This award is named in honour of Alex Decoteau, an Olympic athlete and Canada’s first Indigenous police officer, who joined the Edmonton police force in 1909. He died at the Battle of Passchendaele on October 30, 1917, while serving in the Canada’s Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The Alex Decoteau Award of Honour recognizes and rewards Canada’s Armed Forces and their immediate families by supporting their pursuit of post-secondary studies in Alberta.

Value

Up to 200 awards of $5,000 each are available.

Eligibility Criteria

Canadian Armed Forces member must be a returning soldier who:

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

An applicant who is a family member 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 designated military operations in the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserves), or
  • is deceased or permanently disabled while serving or as a result of a designated military operation or participation in Canadian Armed Forces training.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a public post-secondary institution in Alberta in a post-secondary program leading to an academic credential (e.g. journeyperson certificate, certificate, diploma, or degree including graduate programs).

An individual may receive a lifetime maximum of two awards.

How to Apply

All applicants must submit to Alberta Student Aid:

  • a completed and signed application form,
  • Member’s Personnel Record Resume (MPRR) for verification of military service dates and designated military operation, and
  • documentation showing relationship to the Canadian Armed Forces member, if not identified on the MPRR.

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. Disability-related documents may be obtained from Veteran Affairs Canada.

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 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

Apply for this award between August 1 and October 31.

Selection Process

The award will be issued after Alberta Student Aid confirms the recipient’s enrolment in a post-secondary institution.

Many other scholarships and awards are offered by other organizations – we encourage you to visit Alberta’s public university and college websites to research the scholarships that they offer.

For more information, see Alberta post-secondary institutions.