Scholarship Value $3,000
Number of Scholarships 72
Program Overview
The Building Futures Scholarship Program supports the development of the future workforce by investing in post-secondary education for eligible students. Canadian Natural funds the program as part of its commitment to education and community development, with priority toward applicants connected to its operations. A maximum of one scholarship per calendar year is awarded to each successful recipient. The program operates on a biannual application schedule with defined submission windows.
Description: A merit- and need-informed scholarship program that prioritizes children or dependents of Canadian Natural employees and Indigenous students from communities near Canadian Natural operations.
- Supports post-secondary, master’s, and trade-school students.
- Funds are awarded once per calendar year per recipient.
- Focuses on developing people linked to Canadian Natural and nearby communities.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility criteria align with Canadian Natural’s mission to develop people and support local communities. Eligible applicants include children/dependents of Canadian Natural employees (excluding spouses) and Indigenous students from communities near the company’s operations. Applicants must be residents of Western Canada for at least one year and hold a Canadian Social Insurance Number. Academic standing and enrolment minimums apply, and applicants on co-op placements or current work-term employees at Canadian Natural are ineligible.
Eligibility: Criteria include relationship to an employee or Indigenous status, Western Canada residency, a Canadian SIN, relevant field of study preference, minimum GPA and course load, and exclusions for co-op terms and current work-term employees.
- Applicant must be a dependent of an employee or an Indigenous student from a nearby community.
- Minimum one-year residency in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba is required.
- Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and be enrolled in a minimum of three courses for the applied semester.
Application Process
All eligible applications are reviewed by the Building Futures Advisory Committee, which evaluates candidates against academic, geographic, and community criteria. The committee considers grades, career plans, relevance of field of study to the industry, community involvement, and financial hardship. Decisions are made by committee review rather than a single reviewer, ensuring multiple factors inform awards. Applicants should supply required documentation to demonstrate eligibility and any claimed community status.
Selection Criteria: Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, career plan alignment, proximity to Canadian Natural operations, volunteer and community involvement, and financial need when applicable.
- Evaluated by the Building Futures Advisory Committee.
- Considers both merit (grades, career plan) and contextual factors (location, community involvement).
- Financial hardship may be taken into account as part of the assessment.
Application Timeline
The program accepts applications twice annually with defined submission windows. Applications open July 10 and remain open until the August due date, and they open again November 10 until the December due date. Applicants may receive at most one scholarship per calendar year. Applicants should verify exact due dates and submission requirements before applying.
Application Timeline: Two application windows per year—summer and late fall/winter—with a single award permitted per recipient each calendar year.
- Summer window: opens July 10 and closes on the August due date.
- Fall window: opens November 10 and closes on the December due date.
- Confirm specific deadlines and required documentation before submitting an application.