advocacy).
What is the application deadline?
Most of our scholarships have a June 1 (midnight) deadline. For some awards (e.g. Brookes College), the deadline may differ (e.g. January 15)
How do I apply?
You submit an application form (often through Calgary Foundation’s grant interface) for the CBC scholarship(s) of interest. You must also submit supporting documents such as transcripts, reference letters, and essays or descriptions of leadership and involvement.
Is the scholarship renewable in future years?
Most awards are described as a one-time allotment applied directly to tuition.
Can I apply for more than one named scholarship?
One application to the CBC scholarship program may allow you to be considered for multiple awards under our umbrella (e.g. business scholarships) rather than submitting separate applications for each.
Can international students apply?
The eligibility requires that applicants be Black Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This suggests that international students without permanent residence or citizenship are not eligible under the standard scholarships.
Who should I contact for more information or help?
You can reach the Calgary Black Chambers via our website’s “Contact Us” form.
You may also contact us at the provided scholarship email address (e.g. scholarship@calgaryblackchambers.ca).
Still searching for answers?
Our team stands ready to guide you through the process
