Scholarships 2024

Explore the Scholarships

Explore the three types of scholarships we offer below. The application deadline for 2024 is now closed.

Please download and complete the Application Information Sheet by clicking the button below. This is a required document in your application submission.

Download the Application Info Sheet

The Jack Fisher Memorial Scholarship

MacPhee Centre established this bursary to honour Jack Fisher's artistic spirit and celebrate future leaders participating in the Centre's programming within the last two years.

MacPhee Centre will select one (1) successful applicant to receive this $1,000.00 bursary for their post-secondary studies.

About this Award

Jack Fisher

The Jack Fisher Memorial Scholarship was established to honour the life of Jack Fisher, son of board member Victor Fisher. Jack’s life ended prematurely at the age of twenty-two. In his memory, this scholarship was created to provide financial support to graduates of MacPhee Centre wishing to pursue their creative passions through post-secondary education.

Jack always had an artistic flair but, like many artists, was extremely hard on himself. He was a perfectionist who wanted everything he created to be perfect. Jack was an accomplished athlete, musician, and budding fashion designer in high school. After a few challenging years of adolescence, Jack showed strength of character to become sober at the young age of 18. From rehab, Jack attended The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and was a semester away from graduating from The Los Angeles Film School. His dream was to run a music management company to create a safer and more equitable environment for young artists.

It is the hope that this scholarship will provide aid to a MacPhee participant who wants to make their way forward and follow their dreams in the world through creative arts.

Eligibility Requirements

The Jack Fisher Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a participant who:

Is currently enrolled in Grade 12;
Is enrolled in post-secondary education at a College or University;
Aims to follow their dreams through creative pursuits;
Is experiencing financial or accessibility barriers to accessing post-secondary education;
Contributes to their community, as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as volunteers, students, artist and/or athletes.

Selection Criteria

Please submit the following to be considered for this scholarship:

A short essay (500 words min.) or a piece of art in the medium of your choice (painting, drawing, song, script, etc.) that outlines your financial situation and the importance of the bursary for you;
Your letter of acceptance from the post-secondary institution you will be attending;
Portfolio (A collection of 5-8 Artworks [digital copies] or 2 minutes minimum of video/animation) of any creative nature in any medium.

Submission Details

Applications must be submitted by email or in person by Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Please note once your application is submitted, you can no longer make edits.

Application can be emailed to info@macpheecentre.ca

Or applications can be dropped off in person at: MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, 50 Queen Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 1G1.

If you have questions or need assistance filling out this application, please contact the MacPhee Centre at info@macpheecentre.ca or by phone at 902 469 2851

Download the Jack Fisher Application Package

This download includes the application information listed above in the accordion.

2024 - Karn Nichols Passion and Purpose Scholarship Package

The Karn Nichols Passion and Purpose Award

This award honours Karn Nichols for her leadership and contribution to the community and was first awarded in 2021. The Passion and Purpose Award is a thank you to Karn for all her hard work and dedication to the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning.

The fund will provide up to one (1) individual scholarship totalling $1,000 and the opportunity to build a relationship with Karn while exploring career possibilities.

About this Award

Karn Nichols

Former Chair of the MacPhee Centre Board, 2015-2021

“Some journeys are direct, some are circuitous; some are heroic, and some are fearful and muddled. But every journey, honestly undertaken, stands a chance of taking us toward the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”

~ Parker J. Palmer

Karn is a one-of-a-kind human and service leader. She is ethical and virtuous, honest and thoughtful and leads by example. Karn’s focus on people and systems sets the foundation for what the MacPhee Centre is to our youth and community. She is a lifelong learner grounded in doing what is right. She believes in living an authentic life, staying true to her passions, and feeding her soul with things like nature and writing.

Karn started volunteering with the MacPhee Centre in 2009 after she heard Social Entrepreneur Bill Strickland speak about his creative learning centre in Pittsburgh. Karn, a new St. Mary’s University student, sat in the first row. She was mesmerized by how much passion and purpose Bill exhibited when he spoke about the work he did.

