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 13, 2026~~
Program Extended: August 17, 2026

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:

Applicants must be Canadian residents studying in Canada.
Applicants must be enrolled or expected to enroll in a post-secondary program of at least 2 years.
All Graduating High School Students
College/University students must be enrolled in at least one more year of study as of the current year.
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.
Only complete applications containing full and accurate information will be considered.
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

Click to Download Poster to Print

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.

Past Winners

2025 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Chloe Kim

Galleria Supermarket
Toronto, Ontario

West

High School

Oliver Matisz

Member Relation:
Choices Markets
Kitsilano, British Columbia

College / University

Reid Decillia

Member Relation:
Save-On-Foods West
Lethbridge, Alberta

East

High School

Gabriel Rowsell

Member Relation:
Coleman
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

College / University

Ella Norland

Member Relation:
SUNRIPE Freshmarket
Sarnia, Ontario

2024 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Song Yu Li

Calgary Co-operative Association Limited, Midtown Market
Calgary, Alberta

West

High School

Kade Ferriman

Member Relation:
Pattison Food Group
Langley, British Columbia

College / University

Halle Andreasen

Member Relation:
Body Fuel Organics
Regina, Saskatchewan

East

High School

Colby Hurst

Member Relation:
Chesley Grocery Store
Chesley, Ontario

College / University

Hayley Hartman

Member Relation:
SUNRIPE Freshmarket
Sarnia, Ontario

2023 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Riley Druken

Atlantic Grocery Distributors
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland

West

High School

Emily Mack

Member Relation:
Brunskill Pharmacy
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

College / University

Korah Sanderson

Member Relation:
Sobeys 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

2022 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Siena Dean

East

High School

Lena Kahn

College / University

Alexandra Arsenault

Halle Andreason

Jaime Grimm

West

College / University

Manvir Samra

2021 National Scholarship 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

Video Winners

East Video Winner

Sydney Hunt

Atlantic Grocery Distributors

West Video Winner

Tyler Weninger

Save-on-Foods

2020 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Sophie Semeniuk

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

2019 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Alison Victoria Livingstone

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, Newfoundland and Labrador

College / University

Raffaele Giuseppe Cramarossa

Member Relation:
Loblaw
Brampton, Ontario

Sydney Hunt

Member Relation:
Atlantic Grocery Distributors
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador

2018 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Sonya Zhang

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, Alberta

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 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Megan Brenkel

ConAgra Brands

West

High School

Kelli Weinkauf

Member Relation:
J & S Confectionery

Justin Chen

Member Relation:
Coalharbour Urban Fare

College / University

Emily Haugen

Member Relation:
Nesters Market

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 National Scholarship Winners

National Winner

Raffaele Cramarossa

Loblaw Cos. Ltd.

$6,000 Award

West

High School

Kristen Unrau

Member Relation:
Buy-Low Foods

$2,000 Award

College / University

Nadia Lepak

Member Relation:
Quality Foods

$2,000 Award

Brianna Rota

Member Relation:
Overwaitea Foods #33

$2,000 Award

East

High School

Taylor Nadine-Petten

Member Relation:
Atlantic Grocery Distributors – Powell Group of Companies

$2,000 Award

College / University

Adam Kouri

Member Relation:
Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.

$2,000 Award

Sarah Anne Alfonsi

Member Relation:
Sun Valley Market

$2,000 Award

Apply

~~Program Closes: July 13, 2026~~
Program Extended: August 17, 2026

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):

How can independent retailers deepen customer relationships in innovative ways that boost their competitive edge in a fast-changing, dynamic market; and motivate more young Canadians to explore independent retail as a rewarding career?

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