National Scholarship

National Scholarship

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Eligibility

Don’t miss the opportunity to submit an essay or a video for the National Scholarship Awards.

Program Closes: July 14, 2025

One National essay/video winner receives $15,000.

Four regional essay/video awards of $3,250 each are awarded as follows:

  • (1) university/college (East)
  • (1) university/college (West)
  • (1) high school (East)
  • (1) high school (West)

To be eligible for the awards:

  1.  Applicants must be Canadian residents studying in Canada.
  2.  Applicants must be enrolled or expected to enroll in a post-secondary program of at least 2 years.
  3.  All Graduating High School Students
  4.  College/University students must be enrolled in at least one more year of study as of the current year.
  5.  Applicants must be working for a current CFIG member (retail, associate, affiliate) or be a family member of an employee of a current CFIG member.
  6.  Only complete applications containing full and accurate information will be considered.
  7.  Plagiarism is an infringement of copyright laws. All essays must be properly referenced.

Want a Poster to place in your Store/Office? Email: membership@cfig.ca

Awards

One National scholarship winner receives $15,000 – Winner invited to annual Independent Grocer of the Year Gala in Toronto.

Four regional essay awards of $3250 each are awarded as follows:

  • (1)university/college (East)
  • (1)university/college (West)
  • (1) high school (East)
  • (1) high school (West)

Submissions must be made in the format of a 1000 word essay with a short video (max 5 minutes) that introduces the student and identifies the resources used.

Benefits

Benefits to the CFIG member include:

1. A plaque for the Store Sponsor of each scholarship recipient.

2. Personalized assistance with any publicity opportunities.

3. Invitation to accept the National Scholarship sponsorship plaque at Grocery Innovations Canada.

2024 Winners

CFIG congratulates all of the winners of the 2024 National Scholarship Program and would like to thank our scholarship committee for their dedicated time and effort in evaluating and deciding our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Song Yu Li
Member Relation:
Calgary Co-operative Association Limited, Midtown Market, Calgary, AB

WEST

College/University:
Kade Ferriman
Member Relation:
Pattison Food Group, Langley, BC

EAST

High School:
Colby Hurst
Member Relation:
Chesley Grocery Store, Chesley, ON.

Hayley Hartman
Member Relation: 
SUNRIPE Freshmarket, Sarnia, ON.

College/University: 

Halle Andreasen
Member Relation:
Body Fuel Organics, Regina, SK

Past Winners

The winners of the 2023 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Riley Druken
Member Relation:
Atlantic Grocery Distributors, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland

WEST

High School
Emily Mack
Member Relation:
Brunskill Pharmacy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

College/University
Korah Sanderson
Member Relation:
Sobey’s Nottingham, Sherwood Park, Alberta

EAST

High School

Andrew Pittman
Member Relation:
Colemans Food Centre, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

College/University

Halle Andreasen
Member Relation:
Body Fuel Organics, Regina, Saskatchewan

The winners of the 2022 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

National Winner
Siena Dean

High School East
Lena Khan

College/University
East

Alexandra Arsenault
Halle Andreason
Jaime Grimm

College/University
West

Manvir Samra

 

The winners of the 2021 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Jillian Ohm (Milverton Foodtown)

WEST

High School: 

Violet Holmes (IGA – Georgia Main)

College/University:

Jaime Grimm (IGA – Georgia Main)
Ziad Zahoui ( Save-on-Foods)

EAST

High School:

Damon Ma (Lassonde)

College/University: 

Daniel Tortis (Longo’s Bros)
Jenna Lee Ralph (Atlantic Grocery Distributors)

East Video Winner

Sydney Hunt (Atlantic Grocery Distributors)

West Video Winner

Tyler Weninger (Save-on-Foods)

 

The winners of the 2020 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Sophie Semeniuk – Member Relation: Save-On-Foods, Edmonton, Alberta

WEST

High School: 

Abbie Good – Member Relation: Save-On-Foods, Red Deer, Alberta

 College/University:

 Allison Detta – Member Relation: Save-On-Foods, Kimberley, British Columbia

 Marina Verones – Member Relation: Save-On-Foods, Coquitlam, British Columbia

EAST

High School:

Emilee Morahan – Member Relation: Smylie’s Your Independent Grocer, Trenton, Ontario

