Eligibility Criteria

Citizenship and Residency

To be eligible for the Alex Decoteau Award of Honour, a student must be a:

• Canadian citizen, or
• permanent resident of Canada, or
• protected person, as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).

A student must have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) to be eligible for financial assistance from Alberta Student Aid. Students with questions about applying for a SIN may contact:

• Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218

Protected persons must be able to document that their protected person status is valid at the start of their current study period.

Protected persons must provide copies of the following documentation:

• a temporary Social Insurance Number (SIN) card or confirmation of SIN letter showing a 900 series SIN number, and
  
  
• a Notice of Decision issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board or Verification of Status document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Protected Persons Status Documents issued prior to January 2013 are acceptable as well.

Students with only a study permit or a work permit (e.g., visa students) are not eligible.

Students must also meet Alberta residency criteria and other eligibility requirements to be eligible.

Program Eligibility

To be eligible for the Alex Decoteau Award of Honour, a student must currently reside in Alberta and attend an Alberta institution.

Canadian Armed Forces Member must be returning soldiers who:

• actively served in designated military operations in the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserves), or

• were permanently disabled as a result of participation in the Canadian Armed Forces training.

Applicants who are a family members of a Canadian Armed Forces Member must be a spouse/common-law partner or child of a Canadian Armed Forces soldier who:

• actively served in a designated military operation in the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserves), or
• is deceased or permanently disabled as a result of serving in a designated military operation in the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserves or as a result of participation in Canadian Armed Forces training.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a publicly funded post-secondary institution in Alberta in a post-secondary program that leads to a credential (e.g. journeyperson certificate, certificate, diploma, or degree including graduate programs).

Application Process

All applicants must submit to Alberta Student Aid:

• a completed application form, and
• Canadian Armed Forces Member’s Personnel Record Resume for verification of military service dates and designated military operation.

Canadian Armed Forces members must submit:

• Proof of disability, if applicable. The document should indicate if disability was the result of participation in Canadian Armed Forces training. Please indicate the nature of the disability. 

Family members of a Canadian Armed Forces member must submit:

• Proof of death or disability, if applicable. The document should indicate if the death or disability was the result of having served in the designated military operation or Canadian Armed Forces training. If a disability, please indicate the nature of the disability.

Disability-related documents related to the above two scenarios may be obtained from Veteran Affairs Canada.

A list of current and past designated military operations of the Canadian Armed Forces is available on the Government of Canada website.

Deadline

October 31 of each year

Payment

The award payment will be made by the end of December after Alberta Student Aid confirms the recipient’s enrolment in a post-secondary institution.