SCHOLARSHIPS
& BURSARIES
Each year, the CIP/ICU Planning Student Trust Fund (CIP-PSTF) offers scholarships and bursaries to CIP student members who are enrolled full-time in accredited Canadian planning programs. In Canada, programs are accredited by the Professional Standards Board for the Planning Profession in Canada (PSB) and l’Ordre des urbanistes du Québec (OUQ).
Are you in an accredited planning program but not yet a CIP student member? That’s easy to fix – and you’re eligible for a FREE CIP membership! Visit the CIP website to learn more.
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2025 Scholarships: applications are now closed.
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2025 Bursaries: applications will open in fall 2025.
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Questions? Check out the FAQ Page
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are awarded for student projects (by one student or a small team) that best demonstrate excellence and a potential contribution to the planning profession (in theory or practice), or a potential service to a community or community group. In addition to their funding, scholarship recipients receive a certificate and digital badge.
ELIGIBILITY
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An applicant must be:
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A student member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) in good standing for the current academic year. Professional (MCIP®) and candidate members who have returned to school are not eligible for scholarships.
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Enrolled full-time in an accredited Canadian planning program (accredited by PSB or OUQ) during the term of the awarding of the scholarship.
The project (e.g. thesis, practicum, major research paper, etc.) must be:
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Proposed or in progress at the time of application, with a target completion date within a 12-month period, beginning with the month the research proposals are completed. Scholarship applicants will need to provide a timeline and justification for the length of their research project. Scholarships will not be awarded for any projects already completed.
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SUBMISSIONS
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The required application components include:
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Completed online application form
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Personal biography, outlining the applicant’s studies and personal interests - in the case of a team submission, team members' biographies are also required
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Current résumé, demonstrating the applicant’s past and present commitments to their community
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Bibliography and sources for the project being submitted for consideration
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Additional documents as may be specified for each scholarship
Projects will be judged on the basis of their potential contribution to the planning profession (in theory or practice), or their potential service to a community or community group.
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Members of an equity-deserving group are asked to self-identify.
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Scholarship recipients must agree to submit a copy of their project to CIP-PSTF upon completion and must consent to having the work published in whole or in part by CIP-PSTF and/or CIP.
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Questions? Contact cip-pstf@cip-icu.ca
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AGES FOUNDATION TRAVEL AWARDS
In 2017, CIP-PSTF's Ages Foundation Travel Awards (AFTA) program was launched, thanks to the generosity of the Ages Foundation Fund.
Since then, each year's CIP-PSTF scholarship and bursary recipients have been eligible to receive AFTA funding to completely cover their expenses to attend CIP's annual conference. This includes students' conference registration fees, as well as costs related to travel, accommodations, and meals.
Through this program, recipients not only take part in the conference’s many learning opportunities, but they also connect with other students, professionals, and academics, and can share their experiences back home.
In June 2023, all 11 CIP-PSTF recipients were able to attend Navigation, the CIP/API conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There they were able to receive their scholarships and bursaries in person, participate in the student poster gallery and the professional development lounge, mingle with CIP and CIP-PSTF Directors and other attendees, and of course, attend the conference sessions, keynote presentations, and social events. Plus they were also able to attend the special conference for students which took place the day before the main conference began!
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I am incredibly grateful I was able to attend Navigation in Halifax thanks to the generosity of the Ages Foundation Travel Awards. This was my first of hopefully many CIP annual conferences where I was able to learn from planning professionals on topics ranging from winter design guidelines to balancing the urban form and biodiversity. It was also such a special opportunity to meet the other recipients and form a strong network of planning students and recent graduates.
This was my first time attending CIP's National Conference, and it was a fantastic experience. Being able to build community with other students, grow my professional network, and learn about the latest trends in planning across Canada has positioned me to feel confident about the early stages of my career!
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I thoroughly enjoyed attending the 2023 CIP Navigation conference in Halifax. It was fantastic to meet other students and planning professionals, as well as attend sessions on important planning topics from experts in the field. Thank you to the Ages Foundation for the support you provided to the 2023 scholarship recipients!
OUTSTANDING GRADUATING
STUDENT AWARDS
The CIP-PSTF Outstanding Graduating Student Award is bestowed upon one graduating student from each accredited planning program (undergraduate and postgraduate) in Canada, who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to their future profession. This contribution may be assessed through a wide range of contributing factors, including academic and extracurricular contributions.
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Recipients of the CIP-PSTF Outstanding Graduating Student Award are determined by the department heads of accredited university programs. To find out more about this award, please refer to the guidelines.
JURIES
BURSARIES
Bursaries are awarded to students who are in need of financial assistance to support their education. In addition to their funding, bursary recipients receive a certificate, and a digital badge.
ELIGIBILITY
An applicant must be:
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A student member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) in good standing for the current academic year. Professional (MCIP®) and candidate members who have returned to school are not eligible for scholarships.
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Enrolled full-time in an accredited Canadian planning program during the term of the awarding of the scholarship.
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In need of financial assistance to support their education, as evidenced by government student loan documents or equivalent justification.
Questions?
Contact cip-pstf@cip-icu.ca
​SUBMISSIONS
The required application components include:
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Completed online application form
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A personal biography, outlining the applicant’s studies and personal interests
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Current résumé, demonstrating the applicant’s past and present commitments to their community
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Government student loan documents or equivalent evidence of the need for financial assistance to support the applicant’s education, as may be required for each bursary
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Additional documents as may be specified for each bursary​
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Members of an equity-deserving group are asked to self-identify.
The work of CIP-PSTF would not be possible without the dedication of its volunteers.
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CIP-PSTF's juries review student submissions, verify that the eligibility criteria have been met, and selects their recommended recipients. The CIP-PSTF Board of Directors provides final approval of the recipients through a resolution of the Board at a Board meeting. CIP-PSTF's Executive Committee may give approval on behalf of the Board as needed.
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CIP-PSTF recognizes the time and effort that its jurors provide each year to review and rate the many applications received for scholarships and bursaries.​​​​​​
2025 SCHOLARSHIP JURY
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André Bendwell Urbaniste, MCIP
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Stephanie Cantlay
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John Kazilis RPP, MCIP - Co-Chair
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Maurice Luchich RPP, MCIP
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Lyla Peter RPP, MCIP
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Holly Stemberger RPP, MCIP - Co-Chair
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Derek Vangool
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Kyle Witiw RPP, MCIP
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Janet Zazubek RPP, MCIP
​2024 BURSARY JURY
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Holly Stemberger RPP, MCIP (Co-Chair)
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John Kazilis RPP, MCIP (Co-Chair)
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Dana Anderson RPP, FCIP
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André Bendwell urbaniste, MCIP
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Stephanie Cantlay
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Lyndsay Francis RPP, MCIP
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Kathleen Gallagher RPP, MCIP
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Brandon Powell RPP, MCIP
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Jennifer Pye RPP, MCIP
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Jennifer Roth RPP, MCIP
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Andrew Smith RPP, MCIP