July 16, 2025 – The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation (VJKF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Antonieta (Mar-y-paz) Rivera as its new Executive Director. This significant step in the Foundation’s growth has been made possible through generous funding support from the North Family Foundation, whose commitment to Indigenous education and leadership development is deeply appreciated....
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
ICORD’s summer research program for Indigenous youth started as a pilot in the summer of 2018 to introduce local Indigenous high school students to the exciting world of spinal cord injury (SCI) research. From one student in 2018, the program tripled in size to three students in 2019, and again to nine students in 2021....
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...
The Verna J Kirkness Education Foundation announced today the appointment of Mark Whitmore to the Foundation Board of Directors. Dr. Whitmore holds degrees in Mathematics and Physics from McMaster University. He was a faculty member at Memorial University of Newfoundland from 1977 to 2014, where he also held a variety of academic administrative positions. He moved...
