If you named your child “Daenerys” before the last season of Game of Thrones, the Bowen Island Community Foundation feels your pain. Naming things is difficult. We experienced this firsthand.
Take, for instance, the “BICF Trade Prize.” It was originally called “The BICF Trade Scholarship” but we changed it because people thought it was too academic. Is “Trade Prize” better? We’re not sure. But we are sure that it helps people do really great things.
The BICF Trade Prize is five $1,000 awards awarded on a “first come, first served” basis for anyone who is pursuing (almost) any vocational training.
While plumbers and electricians have received the award, it is also available for those pursuing careers in things as varied as culinary arts, cosmetology, hairdressing and even sign language interpreting.
Mimi Jones is the most recent recipient of the Trade Prize and she is using it to further her studies at Douglas College to become a Sign Language Interpreter.
While studying linguistics at Queens University, Mimi saw an inspirational presentation from a member of the Kingston Deaf Community. She was so impressed that she looked into American Sign Language (ASL) coursework and completed a certificate in Sign Language and ASL at Vancouver Community College.
This semester, she applied for funding through the BICF. “This Trades Prize has been used towards my tuition and books, which has helped me to afford to live independently, closer to my college.”
Do you know anyone who would benefit from a bit of help in pursuing their training?
Have a look at our website (because winter is coming): https://bowenfoundation.com/bowen-island-community-foundation-trade-scholarship/
And if you have a better suggestion for a name for the BICF Trade Prize, we’re all ears.
