Sister Josie Gould was one of the original members of the Union of Northern Workers. Her untiring efforts had profound effects on union members who knew her over the years.
Because of her staunch commitment to the UNW, and because of her devotion to helping youth, the Josie Gould Scholarship was created upon her retirement.
After her death in 2008, the scholarship was renamed the "Josie Gould Memorial Scholarship."
Today, in her name, scholarships are awarded annually to ten students who understand the importance of the Labour Movement and who have been accepted for full time post-secondary study.
Since the first Josie Gould Scholarships were awarded in 2002, the UNW has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships.
The application period for the 2025 scholarship is now open!
2025 Scholarship
Who Can Apply
- Scholarships will be open to UNW members (in good standing as of June 30, 2025); current, retired and deceased members’ spouses, and relatives whose permanent place of residence is Canada, and who have been accepted for full time post-secondary study.
- The definition of a relative is: a spouse, parent, child (including a step‐child or foster child) or grandchild.
- No applicant will be awarded a scholarship in two (2) consecutive years.
Essay
With the application form, you must submit a double spaced, typed, three (3) page essay in Word or PDF format. No handwritten essays will be accepted. Please put a cover page on your essay, with your name, essay title, and date. Do not put your name on any other pages of the essay.
The following is the topic for your essay:
- Member involvement is essential for unions to function and flourish. Describe five (5) things unions could do to engage members and explain how each of those things would get more members actively involved.
In combination with your research, the committee will be looking for creativity such as personal experiences, discussions and/or interviews with others. If outside sources are used, then a list of resources and personal interviews, written and web based, must be included or the essay will not be accepted. Citations must be included in the body of the essay and the corresponding references included in the lists of resources. The list of resources should be on a separate page and does not count towards the three (3) page limit.
Submission and Deadline
Completed applications (along with essay and photo) must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm, Monday, June 30, 2025. Mailed applications must be postmarked by June 30, 2025. It is preferred that applications be submitted by email to: dfa @ unw.ca AND hq @ unw.ca
Any applications received late will not be considered; applicants can re‐apply the next year. Confirmation of applications received by UNW will be emailed to the applicant. Please retain confirmation.