Bursaries, Awards, & Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Portage & District recognizes the importance of post-secondary education in the lives of our local students, with respect to fulfilling life and career goals, greater employment prospects, higher-paying job opportunities, and overall well-being. As such, CFPD grants multiple awards each year to local graduates, to help reduce the associated financial burden.
CFPD—Administered Awards
Applications Closed for 2026
Eligibility to apply for CFPD Bursaries, Awards, and Scholarships include the following requirements, as well as any specific criteria listed below each available award:
-
Must be a graduate of a Portage la Prairie and area high school and reside, have resided, or family of origin still resides in the City or Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie
-
Must be enrolled, registered, accepted, or awaiting acceptance in a course of study at apost-secondary institution.

Available Bursaries & Scholarships
Russ Denton Memorial Bursary
$1350
Additional Criteria:
(1) Consistently strong academic performance; and
(2) personal characteristics exhibiting compassion, integrity, service to the community, and leadership.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Graduate from a high school within Portage and district; and
(2) currently registered or accepted in any year of studies in the Health & Wellness industry at a registered post-secondary institution in Canada; and
(3) the recipient must have a financial need and is to provide a letter indicating such need.
Dr. Donald W. Rae Memorial Bursary
$1235
Additional Criteria:
(1) Currently registered or accepted in any year of studies in Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medicine or Medical Rehabilitation including, without limitation, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Therapy;
(2) consistently strong academic performance; and
(3) personal characteristics exhibiting compassion, integrity, service to the community, and leadership.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Graduate of Portage Collegiate Institute;
(2) currently accepted or registered in any year of studies in Pharmacy, Laboratory Technology, Radiology, Dentistry, Medicine, or Medical Rehabilitation including, without limitation, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Therapy;
(3) consistently strong academic performance, especially in science courses;
(4) personal characteristics exhibiting compassion, integrity, service to the community, and leadership; and
(5) involved in athletics.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Student whose life has been affected by MS either personally, or in the family; or
(2) a student who is pursuing an education in the Science or Medical field. Applicant must provide two reference letters.
Lorraine Rae Bursary
$1490
Additional Criteria:
(1) Currently registered or accepted in any year of studies in the field of Education;
(2) consistently strong academic performance; and
(3) personal characteristics exhibiting compassion, integrity, service to the community, and leadership.
Don & Lois Booth
Memorial Bursary
$510
Additional Criteria:
(1) Graduate of Portage Collegiate Institute;
(2) currently enrolled or accepted at a Canadian University or College;
(3) demonstrated commitment to peace and social justice; and
(4) a demonstrated history of community service or involvement at the time of application.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Student who has experienced the death of one or more parents; and
(2) currently enrolled or accepted at a Canadian post-secondary institution or trades school.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Student from Central Manitoba currently registered or accepted in a recognized university or college program providing training that will result in a commercial pilot licence;
(2) consistently strong academic performance; and
(3) personal characteristics exhibiting compassion, integrity, service to the community, and leadership.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Manitoba student pursuing a career in the field of Natural Resources Management at a post-secondary institute within Canada;
(2) demonstrates a strong desire for the outdoors and the environment; and
(3) a demonstrated desire to pass knowledge on to others through mentorship. Applicant must submit a story about someone who mentored you or introduced you to the outdoors and how that impacted your life.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Student from Portage and area displaying excellence in academic achievement, teamwork, and leadership qualities with community involvement through volunteerism; and
(2) qualifying students will be pursuing a career requiring above-average math skills in fields such as medicine, research, teaching, engineering, accounting, business management, or architecture.
Additional Criteria:
(1) Student from Portage and area displaying excellence in academic achievement, teamwork, and leadership qualities with community involvement through volunteerism; and
(2) qualifying students will be pursuing a career requiring above-average science skills in fields such as medicine, research, teaching, engineering, accounting, business management, or architecture.
Portage la Prairie Community Development Corporation Bursary
$1455
Additional Criteria:
(1) Graduate of Portage Collegiate Institute; and
(2) currently pursuing a degree or diploma in Commerce, Business Administration, Accounting, or Administrative Studies at a Canadian College or University.
MacVicar Family
Bursary
$2580
Additional Criteria:
(1) Student exhibits great ambition and has financial need; and
(2) is currently enrolled or accepted at a Canadian post-secondary institution in an Agronomy program;

PCI-Administered CFPD Awards
In addition to the 14 aforementioned awards administered by CFPD, there are also 34 awards held in CFPD Funds, for which Portage Collegiate Institute handles the application process with their students.
PCI students are encouraged to apply for these through their Career & Opportunities Counsellor, who also has information on eligibility and deadline to apply for these 34 awards.
Geisel-Finney Future Fund Award
Applications Closed for 2026


