NIDMAR is pleased to announce the establishment of a Bursary Program to assist students with the financial cost of tuition for its online education program.
The Bursary Program will provide three bursaries of $2500 each to be awarded to Canadian students enrolling in the full online education program consisting of 25 modules. Individuals must meet the criteria as described below.
A committee of three NIDMAR Honourary Board of Directors was formed to oversee the Bursary Program including:
The bursaries have been established in the names of three past NIDMAR Board Members, all of whom have passed away, Sven Fredrickson, Earl Foxcroft and Debra Mills.
The NIDMAR Board wanted to honour these three dedicated individuals, and at the same time help Canadian students who are paying the full tuition without the support of an employer, and are in need of financial assistance. Because the three individuals in whose name the awards are being given, worked in different sectors, the program has been established to reflect this
Following is a brief biography of the three Bursary Honourees:
Sven Fredrickson
Sven was a pioneer in the return to work and disability management field. Following honours graduation as a forest engineer from the University of British Columbia, he spent many years as a faller before a severe industrial accident in 1974 confined him to a wheelchair. For the next 30 years, Sven devoted his life to being an advocate for the right of every injured worker to return to work. Sven was a charter executive member of the group of injured workers that incorporated the Disabled Workers Foundation. His energy and enthusiasm were at the root of that group’s first success, the production and national broadcasting in 1987 of the TV documentary, Every 12 Seconds. Sven’s advocacy predated our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and it was this kind of pioneer work from him and others that ultimately resulted in the constitutional equality provision, Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He remained an Honourary Board Member of NIDMAR until he passed away in 2004.
Earl Foxcroft
As the President of IWA Local 1-85 in Port Alberni for 21 years, Earl played a pivotal role in the establishment of NIDMAR. He was a strong and passionate supporter of improving working opportunities for people with disabilities, and led the way in espousing a collaborative partnership approach to disability management and return to work. Retiring after 43 years in the forest industry, he remained a strong proponent and advocate for collaborative disability management programs. He had chaired the Provincial Apprenticeship Board in BC and was an officer of the BC Federation of Labour. He continued as an active member on NIDMAR’s Board of Directors, was National Injured Workers Representative for the IWA, and sat on the Board of Governors for the BC Institute of Technology. He passed away in 1999.
Debra Mills
In her professional life, Debra was dedicated to fully including persons with disabilities into the workplace and into society. She started her career working for the Coast Foundation providing rehabilitation services for people with mental illnesses. From 1988 to 1991, she was Director of IAM CARES, the International Association of Machinists, Centre for Administering Rehabilitation and Employment Services, a non-profit organization that provides a full range of employment assistance and placement services to persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses. She distinguished herself such that she came to the attention of the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC when they were looking to hire a Director of Rehabilitation Services. After several years in this position, her responsibilities shifted when she became Director, Area Offices, for the Board. She was an active member of the Board of Directors for NIDMAR from 1992 to 1996. After a courageous battle with cancer she passed away in 1999 at the age of 37.
The three bursaries are:
The Sven Fredrickson Bursary – awarded to an individual who is currently working in the private sector, for an employer or self-employed, or who intends to work in the private sector upon completion of the curriculum.
The Earl Foxcroft Bursary – awarded to an individual who is currently working in the labour sector, or who is intends to work in the labour sector, upon completion of the curriculum.
The Debra Mills Bursary – awarded to an individual who is currently working in the insurance, public or non-profit sector, or who intends to work in one of these areas upon completion of the curriculum.
The deadline for applying for the Bursary Program is September 15 of each year for students planning to begin either in September of the same year or in January of the following year. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or have permanent residency status and be enrolled in NIDMAR’s full 25-module education program. They cannot be receiving any financial aid from their current employer towards the tuition fees.
Application Procedure
