Awards & Scholarships
Award of Excellence
In recognition of Best Buddies Canada Month, which is recognized in March, our team selects a group of Chapters from across Canada to be recipients of the Award of Excellence. We acknowledge and commend the incredible work that these Chapters have done in promoting inclusion and creating friendships for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Award of Excellence Recipients!
Past Award of
Excellence Recipients
Spirit of Friendship Award
Congratulations to our Spirit of Friendship Winners for 2024-2025, Sara and Fatima!
The Spirit of Friendship Award is a national award given to only one buddy pair who exemplifies the true meaning of friendship and who have become ambassadors of the Best Buddy program.
Nominate a Buddy Pair who:
- Have been matched for at least one academic year
- Have an enduring friendship
- Have a truly significant impact on each other’s lives
- Have formed a strong bond and true friendship
SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP AWARD NOMINATION FORM
The Spirit of Friendship pair will become our spokes-pair for the year following their award and will be expected to be available to participate in special events in their region.
Please fill out the Nomination Form and include a video essay (5 minutes or less) and photo.
Past Spirit of Friendship Award Winners
James Raymond Cowling Foundation Scholarship
James Raymond Cowling came from humble beginnings. He cut his teeth at Menzies-Gibson Limited at 80 George Street in Toronto. Over the years, Ray’s career blossomed. He became one of Canada’s leading independent food brokers, importers and distributors. Ray finished his business career as the founder and president of the Cowling Group of Companies. He was a great philanthropist who helped children with intellectual disabilities. Through James Raymond Cowling Foundation, established in 1994, he committed the inaugural gift of $500,000 to Best Buddies Canada’s endowment fund.
Our 2024–2025 application period is now closed. Applications will reopen in 2026—stay tuned for more details.
To recognize the efforts of our exceptional participants we are offering scholarships to support their post-secondary education. Open to Best Buddies Canada participants registered in the 2024-2025 academic year.
2 scholarships are valued at $750; one for a peer buddy involved in a high school or post-secondary Chapter and one for a buddy going to post-secondary or to advance their skills or experience.
The scholarship recognizes students who have made an outstanding contribution to their Best Buddies Chapter in Canada.
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Scholarship Winners, Chloe and Farrah!
Criteria for Scholarships:
- Have been noticeably involved with Best Buddies Canada for at least one school/program year.
- Have made significant contributions toward advancing the Best Buddies mission in their school and/or wider community.
- Open to only Canadian Best Buddies participants registered in the current academic year.
- Will be pursuing post-secondary studies or other developmental courses in the upcoming school year.
Please click the button below to complete and submit the Application Form and email all supporting documents to info@bestbuddies.ca, by May 30, 2025
James Raymond Cowling Foundation Scholarship Application Form
Please complete the Application Form and return it along with all supporting documents by email to info@bestbuddies.ca, before May 30, 2023
Criteria for Scholarships:
- Have been noticeably involved with Best Buddies Canada for at least one school year.
- Open to only Canadian Best Buddies participants registered in the current academic year.
- Will be pursuing post-secondary studies or other developmental courses in the upcoming year.
