External Awards

FORCES AVENIR

About Forces AVENIR

Are you part of a project whose real benefits have a significant impact on your community or on a specific field of expertise?

Are you involved in your community and stand out for your leadership?

Then you are an ideal Forces AVENIR candidate!!

Forces AVENIR aims to recognize, honour and promote the commitment of students in projects that contribute to the development of socially conscious, active and responsible citizens who are both dedicated to their community and open to the world.

The deadline to open your dossier on the Forces AVENIR site is March 31. Register your project or your personal application in the Forces AVENIR University Program Here

Eligibility

PERSONALITY CATEGORIES

• Be registered as a full-time student (or be recognized as such by their university) for at least one semester during the period of eligibility, that is to say from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023;
• Be no more than 35 years of age on March 31, 2023;
• May have received or may receive payment for their engagement provided the time required to carry out their activities or engagements greatly exceeds the time usually spent in student employment.
• Not be a former recipient of a University Program AVENIR award in the Personality AVENIR category.

PROJECT CATEGORIES

• The project must not be carried out as part of a university undergraduate program worth more than three credits;
• The project must not take place in the context of a course or a research program that is part of the requirements for obtaining a graduate degree;
• At least 80% of the students involved in the project must meet the criteria of the personality categories;
• The project must be initiated, made operational or be carried out during the period of eligibility, that is to say from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023;
• The project must not be a former recipient of a University Program AVENIR award in the Project AVENIR category.

Category Descriptions

• Arts, Literature, and Culture
  Project pertaining to the performing arts, visual arts, arts and crafts, literature, architecture, design or heritage
• Mutual Aid, Peace and Justice
  Projects aimed at promoting community service, humanitarian cooperation, the respect for human rights or the establishment and promotion of a just society
• Entrepreneurship, Business and Social Economy
  Project relating to economic growth or to creation, expansion or recovery of a business venture
• Environment
  Project concerned with the environment, whether it promotes environmental protection, recycling, reuse, recuperation, sustainable development, natural resources or environmental education
• Health and Healthy Living
  Project connected with health awareness and prevention, research or improving public health in areas such as nursing, diet, physical fitness, mental health and medicine
• Science and Technology
  Project of a scientific or technological nature, which involves research, experimentation or popularization in the field of science and technology
• Society, Communications and Education
  Project of a social nature linked with communications, education or political action and which addresses social issues or public concerns
• Personality – Undergraduates
  Undergraduate awards will be presented to undergraduate students who have distinguished themselves through a balance of academic, personal and social achievements, as well as by their leadership, the concrete impact of their engagement and consistency in all the specific criteria throughout their studies
• Personality – Graduates
  Graduate awards will be presented to a graduate student who has achieved distinction through a balance of academic, personal and social achievements, as well as by their leadership, the concrete impact of their engagement and consistency in all the specified criteria throughout their studies.
• Personality – Perseverant
  The Perseverant Personality category recognizes a student who has made efforts and developed strategies throughout their entire life in order to overcome challenges, nourish their motivation, experience successes, get into university, and succeed in their academic studies.
• Committed Staff Member
  The Committed Staff Member category recognizes a member of staff who, outside the context of a course or research program, is involved with students who are engaged in community actions, here or elsewhere in the world. Or, the category recognizes a member of staff whose engagement has had an impact on the educational institution’s mission and the development of more socially-conscious, responsible, active and persevering citizens. While resolutely fulfilling their professional responsibilities and maintaining a good life-work balance, the recipient has distinguished themselves by their ability to arouse the desire to get involved, among both students and community members.

Selection Process

The Bishop’s Selection Committee convenes to review dossiers in April. Students may apply under the Personality category (undergraduate, graduate or perseverant) and/or under one or more of the eight (8) Project categories, as long as they present a different project for each category.

Internal Process:

• Bishop’s will review all applications and submit a maximum of two applications per category to Forces AVENIR.
• Please note that if a category has less than two applicants, that does not mean they will automatically be submitted – the Selection Committee will hold these projects to the same standards as all other applicants.

External Process:

• For each category, Forces AVENIR will set up a jury of three people recognized in their field. These juries will select the recipients of the grants and AVENIR trophies.
• Virtual interviews with finalists will take place in Mid-May 2023 (exact dates to be determined). 
• Winners will be announced at the annual Gala, taking place in Quebec City in Fall 2023.
• A Grand Jury made up of a number of key figures in society representing different fields will determine the recipients of the AVENIR Par Excellence grants and trophies. Winners will be announced at the annual Gala, taking place in Quebec City in Fall 2023.

Deadlines

Apply here

Final day to open application: March 31, 2023

Final day to edit applications: April 10, 2023

**When opening an application, for the “University ID/Matricule Universitaire” section, please enter your student ID number.

Resources

For any questions, contact Katie Bibbs: kbibbs@ubishops.ca

2023 Application Guide (PDF)