CIBC & TELUS launch $2 million bursary for Black students
CIBC Foundation and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation have announced a $2 million partnership to launch the TELUS Momentum Student Bursary, powered by CIBC Foundation, aimed at supporting young Black leaders in Canada.
Under this partnership, each foundation will contribute $1 million to provide up to 500 bursaries for students from the Black community. The initiative is intended to address financial and systemic barriers faced by young people pursuing post-secondary education, with additional backing in the form of technical, emotional, and career-focused support.
Programme features
The TELUS Momentum Student Bursary extends beyond monetary grants. Recipients will benefit from TELUS's Mobility for Good and Internet for Good programmes, providing affordable access to mobile and internet services. The bursary package also includes access to free, 24/7 mental health support via TELUS Health Student Support, financial planning tools through CIBC's Smart Planner and Best Student Life Bundle, and a range of career development opportunities enabled by TELUS.
The wrap-around support is designed to address multiple barriers to student achievement and well-being, especially for those from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
Impact stories
Students such as Yom Jipur, a Biomedical Engineering student at the University of British Columbia, and Soliyana Essayas, a Nursing student at the University of Alberta, have already benefited from the broader TELUS Student Bursary programme. Both individuals have demonstrated resilience and commitment to supporting fellow students and advancing healthcare equity in their communities.
Yom Jipur overcame significant hardships, including poverty and the journey to permanent residency, before becoming secretary of the UBC National Society of Black Engineers. Similarly, Soliyana Essayas transformed her experiences with systemic racism into advocacy, having founded her high school's Black Student Union and continuing to promote healthcare equity as a post-secondary student.
Statements from leaders
"This innovative partnership unites two leading Canadian Foundations with a shared vision to expand educational and leadership opportunities for our youth," said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO, TELUS. "Today's landmark funding commitment by the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and CIBC Foundation will enable us to further expand our TELUS Student Bursary program, equipping the next generation of leaders with the essential tools to realize their dream of post-secondary education while also effecting meaningful change within their communities. Together, we are paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic workforce in Canada, and creating a friendlier future for all Canadians."
Victor Dodig, President and CEO at CIBC, emphasised the foundations' continued commitment, stating:
"The launch of the TELUS Momentum Student Bursary, powered by CIBC Foundation is a testament to both Foundations' continued efforts in ensuring that our next generation of leaders have access to a brighter, more inclusive future. The bursary will generate momentum for their ambitions to flourish and help them address some of society's most pressing issues. Together, this new partnership helps us do even more to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to realize their ambitions."
Recipient Kay Palmer also reflected on the importance of the support:
"The support from CIBC Foundation and TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has given me the opportunity to focus on my studies and get involved in community work that I'm passionate about," said Kay Palmer, recipient of the TELUS Momentum Student Bursary, powered by CIBC Foundation. "My dream is to work in forensic psychology, and this support is helping me become the change I want to see. Together, we'll keep this momentum going and build a more inclusive tomorrow."
Programme reach
Since 2023, the TELUS Student Bursary programme has provided financial support to over 1,000 students in nine provinces and 93 schools. More than half of these recipients have been first-generation post-secondary students, according to information provided by TELUS and the CIBC Foundation.
The new partnership aims to build on this record, with applications for the 2025/26 academic year already underway. The first cohort of students to benefit from bursaries supported by the CIBC Foundation partnership will begin receiving support in Autumn 2025.
The joint initiative underscores a broader focus in Canada on inclusivity in educational access and professional development pathways, particularly for students facing both financial and social obstacles. Both TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and CIBC Foundation state that nurturing young leaders from the Black community aligns with their long-term commitments to strengthening Canadian communities and workplaces.
