The Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovation and the Mauril-Bélanger Social Innovation Workshop are proud to announce the launch of the Bruyère Bursary, a new $10,000 scholarship in support of projects led by social innovation students.
The scholarship is named in honour of Élisabeth Bruyère, the founder of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, which has been an integral source of financial support for the School since its inception.
"Our founder, Élisabeth Bruyère, was a pioneer of social innovation. She opened paths untraveled, she tried new ways and she pushed limits to innovate and advocate for those in need," said Sister Louise Charbonneau, representative of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa. "[Through this bursary], her legacy will continue to inspire, it will reinvent itself through the committed women and men who have are inspired by the same values and commitment to creating a better world for generations to come."
"On behalf of the University, I would like to thank the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa for this generous contribution that supports the talent and commitment of our students," shared Louis Patrick Leroux, Rector of Saint Paul University. "This scholarship provides them with a valuable experimental opportunity, allowing them to put their ideas into practice and test new concrete approaches to social innovation. I look forward to discovering their projects!"
Mentorship and Recipient Selection
A shortlist of four to six finalists will be selected in early December 2025. The finalists will be selected based on the criteria that they present well developed community-based strategies to make a positive impact in addressing an important social issue.
Each short-listed finalist will have the opportunity to work with a mentor to refine their social innovation plan and prepare their final pitch presentation.
In February 2026, a jury will select two projects one of which must be based within the Ottawa area to receive $10,000 each to implement their project over the course of one year.
On November 13, members of the Saint Paul University community gathered to launch the new scholarship and educate students on this new opportunity. From left to right: Carolina Garcia, Assistant Professor in the Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovation; Sister Andrée Ménard, Sisters of Charity; Julie Chateauvert, Associate Professor in the Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovation; Soeur Louise Charbonneau, Sisters of Charity; Louis Patrick Leroux, Rector of Saint Paul University.