The MacPhee Centre was inspired by Bill's work in the US. When Karn initially got involved, it was the seed of an idea in the hearts and minds of a few founding Board members. Karn connected with these folks and offered to help out wherever she could. Over the years, she went from selling fundraising tickets to chairing our Board of Directors for over six years, finally finishing up in 2021.

During her time as Board Chair, Karn put in over 3,500 hours of volunteer time. In addition to volunteering where needed, she provided mentorship and coaching to the MacPhee Centre team and established our Advisory Council. She also ensured we remained focused on ensuring MacPhee created the conditions for youth passion and purpose to connect through the arts.

This award was created as a thank-you to Karn for her dedication and hard work at the MacPhee Centre.

Eligibility Requirements

The Karn Nichols Passion and Purpose Award will be awarded to a participant who:

Is currently enrolled in Grade 12 or is a recent graduate (within 3 years);
Is enrolled in post-secondary education at a College or University;
Demonstrates helping others and making a difference to those around them;
Regularly contributes to their community, as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a volunteer, student, artist and/or athlete;
A focus and awareness as to how passion and purpose intersect in their lives.

Selection Criteria

Submission Details

Applications must be submitted by email or in person by Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Please note once your application is submitted, you can no longer make edits.

Application can be emailed to info@macpheecentre.ca

Or applications can be dropped off in person at: MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, 50 Queen Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 1G1.

If you have questions or need assistance filling out this application, please contact the MacPhee Centre at info@macpheecentre.ca or by phone at 902 469 2851

Download the Karn Nichols Award Application Package

This download includes the application information listed above in the accordion.

Updated for 2024 Don Pether Application Package

The Don Pether Emera Future Leader Award

The MacPhee Centre has established this bursary fund to celebrate the future leaders that have participated in Centre's programming while at the same time honouring Don Pether's commitment and contributions to his community.

This year, the MacPhee Centre will select 5+ successful applicants to receive a $1000.00 bursary for their post-secondary studies.

About this Award

Don Pether

Former Chair of the Board and CEO, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.

Don Pether was a Director on the Emera Board from 2008 to 2020.

He is the former Chair of the Board and CEO of Arcelor Mittal Dofasco, a Canadian steel producer located in Hamilton, Ontario, where he spent a 36-year career moving from technical to sales to operating roles, transforming the company to a customer-centric global leader in steel production. He has served on several corporate boards and is currently active as a director on Schlegel Health Care Inc. in addition to Samuel, Son & Co., Ltd.

Recognizing the importance of giving back to the community, which has given him so much, he currently serves as a director of the National Gallery of Canada Foundation and on the Council of Governors for the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

In addition, he has held many other leadership roles on not-for-profit boards, including Chair of McMaster University, Chair of the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and Chair of the McMaster Innovation Park.

He received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 in recognition of his contributions to the community.

Don holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Alberta and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from McMaster University.

Eligibility Requirements

The Don Pether Emera Future Leader Award will be awarded to a participant who:

Is currently enrolled in Grade 12;
Is enrolled in post-secondary education at a College or University;
Has an interest in innovation and creative learning through technology;
Are experiencing financial or accessibility barriers to accessing post-secondary education
Contributes to their community, as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a volunteer, student, artist and or athlete.

Selection Criteria

Submission Details

Applications must be submitted by email or in person by Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Please note once your application is submitted, you can no longer make edits.

Application can be emailed to info@macpheecentre.ca

Or applications can be dropped off in person at: MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, 50 Queen Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 1G1.

If you have questions or need assistance filling out this application, please contact the MacPhee Centre at info@macpheecentre.ca or by phone at 902 469 2851

Download the Don Pether Emera Award Application Package

This download includes the application information listed above in the accordion.

Any questions about Scholarships, or other inquiries about the MacPhee Centre can be directed to info@macpheecentre.ca or (902) 469-2851

Explore the Scholarships

The Jack Fisher Memorial Scholarship

The Karn Nichols Passion and Purpose Award

The Don Pether Emera Future Leader Award

Contact Information