Horatio Alger Association of Canada announces major expansion of scholarship programs

• Annual undergraduate Canadian scholarships to more than double, from 180 to 390
• Annual vocational and technical scholarships to double, from 25 to 50; each award to increase from $3,000 to $6,000

TORONTO, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Horatio Alger Association of Canada today announced plans to expand its scholarship programs, increasing the number of awards and financial support available to young Canadians pursuing post-secondary education and training.

The announcement follows the Association's eighth annual Excellence Gala on October 27, which raised $8.2 million for its need-based scholarships.

The expansion, which will take effect between 2027 and 2029, will be as follows:

• Horatio Alger Canadian Scholarships (for future undergraduate students outside Quebec): 160 annually today, rising to 200 in 2028 and 360 in 2029;
• Horatio Alger Quebec Scholarships (for future undergraduate students in Quebec): 10 annually today, rising to 20 in 2028;
• National Entrepreneurial Scholarships: 10 annually today, rising to 15 in 2028 and 20 in 2029; and
• Horatio Alger Vocational & Technical Education (VTE) Scholarships: 25 annually today, rising to 50 in 2027, and the value of each award will increase from $3,000 to $6,000.

This expansion comes two years after the Association announced increases in the monetary value of its scholarships: from $5,000 to $10,000 for Canadian and Quebec Scholarships, and from $10,000 to $25,000 for National Entrepreneurial Scholarships.

"Thanks to the generosity of Horatio Alger Members, friends and supporters of the organization, we are thrilled to be more than doubling the total number of scholarships we award yearly to deserving young Canadians. Horatio Alger is the largest privately-funded, needs-based scholarship program in Canada – and we intend to keep on growing," said Prem Watsa, President of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada. "We want the next generation to believe in the values of hard work, perseverance and honesty – and to understand that thanks to the free enterprise system, anything is possible in Canada!"

The Horatio Alger Association of Canada has two functions. First, it recognizes Canadians who have overcome adversity and achieved exceptional success by awarding them lifetime membership in the organization. Second, it provides post-secondary scholarships to deserving young Canadians in every province and territory. Due to the generosity and commitment of its Members and supporters, the Association awarded $3.5 million in need-based scholarships to 380 new Scholars in 2026. Since 2012, it has awarded $22 million to more than 2,900 deserving students across Canada. Scholarship recipients also receive ongoing support and mentorship through services including financial aid counselling, internships, and mental health support.

About the Horatio Alger Association of Canada
The Horatio Alger Association of Canada, the Canadian affiliate of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a charitable organization dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honours the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity by bestowing them the Horatio Alger Award and granting them lifetime membership into the Association. Through the generosity of Horatio Alger Members, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada awards scholarships annually to deserving young people in every province and territory. Members of the Association include Murad Al-Katib, Barry Avrich, Alain Bouchard, Michael Bublé, Glenn Cooke, Stephan Crétier, Dominic D'Alessandro, Dr. Rola Dagher, Kap Dilawri, Victor Dodig, Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Murray Edwards, Darren Entwistle, Serge Godin, Wayne Gretzky, Jay S. Hennick, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Katherine Lee, Rebecca MacDonald, Simon Mailloux, Bharat Masrani, the late G. Wallace F. McCain, the Honourable Frank McKenna, Lorne Michaels, the late Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Jim Pattison, Tracy Robinson, Joanna Rotenberg, Calin Rovinescu, Walter Schroeder, Gerald W. Schwartz, Isadore Sharp, Edward Sonshine, Prem Watsa, Rick Waugh, Adam Waterous and Darryl White. For more information, visit www.horatioalger.ca. The Association can also be found on Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Canada

For further information: Michael Eugenio, [email protected]