Photo via ywcapeterborough.org
The YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is now accepting applications for the 2026 Hazel Education Bursary.
The bursary supports women who have experienced gender-based violence and are working toward education, training, or skills development to improve their economic security. Awards range from $500 to $2,500.
Applicants must be residents of Peterborough or Haliburton County and have faced barriers related to violence or abuse while pursuing further education or training.
The program honours the legacy of Hazel, who was a community volunteer and advocate, and whose friends and supporters created the education fund following her death in 1996. The bursary has been offered since 1998.
Hazel: A Daughter’s Perspective
Hazel, my mother, was a strong woman who shared her spirit with as many people as possible. You will now carry her spirit too.
Who was she? A woman. A beginner. A mother. A shoulder. A leader. A past. She met her struggles and endured. She saw others struggle and showed them how to survive. She shared the roads she travelled, and the experiences and lessons she learned.
While battling the bout of cancer, she took us — my brother, sister, and I, from a life of domination and violence. We were faced with nothing, but what we were leaving behind posed such a threat that “nothing” was better than how we had lived. Alongside Mum, many have faced overwhelming battles and carried on. Rebuilding our lives through such hurdles as court, lawyers, house seeking, and remaining safe, she found ways to deal with her own pain on the side and showed us how to live this new life. These experiences she used later to give a chance to friends, colleagues and acquaintances.
When people met the strength of this smiling, laughing woman little did they know their lives would be enriched by her knowledge and life experiences. She overcame obstacles that stood in the ways of success. This carried her back into the world we left; only now she was addressing these family oriented barriers facing other women, such as child health, subsidized housing, and personal welfare issues. She befriended all those she touched.
Mum believed that everyone deserves a chance and that chances should be made possible. She learned to speak out and encouraged others to stand up and be heard. Today, you are receiving a chance to pursue your dreams. Perhaps you have overcome some barriers already.
Now you are being given a chance to take another step towards your goal. Not only are you making a place for women through your actions but you are also carrying her spirit with you. Thank you.
Applications for 2026 Hazel Education Bursary are open until Friday, May 1 at 4 pm and can be submitted online.
To learn more about YWCA Hazel Education Bursary, or to apply, visit http://ywcapeterborough.org/get-help/education/or contact Emily Jensen, Executive Assistant at 705-743-3526 ext. 120 or ejensen@ywcapeterborough.org.
