Request edit access
The Lois Freeman Wilson Fund: Supporting Global Ecumenical Experiences for Canadian Youth and Students
The Lois Freeman Wilson Fund: Supporting Global Ecumenical Experiences for Canadian Youth and Students was launched in November 2021 on the 100th anniversary of the establishing of the Student Christian Movement (SCM) in Canada. This Fund, established by WSCF Canada, honours the ministry and engagement of Lois Freeman Wilson (1927 - 2024), retired Canadian Senator, former Moderator of the United Church of Canada and President of the World Council of Churches.

Lois was a member of the SCM while attending the University of Winnipeg in the 1940s and was a life-long supporter of the SCM and its international expression, the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF). We honour her trailblazing work many contexts, and in this instance her global ecumenical engagements and leadership, by funding Canadian youth and students to participate in global ecumenical and interfaith experiences. As we trace the formative experiences of life-long leaders in the Canadian churches and ecumenical movement, we recognize that global ecumenical experience and engagement is often a transformative experience. With this Fund, we seek to increase and enhance those opportunities for Canadian youth and students in the 21st century and include interfaith as well as ecumenical opportunities.  

WSCF Canada was established with Lois Wilson’s leadership in 2007 as a fundraising entity, to support the WSCF and its SCM member movements. This support was originally directed to the Centennial Fund of the Federation, established as an endowment in 1995, the 100th anniversary of the Federation’s creation as one of the first global ecumenical entities. WSCF Canada also contributed regularly to the Canadian SCM endowment fund. On the 100th anniversary of the Canadian SCM in 2021, our fundraising focus shifted from endowments to engagement.

Grants in the $300-500 CAD range will be available to Canadian Students and Youth seeking to attend global ecumenical or interfaith events and experiences. Priority will be given to fund participation in SCM and WSCF events, but others will qualify. Application deadlines each year:
  1. April 15 (for disbursement in June),
  2. Sept 15 (for disbursement in November), and,
  3. December 15 (for disbursement in February).
It is our conviction that transformation occurs in the context of community. Therefore, priority will be given to applicants who are active members of a faith community whether congregational, campus or community based. The endorsement of a leader from that community is required as well as explanation for how participating in this event connects to their life experiences so far and their plan for sharing the experience with and beyond their community. Applicants will commit to providing a report of their experience with permission for sharing by WSCF-Canada.

Our grant is meant to contribute a portion of the overall costs and demonstration of other sources of support, including the applicants’ personal funds will be considered when evaluating the application.

The Application Form for The Lois Freeman Wilson Fund is below. For further information or background, contact the WSCF Canada board at wscfcan@gmail.com or see wscfcanada.org.
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Email *
Your Context
Full Name *
Pronouns *
Street Address  *
Please include your full personal/home mailing address to enable follow up and disbursement of funds.
City, Province *
Please include your full personal/home mailing address to enable follow up and disbursement of funds.
Postal Code *
Please include your full personal/home mailing address to enable follow up and disbursement of funds.
Phone Number *
Tell us about your faith organization, congregation, or community, noting any connections to SCM/WSCF *
Name, title, & contact info of a leader in your faith organization/community who is supporting your application (include their email): *
Your Application
Event Name *
Website for Event
Please include a url or a note explaining why the event is not publicly visible.
Event Date and Location *
Costs (including registration, travel, lodging) *
What are your other funding sources / opportunities? *
Tell us about why you wish to attend the event.  What previous experiences have you had in ecumenical engagement, locally, nationally or globally? *
How do you anticipate that your engagement, understanding, and commitments to your faith/organization will deepen as a result of participation? *
How will you share what you have learned with your faith organization, community of faith, SCM group or similar? *
Do you agree to share a reflection on your experience (due one month following the event)? *
This could be in written, audio, or video formats, including speaking at a WSCF Canada event. Your reflection will be shared in WSCF Canada circles and may be used for fundraising purposes.
How did you become aware of this fund? *
Do you have any other questions or comments not covered above? *
Thank you for your application!  We will be in touch within 6 weeks of the deadlines:
April 15, Sept 15, Dec 15.
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
reCAPTCHA
PrivacyTerms
This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy

Does this form look suspicious? Report

Google Forms