Enhancements to the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI) are working to ensure equitable access to post-secondary education, advance reconciliation, promote the empowerment of Indigenous communities and deliver a strong, bright future for the province, Premier Wab Kinew announced at the Business Council of Manitoba's Indigenous Education Awards ceremony.
"Every day that I head up the steps to the legislature and get to work, I measure our government's success by how many more Manitobans have an opportunity to build a good life," said Kinew. "I want to congratulate the hard-working award recipients and thank the Business Council of Manitoba for being a partner and sharing our vision of connecting more Indigenous students with opportunities to participate in Manitoba's economy."
In April, the Manitoba government increased the MSBI by $500,000 to deliver more scholarships and bursaries to Indigenous students and help increase access to post-secondary education. The goal of the initiative is to award scholarships and bursaries to Manitoba students based on merit and financial need and to remove financial barriers to education, noted the premier.
"I'm thrilled that increased funding for the Indigenous Education Awards program means more students in Manitoba are able to pursue post-secondary education," said Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable. "Our government will continue to take action on increasing access to post-secondary education for all Manitobans."
"Through partnerships such as the Business Council Manitoba and the Province of Manitoba, we continue to work toward ensuring all Manitobans have equal access to education and work placement opportunities," said Jesse Steckley, director, Indigenous Education Awards and Work-Integrated Learning. "Investing in the Indigenous Education Awards goes beyond simply funding education. It is an active participation in reconciliation and an investment in a future workforce in Manitoba that is inclusive, diverse and representative of the people who live here and their unique perspectives."
With each dollar donated to the Indigenous Education Awards now matched by the Manitoba government on a one-to-one basis, the Business Council of Manitoba was able to leverage more funding and provide 400 awards this year, a 100 per cent increase over 2023-24.