College/University: 

David Shin – Member Relation: Galleria Supermarket-York Mills, Toronto, Ontario

Adam Kouri – Member Relation: Smucker Foods Canada, Markham, Ontario

 

The winners of the 2019 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Alison Victoria Livingstone – Member Relation: Kraft Heinz, Burnaby, British Columbia

WEST

High School:
Kaitlyn Kuzma-Wells – Member Relation: Buy-Low Foods, Port Alberni, British Columbia

College/University:
Jeanette Wu – Member Relation: Save-On-Foods, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Joseph Patrick Hodgson – Member Relation: Save-On-Foods, Summerside, Edmonton, Alberta

EAST

High School:
Jenna Lee Ralph – Member Relation: Atlantic Grocery Distributors, Bay Roberts, NL

College/University:
Raffaele Giuseppe Cramarossa – Member Relation: Loblaw, Brampton, Ontario
Sydney Hunt – Member Relation: Atlantic Grocery Distributors, Bay Roberts, NL

 

2018

The winners of the 2018 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Sonya Zhang – Member Relation: Parmalat Canada

WEST

High School:
Bethany Wilde – Member Relation: Rooster’s Country Marketplace

College/University:
Brogan Beechinor – Member Relation: ConAgra Brands Canada
Gideon Mentie – Member Relation: Freson Bros., Brooks, AB

EAST

High School:
Rosalind Liang – Member Relation: OPAY Inc.

College/University:
Anoosh Butt – Member Relation: Unilever Canada Inc.
Felix Chan – Member Relation: Unilever Canada Inc.

2017

The winners of the 2017 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!

A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

NATIONAL WINNER

Megan Brenkel – Member Relation: ConAgra Brands

WEST

College/University:
Emily Haugen – Member Relation: Nesters Market

High School: 
Kelli Weinkauf – Member Relation: J & S Confectionery
Justin Chen – Member Relation: Coalharbour Urban Fare

EAST

High School:
Emma Marchand – Member Relation: PepsiCo Foods Canada

College/University: 
Sarah Alfonsi – Member Relation: Sun Valley Market
Hayley Jacobs – Member Relation: Tree of Life Canada

2016

The winners of the 2016 National Scholarship program have been chosen and announced – CFIG congratulates all of the winners!
A special thank you to our scholarship committee for their time and effort in evaluating and deciding on our final winners.

2016 National Scholarship Winner

NATIONAL WINNER

Raffaele Cramarossa of Loblaw Cos. Ltd. ($6000.00)

WEST

High School: Kristen Unrau – $2000.00

Member Relation: Buy-Low Foods

College/University: Nadia Lepak – $ 2000.00

Member Relation: Quality Foods

Brianna Rota – $2000.00

Member Relation: Overwaitea Foods #33

EAST

High School:Taylor Nadine-Petten – $2000.00

Member Relation: Atlantic Grocery Distributors – Powell Group of Companies

College/University: Adam Kouri – $2000.00

Member Relation: Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.

Sarah Anne Alfonsi – $2000.00

Member Relation: Sun Valley Market

Apply

Program Closes: July 31, 2024

 

Essay with Video – $28,000 in total winnings

Applications MUST include:

  1. A 1,000 word essay, with proper referencing on the following question: (essays longer than the 1000 word limit will not be judged)
    Examine the impact on grocery consumer behavior caused by value shopping trends. How can retailers stay relevant and retain customers in this rising price conscious era? What strategies can grocers adopt to enhance value, customer loyalty and overall shopping experience? Could technology, sustainability and community engagement help shape the future of grocery retail? Can balancing cost effectiveness, quality and customer satisfaction help grocers thrive in the value driven consumer landscape?
  2. A short video (max 5 minutes) introducing yourself and the resources you used to write your essay.
  3. A list of academic achievements, awards, and extra-curricular activities.
  4. An official Grade transcript of your last completed year. Can be email to membership@cfig.ca or mailed to:
    NEW ADDRESS! CFIG 200 Consumers Rd. Suite 200
    Toronto, ON M2J 4R4
  5. A complete application form with all pertinent information properly filled.
Essay Application Form

* We encourage all applicants to meet with their CFIG contact and ask questions to learn more about the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

Grading score sheet for high school

Grading score sheet for university/college 

Sponsors

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