Scholarships and Financial Aid Opportunities for 2SLGBTQiA+ Learners in BC
2SLGBTQiA+ students typically face challenges in their pursuit of an education, especially financial ones. Their families may not be as supportive as necessary. It can be difficult for these young people to submit application forms for grants due to the need to reveal their given sex at birth. ID and other identity challenges can make paperwork very difficult. As a result, some 2SLGBTQiA+ students lose a chance to earn financial support from the government.
A great alternative in this case is to find scholarships and bursaries specifically designed for 2SLGBTQiA+ students. In this article, we’ve listed what we can find and as well some places you can look. Good luck!
The Dogwood Monarchist Society Boxx-Barr Bursary Fund
The Boxx-Barr Bursary Fund is a program of the Dogwood Monarchist Society, founded by Emperor Scotty B. Boxx and Emprex Karmella Barr. The bursaries are awarded to support the educational pursuits of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members in British Columbia. Read more here.
The LOUD Foundation
One of the bigger scholarship programs for 2SLGBTQiA+ students in Canada is provided by the LOUD Foundation (now called Queer Business BC). They are seeking future leaders of the Canadian 2SLGBTQiA+ community, and applications are open nationwide. Each year, the reward amount varies according to the donors. That usually ranges from $2,000 to $2,500, though. Annually, university students and students in Grade 12 get about twenty awards. Note: LOUD relaunched in 2025 and may or may not still offer these scholarships. We recommend connecting with them directly through their new website.
The Jeremy Dias Scholarship
The Jeremy Dias Scholarship is available from the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity in memory of their founder! Its goal is to honor a young person who has demonstrated initiative in confronting prejudice against 2SLGBTQiA+ people in their community or school. In addition to being citizens of Canada, applicants must be either enrolled full-time in a recognized post-secondary institution or a high school. The ideal winners of this scholarship will be a student who has campaigned to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. It should be presented in their application essay and references.
Dr. Gary Gibson Award from the Lambda Foundation
The award was created in memory of Dr. Gary Gibson. He touched many lives with his compassionate treatment for patients in Southern Ontario and Coastal British Columbia, particularly those with HIV/AIDS. He was employed by St. Paul’s Hospital starting in 1999 and was a member of the Lambda Scholarship Foundation board of directors. The ideal recipient of this award is someone who conducts research on the health of 2SLGBTQiA+ people. Applicants must provide a compelling argument for why their work will be a strong contender for publication. Lastly, candidates need to indicate in their submissions how the results will be disseminated, integrated, and potentially used in the areas where the work will be done. Read more here.
Start Proud
Start Proud is a Canadian non-profit organization that aims to support the professional development of 2SLGBTQiA+ students and young professionals. Their yearly Leaders To Be Proud Of Award is one way they accomplish this! Since this non-profit organizations foundation in 2007, Start Proud has expanded to become a nationwide movement that supports the possibilities and rights of 2SLGBTQiA+ people across Canada. In order to guarantee 2SLGBTQiA individuals have access to secure, encouraging environments where they can realize their full potential, the organization works in partnership with prestigious institutions and employers. It endeavors to create more inclusive workplaces and communities through partnerships and activities.
And there are more. This list features other organizations and companies that have been known to offer scholarships and bursaries:
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust - Provides the Egale Youth Bursary Program to support LGBTQ+ youth pursuing post-secondary education.
Bill 7 Award - A scholarship for LGBTQ+ students in Ontario who are in financial need and facing barriers to education.
Enbridge Inc. 2SLGBTQ+ Scholarship - A scholarship for 2SLGBTQ+ students pursuing post-secondary education in Canada, particularly in energy-related fields.
TD Bank LGBTQ2+ Scholarships - Offers scholarships for LGBTQ2+ students in Canada through various programs.
Imperial Oil 2SLGBTQ+ Scholarship - Supports LGBTQ+ students pursuing studies in energy, STEM, and related fields.
Canada’s Luckiest Student Program (Student Life Network) - This program occasionally offers scholarships that are inclusive of LGBTQ+ students, with a focus on broad diversity. Student Life Network Scholarships
Scholarships & Bursaries in BC
1. Dhillon Centre Student Triumph Award (UBC Sauder)
Amount: $1,000
Eligibility: Undergraduate UBC Sauder student who identifies as 2SLGBTQiA+; based on leadership and community contributions mybcom.sauder.ubc.ca
2. Rainbow Foundation of Hope Education Entrance Scholarship (Langara College)
Support: Newcomer 2SLGBTQiA+ students entering college or university .
3. 2SLGBTQ+ Hospitality Scholarship (BC Hospitality Foundation)
Amount: $1,000
Eligibility: 2SLGBTQiA+ individual working or studying in hospitality in BC; includes essay and intent to stay in BC’s hospitality sector bchospitalityfoundation.com.
4. PSAC BC Regional Scholarships
Amount: $1,000 each (three available)
Eligibility: PSAC BC members or dependents identifying as equity-seeking (including 2SLGBTQIA+) enrolled full-time psacbc.com
5. BIG Difference BC Fundamentals Scholarship (UBC Sauder Continuing Studies)
Amount: $800 (up to 2 recipients)
Eligibility: Priority given to applicants identifying as IBPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, etc. continuingstudies.sauder.ubc.ca
BC Government & Institutional Support
WorkBC & StudentAid BC include search tools for bursaries and scholarships, including those for gender and sexual equity www2.gov.bc.ca.
Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA) offers a NUPGE Scholarship for 2SLGBTQIA+ students ($2,500, with HSA membership) hsabc.org.
Conclusion
The LGBTQ+ community has undergone significant transformation recently. Yet, individuals who encounter obstacles in their academic pursuits still need help. Fortunately, many organizations and corporations provide 2SLGBTQiA+ students with significant financial aid. It could take a bit of digging, but exploring these opportunities can giveyoung people the opportunity to achieve their goals and build a successful career. The above-mentioned scholarships might not list all 2SLGBTQiA+ scholarships. You can use standard search engines to help in your search, or ask chatGPT!
We’ll also keep an eye out for updates.
This article was last updated November 2025.