ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
For more than 30 years, the Léa-Roback Foundation the Lea Roback Foundation seeks to promote education as a means of self-fulfilment for all and to financially support women who are economically disadvantaged and socially active in their communities, and who wish to pursue their education.
Every year, the Foundation awards scholarships to women. These scholarships range from $1,500 to $4,000.
The eligibility criteria are in line with the spirit and notion of perpetuating the ideals cherished by Lea Roback, as a trade unionist and feminist.
Candidates seeking a Foundation scholarship must therefore:
- pursue their studies at any level from literacy up to the completion of an undergraduate university degree, including language courses to learn French;
- not have a university undergraduate degree that is recognized in the Province of Quebec: applicants studying for a second undergraduate degree, a Masters degree or a Doctorate are not eligible;
- require financial assistance;
- be socially committed in their community;
- live in the Province of Quebec and be either a Canadian citizen, or have permanent resident status or be a Protected Person (refugee).
These criteria apply to all scholarships.
In 2012, the Foundation created two special scholarships to honour the memory of two great friends of the Foundation.
The Madeleine Parent Scholarship is awarded to a candidate who is pursuing her studies in sociology, political science, economics or industrial relations.
The Hélène Pedneault Scholarship is awarded to a candidate who is pursuing her studies in feminist studies, literature, theatre, journalism, communications, film, visual arts, media or the environment.
Each of these $2,500 scholarships can be in addition to or not, whichever is applicable, a scholarship granted by the Foundation in accordance with its customary rules.
Candidates for these two scholarships must be undertaking either college or university-level studies.
In 2025 the Foundation created a scholarship which is awarded annually to a Maman va à l’École scholarship recipient who is continuing her studies, a scholarship recipient who received an MVE scholarship from our Foundation.
In 2021, our Foundation entered into a Partnership Agreement with the Pierre-Laurier-Baribeau Foundation. This agreement comes with an annual donation that enables us to award five or six additional scholarships. These scholarships are designated as Pierre-Laurier-Baribeau scholarships. According to our agreement, the scholarship recipients must be under 25 years old. One of the scholarships is awarded to a student, of any age, who wants to work with young people in difficult circumstances. Except for the latter scholarship, university students are not eligible for these scholarships.
In 2022, the Foundation received a major donation from the Fondation de la Jeunesse Ouvrière Catholique (JOC). This donation will enable us, over a 10-year period, to annually grant a greater number of scholarships. The JOC scholarships seek to help women from 16 to 30 years old and they range from $1,000 to $3,000.
Other scholarships
Since 2023, Ms. Nicole Ranger annually grants a scholarship valued at $1,000.
As of 2024, the Baillargeon-Marleau Fund will be granting $25,000 annually to our Foundation, and this, over a 5-year period.
The Nicole Ranger and Baillargeon-Marleau scholarships are granted applying the same criteria, as those used for the Lea Roback Foundation scholarships.
The application form must be sent to the Foundation no later than April 1, 2025.
It is mandatory to properly fill out the form and to answer all the questions.
Candidates who have previously received a scholarship from the Lea Roback Foundation must send in a newly completed updated application, and an attestation from the educational institution that indicates the courses that were taken during the year in which they were recipients of a scholarship.
The scholarships that are awarded must be used during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Foundation will communicate, by E-mail, its decision to each candidate no later than June 20, 2025.
The scholarship shall be disbursed upon the receipt of the confirmation of your registration in a recognized educational institution. The confirmation of the foregoing, along with your Social Insurance Number (SIN) must be transmitted to the Foundation no later than August 20, 2025.
How to fill out the form
This computer form must be completed in one session. Therefore it is important to have the following documents saved in PDF and ready for attachment before you start filling the form.
- A detailed curriculum vitae, a maximum of two pages;
- Two recent reference letters, dated and signed by people who can expressly attest to the candidate’s social commitment, but who can likewise describe her personal qualities and her plans for studying and returning to school, a maximum of one page per letter;
- A letter in which the candidate explains why she wants to pursue her chosen field of studies, a maximum of two pages.
The application form must be sent to the Foundation no later than April 1st, 2025, the date and time registered by the form attesting to that.
