CUPE BC offers the Aubrey Burton/Reg Ford Memorial Scholarship annually to CUPE members, their spouses or their children. Four scholarships valued at $1,000 each are awarded to students entering their first year of Post-Secondary education.

The scholarship was created in honour of two CUPE activists:

Aubrey Burton was a CUPE Representative in the Kootenays during the 1960s. Before CUPE was formed, many locals hired Business Reps from within their ranks to represent them, and that was the case with Aubrey. He was a Trail Civic Worker but also got paid to do work for other Locals in the Kootenays. When CUPE was officially formed, he became a Staff Representative.

Along with fellow Staff Representative Peter Drieger, Aubrey serviced CUPE Locals throughout B.C. outside of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Together, Drieger and Burton were credited with organizing many small communities into CUPE and negotiating first agreements that contained no contracting-out language. Aubrey was killed in a car accident on the Upper Levels highway. He was working for CUPE at the time of his death.

Reg Ford was President of CUPE 402 for several years in the late 1970s and early 80s. Also a Vice- President of CUPE BC, he was well known as a health and safety activist. Tragically, he was killed in an accident at his home while trimming a tree in his yard. Reg was very active in the labour movement at the time of his passing.

ELIGIBILITY

1. Parent, Guardian or Spouse of Applicant, or the Applicant her/himself must be a member in good standing of a CUPE Local affiliated to CUPE BC at the time of application.
   
   
2. Applicant must have completed Grade 12 in the current or previous calendar year, or the applicant must be a mature student who has not previously enrolled at a Post-Secondary Institution.
   
   
3. Applicant must be entering first year of a recognized public post-secondary institution in BC. A copy of the acceptance letter from the admitting institution must be supplied.
   
   
4. Applicant must complete an online application form supported by copies of the Senior Secondary Statement and Letter(s) of Reference from a School Principal or Counsellor.
   

SELECTION

1. One attending a public University (applicant with the highest GPA).
   
   
2. One attending a public Community College (applicant with the highest GPA).
   
   
3. One attending a public trades or technical institution (applicant with the highest GPA).
   
   
4. One based on a “lottery draw” of all applications.
   

All applications and accompanying documents must be submitted by Thursday, July 31, 2025