Education Awards

Legacy of Learning

Mid Island Co-op supports a broad range of organizations, with priority given to those projects or organizations that build long-term success in our community. Our responsibility goes beyond our local community – we believe we have a responsibility to do business in a way that is environmentally sound and that encourages equality beyond our borders. An investment in our youth is ultimately an investment in our future and the impact of supporting education ripples out, not only into the community, but to the world as a whole. 

Scholarships & Bursaries: Investing in Education Across Vancouver Island

At Mid Island Co-op, supporting education is one of the many ways we invest in the long-term strength of our communities. Through our annual Scholarship and Bursary Program, we proudly support Vancouver Island students as they take the next step from high school into post-secondary education.

This program is open to graduating high school students who are continuing their studies at an accredited post-secondary institution. Each year, scholarships and bursaries are awarded to help reduce financial barriers and recognize the dedication, effort, and potential of local students.

Mid Island Co-op is committed to making this opportunity accessible across the region we serve. Our Scholarship and Bursary Program is available to students attending high schools in all of our trading areas, including Port Hardy, Campbell River, Courtenay, Qualicum, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Cowichan, Lake Cowichan, and Salt Spring Island.

As a member-owned co-operative, we believe that investing in education is an investment in the future of Vancouver Island. By supporting students today, we’re helping build strong, resilient communities for years to come.

*All award applications, nominations, and recipients are determined by the school's or district's Awards Committee. For more information, please contact your school counsellor or awards department directly.

To be eligible for an award, applicants must be able to demonstrate acceptance to, or ongoing registration with, an accredited post-secondary institution for the upcoming academic year. Applicants must also be a Mid Island Co-op Member in good standing, or an immediate family member of a Mid Island Co-op member.

Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation

For nearly four decades, Mid Island Co-op has proudly supported students across the Nanaimo–Ladysmith region through an enduring partnership with the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation (NLSF). Rooted in shared values of community, opportunity, and long-term investment in people, this relationship reflects Mid Island Co-op’s commitment to strengthening the places we call home.

Mid Island Co-op's history of supporting education with NLSF started as one $1,500 award, but has grown into seven $1,500 bursaries and seven $1,000 scholarships annually. What started as a modest investment in education has grown into a remarkable legacy. To date, Mid Island Co-op has contributed a total of $306,250 in scholarship funding, helping hundreds of students pursue post-secondary education and build brighter futures.

While the focus has always been on student success rather than dollar figures, the impact of this support is far-reaching. Each year, these awards help remove financial barriers, recognize achievement, and encourage students to continue learning beyond high school. For Mid Island Co-op, supporting education is a natural extension of the co-operative principle of concern for community—investing not just in today, but in the generations to come.

Vancouver Island University Foundation

Mid Island Co-op is proud to support the Vancouver Island University Foundation as they award deserving students with the financial means they need to make their academic dreams come true. With our annual contribution of $10,000, new, returning, and mature students have access to support to help them cover essential costs like tuition, textbooks, and fees.

Award recipient Bryce shared that winning the Mid Island Co-op Trades and Technology Award, “was a pivotal moment in my life, and to be chosen to receive this award was confirmation that this is the right path for me." He went on to share that, "the peace of mind that this assistance provided to me allowed me to focus and commit more time to studying as would have been possible otherwise."

We’re happy to support Bryce and the next generations of VIU students as they pursue their passions.

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Through shared storytelling, social media engagement, and community celebration, Mid Island Co-op and our education partners will continue to highlight the power of long-term collaboration—and what’s possible when local organizations invest together in education.

Together, we’re not just awarding scholarships. We’re building opportunity, one student at a time.