FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation (VJKF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Teassa MacMartin as Program Director. Teassa MacMartin is an Indigenous woman and mother, born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and a proud member of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation on Treaty 1 Territory. She brings to VJKF a strong academic...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation (VJKF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Chowdhury as Executive Director. Neil assumed the role in October 2025. Neil has been involved with VJKF since 2019, beginning as a summer student and continuing to contribute to the Foundation in various capacities over the years....
In recognition of outstanding students, UVic awards more than 12.5 million dollars in scholarships and awards each year. Many of these scholarships are designated for Indigenous Students. Visit their website to learn more about available scholarships: https://webfilters.uvic.ca/scholarships?fsselect=Indigenous+students
STEM fields are critical in advancing health care and driving economic success in Canada, yet Indigenous representation in these skilled, well-paid positions remains disproportionately low. seed2STEM, a summer research program for Indigenous high school students in Metro Vancouver and Kelowna, aims to increase Indigenous participation in STEM by introducing Indigenous youth to STEM fields in a...
On this National Truth and Reconciliation Day, The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation (VJKF) honors the survivors of residential schools, their families, and the many Indigenous communities that continue to heal from the trauma of this dark chapter in Canadian history. We acknowledge the painful legacy of the residential school system, which sought to erase Indigenous...
In a ceremony overflowing with significance and promise, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) celebrated the formal installment of DeDe DeRose as its esteemed Chancellor. The event, held amidst the serene backdrop of TRU’s Kamloops campus, marked a pivotal moment in the institution’s history, symbolizing a renewed commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and Indigenous empowerment. DeDe DeRose’s ascension...
COCHRANE, AB, April, 2023. Governor General Mary Simon grants Viceregal Patronage to the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation. Her Excellency and the Foundation have a history of serving and supporting Indigenous Peoples in Canada and now look forward to building this new relationship on their mission ahead. The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation works to...
KAMLOOPS, BC, June 28, 2022 — On the territory of the Tkumlups te Secwepemc near the Kamloops Indian Residential School, where unmarked graves were found in June 2021, the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation Board Chair, Tony Williams, announced the termination of the relationship between the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation (VJKF) and the Sisters...
Cochrane, Alberta, January 25, 2022 — The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation is pleased to announce Amber Boyd as the new Executive Director for the foundation. Amber holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, a Human Resource Management Certificate and a Creative Writing Certificate from the University of Calgary. She is a Registered Professional...
