TD Scholarships for Community Leadership

Are you a student in your final year of high school (if you live outside Quebec), or in your last year of CEGEP (if you live in Quebec)? Have you shown a commitment to making a positive difference in your community? You may be eligible for a TD Scholarship for Community Leadership valued at up to $70,000 over 4 years toward a post-secondary college or university education.

Applications for the 2024/2025 year are now closed. Applications for students starting college or university in September 2026 will open in September 2025.

Helping to open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow

About TD Scholarships for Community Leadership
Recipients
Featured alumni

What are the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership?

Since 1995, TD has awarded millions in TD Scholarships for Community Leadership to recognize students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community leadership. TD Scholarships for Community Leadership recipients receive up to $70,000 for tuition and living expenses as well as opportunities for paid summer employment, peer networking and mentorship. Supporting young community leaders is one way TD is helping build a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.

Up to $10,000 each year for tuition

For a maximum of 4 years
$7,500 each year for living expenses

For a maximum of 4 years
That's up to $70,000 in total over 4 years

Per scholarship awarded
For up to 20 students

Up to 20 scholarships available annually

Have you shown leadership in helping to make a meaningful and lasting difference in your community? We’d love to hear about your community leadership efforts and what inspired you to get involved. We’re more interested in the mark you’re making in the world than the marks you’re getting in the classroom. This scholarship program is open to student leaders with an average of 75% and up (outside Quebec), or a minimum R score of 26 in Quebec, who are helping to support positive change in their communities.

The TD Scholarships for Community Leadership are available to students who are helping to support change, nurture progress and contribute to making the world a better place, in their communities.

What is community leadership?

We’re interested in hearing from students who have demonstrated consistent and outstanding dedication to helping improve the world by solving a social or community problem. For example, you may be helping to clean up the environment, promote social justice, or fight child poverty in your community. Check out what some of the past scholarship recipients have done to help improve their community.

How are the recipients chosen?

Up to 80 finalists are interviewed by five regional selection panels. From there, at least two scholarship recipients are chosen from each of the following five regions:

Atlantic Canada
Quebec
Ontario

Prairies/Northwest Territories/Nunavut
British Columbia/Yukon

Scholarship Eligibility: TD Scholarships for Community Leadership

TD Scholarships for Community Leadership are open to students across Canada who:

Have demonstrated community leadership
Are in their final year of CEGEP (for students in Quebec), or high school (for students outside Quebec).
Have a minimum overall grade average of 75% (outside Quebec), or a minimum R score of 26 (in Quebec), in their most recently completed school year
Are Canadian citizens, have permanent resident status, or have protected person status under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Note: Applicants with protected person status must also have a study permit as permitted under the Act.

For complete details and eligibility requirements, please read our Terms and Conditions

Applications for the 2024/2025 year are now closed. Applications for students starting college or university in September 2026 will open in September 2025.

For more information please call:
1-800-308-8306.

Timelines for TD Scholarships for Community Leadership



September 4 to November 13, 2024	Application period
February 2025	Finalists selected and notified
February / March 2025	Finalists interviewed by panel
April through June 2025	Applicants notified of their status
May / June 2025	Scholarship Awards ceremony

Recipients of the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership

We see the recipients of TD Scholarships for Community Leadership as community heroes. They’re doing good work, not for the recognition, but because they’re inspired to help create a better world.

These young Canadians from across the country have helped to make a meaningful and lasting difference in their communities. These extraordinary young people share a common belief: One person can make a difference! Scroll below to hear the recipients talk about their community work.

Chinemerem Chigbo, TD Scholarship for Community Leadership recipient

Find out from Chinemerem why he started a club at his high school where guys of all ages could come together and discuss their mental health issues.

Fatima Ahmed, TD Scholarship for Community Leadership recipient

Fatima explains why she thinks the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership are important. Find out about the work she's done to engage youth in her community.

Timothy Masso, TD Scholarship for Community Leadership recipient

Timothy thinks that "what makes a great community leader is truly caring for the people around you." Learn more about how he advocated to bring back Nuu-chah-nulth language to his community.

Featured alumni

TD Scholarships for Community Leadership include alumni that we believe continue to demonstrate a shared purpose with TD: to help enrich the communities where we live and work. You can find some of those examples below.

Alannis McKee – 2014

Yellowknife, NWT. For years, Alannis has helped people living with disabilities become more connected with their communities, opening doors to vibrant experiences and opportunities. As Director of Programs with the Northwest Territories Disabilities Council, she advocates for persons with disabilities, so they can enjoy self-determined, fulfilling lives, with equal access to services. She joined the Council while finishing her studies, including a psychology degree at University of Alberta and an M.A. in critical disability studies from York University. Alannis was named an Arctic Emerging Leader in Norway in 2019.

Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko – 2001

Mississauga, ON. By helping girls build an interest in science – and realize the career opportunities in STEM fields – Larissa contributes to the financial security of the next generation of women. As President of the Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS) – a group she first founded at age nine – Larissa leads a network of chapters where girls aged 7 to 16 enjoy fun, hands-on learning with inspiring experts, debunking stereotypes about female career options. Larissa earned a PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University and was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Dr. Naheed Dosani – 2004

Toronto, ON. As a palliative care physician and health and human rights activist, Naheed Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to health care for people experiencing homelessness. These efforts include founding Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) and serving as medical director for the Peel Regional COVID-homeless response.

As a palliative care physician and health and human rights activist, Naheed Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to health care for people experiencing homelessness. These efforts include founding Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) and serving as medical director for the Peel Regional COVID-homeless response.

Simon Jackson - 2000

Calgary, AB. Simon is creating a vibrant planet by helping young people appreciate green spaces and begin tackling today’s environmental challenges. As Co-Founder of the Ghost Bear Institute’s Nature Labs, he created a ‘virtual high school textbook,’ a storytelling-based, curriculum resource for urbanized youth to discover and champion nature. Simon’s vision dates back to age 13 when he created the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, successfully saving the last intact habitat of BC’s white Kermode bear. Simon was named among UNESCO’s 100 Angels of the Earth and one of Time Magazine’s 60 Heroes for the Planet.

The TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples

Together with AFOA Canada, a not-for-profit led by Indigenous Peoples, we’ve created a scholarship customized to meet the needs of students from the Indigenous community. One that works to break down systemic barriers and open doors. There are 25 scholarships available to be awarded annually, worth up to $60K over 4 years. Learn more