A successful applicant must:

1. Attend a participating school.

2. Be currently enrolled in high school as a full-time student for the school year OR as a full time-student during Fall or Winter of the school year;

3. Intend to return to school as a full-time student, in the next school year, in Grade 12 or post-secondary education at the university or college level, including registered apprenticeship programs;

4. Have 16 credits.

Every year the high level timeline for applying remains the same.

December 1, 2024 – Application opens

March 19, 2025 – Reference Request deadline

March 24, 2025 – Application submission deadlines

Early June – Recipients announced

Mid June – Merit Awards Ceremony

June – August – Mentorship Program

We work with 96 schools across the Toronto District School Board, Toronto District Catholic School Board and Peel District School Board.

Toronto District School Board

Alternative Scarborough Education 1

Avondale Alternative Secondary School

Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute

Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute - EdVance

C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute

CALC Secondary School - EdVance

Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute

Central Technical School

Central Toronto Academy

City School

Contact Alternative

David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute

Delphi Secondary Alternative School

Downsview Secondary School

Eastdale Collegiate Institute

East York Alternative School

East York Collegiate Institute

Emery Collegiate Institute

Emery EdVance Secondary School

Etobicoke Year Round Alternative Centre

George S. Henry Academy

Heydon Park Secondary School

Inglenook Alternative

Jarvis Collegiate Institute

John Polanyi Collegiate Institute

Kapapamahchakwew (Elem) - Wandering Spirit School

Kipling Collegiate Institute

L’Amoreaux Collegiate Institute

Lakeshore Collegiate Institute

Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute

Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute

Native Learning Centre

Native Learning Centre East

Newtonbrook Secondary School

North Albion Collegiate Institute

North East Year Round Alternative Centre

North West Year Round Alternative Centre

Oakwood Collegiate Institute

Oasis Alternative Secondary School

Parkview Alternative (Overflow Centre)

Runnymede Collegiate Institute

Scarborough Centre for Alternative Studies

School of Experiential Education (SEE)

School of Life Experience (SOLE)

SEED Alternative School

South East Year Round Alternative Centre

Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute

Subway Academy I

Subway Academy II

The Student School

Thistletown Collegiate Institute

West End Alternative

West Hill Collegiate Institute

West Humber Collegiate Institute

Weston Collegiate Institute

Westview Centennial Secondary School

Wexford Collegiate School of the Arts

Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute

York Humber High School

York Memorial Collegiate Institute

Yorkdale Secondary School - EdVance

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Toronto Catholic District School Board

Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton

Dante Alighieri Academy Catholic Secondary School

Father Henry Carr

Francis Liberman Catholic High School

James Cardinal McGuigan

Loretto College School

Madonna Catholic Secondary School

Mary Ward Catholic High School

St. Basil-The-Great College School

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Academy

St. John Henry Newman Catholic High School

St. Mary Catholic Academy

St. Mother Teresa Catholic Academy

St. Oscar Romero

St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School

Monsignor Fraser College - Annex

Monsignor Fraser College - Midland

Monsignor Fraser College - Midtown

Monsignor Fraser College - Norfinch

Monsignor Fraser College - SAL Northeast

Monsignor Fraser College - SAL Southwest

Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School

Peel District School Board

Applewood Heights Secondary School

Bramalea Secondary School

Brampton Centennial Secondary School

Central Peel Secondary School

Chinguacousy Secondary School

Clarkson Secondary School

David Suzuki Secondary School

Erindale Secondary School

Glenforest Secondary School

Judith Nyman Secondary School

Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School

North Park Secondary School

Peel Alternative School- North

Peel Alternative School-South

Port Credit Secondary School

TL Kennedy Secondary School

Turner Fenton Secondary School

West Credit Secondary School

Grade 11 - $500

Grade 12 - $1,000, $2,000, or $5,000 (Leader of Tomorrow)

Once a student has determined their eligibility, the selection committee looks for applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to their schoolwork, extra curricular activities and to volunteerism in the community at large.

Please note that personal challenges and obstacles, including financial circumstances, will be given significant consideration. Contributions to family welfare and/or work experience will also be considered. Demonstrating a commitment to your future and your community can come in many forms. As such, there is no cut off grade requirment and we actively look to understand your situation and the hardships you've overcome.

How to apply for a Merit Award:

1. CREATE an account for your Merit Award Online Application here

2. COMPLETE the online application form

3. OBTAIN 2 teacher references (to be completed through the online request system)

4. SUBMIT your application (you must press submit button once 3 other parts are completed)

Run into trouble? Reach out to us at info@meritaward.ca

In order to receive the Merit Award Bursary funds:

• Student recipients must be enrolled as a full-time student at high school or in university or college for the following school year.

• The bursary will be paid in the Fall after the student provides proof of his/her active enrollment.

Confirmation of enrollment (in Grade 12 or post-secondary) can be either a letter from the school or a course itinerary.

If you're taking a gap year following graduation, your bursery will be held for the following year when you resume your education.