You can donate to the Bursary Fund using Paypal! Just click the button to donate as much as you choose. Thanks!

Note that we are a not-for-profit association but not a registered charity, and so we can't issue tax receipts.

VE Bursary Fund: Ottawa

The Venus Envy Bursary

Created in winter 2000 as a way to give something back to the community that supports Venus Envy, the Bursary Fund aims to support women and trans people in need who wish to further their education. We raise money by throwing parties and other local events, donations from store proceeds, and private donations.

We are always impressed by the diversity of the applicants and the interesting things they are studying and what their plans are for the future. It's exciting each year to open the envelopes and find out a little bit about some of the people who live in our community. Sometimes the stories are sad and painful to read but always told with a strength and a hopefulness that makes us wish we had more money to give to more people!

We particularly welcome applications from people of colour, First Nations and trans people and encourage applicants to self-identify.

The Ottawa Program

Started in 2006, the Venus Envy Ottawa Bursary Fund awards two people in the Ottawa area each a $1500 bursary. The bursary is awarded based primarily on need but also community involvement and other criteria.

We raise money by throwing parties, and other local events, donations from Bursary Mondays, and private donations. You can pick up a zine or a button at the store or shop on the first Monday of each month to help us raise more cash!

The Venus Envy Bursary Society is registered as an incorporated, non-profit organization in Ontario.

How to apply

To be eligible, you must:

identify as a woman and/or as trans*; AND
be studying in the Ottawa Carleton area; AND
be currently enrolled in a certificate, degree or diploma program.

You will be asked about your:

financial need;
work and volunteer experience;
proposed program of study.

The application form (link at the bottom of this page) must be printed off and mailed, faxed or delivered (completed, and with supporting documentation) to the Ottawa store, using the contact information on the application.

Be sure to include all supporting information! Incomplete applications are not considered.

If you aren't able to print the application, copies are available in-store.

How to help

Donations are most welcome! We would like to give bursaries to a greater number of people each year; the more money we can raise, the more people will benefit from the fund. Venus Envy Ottawa donates 5% of sales on the first Monday of every month. So come in to the store, make a donation, or sponsor an event in support of the fund! We welcome any and all suggestions from the Ottawa community in general. Please feel free to contact us with your ideas.

News

In 2012 and early 2013, we have been so lucky to work with the Sexual Overtones (sexualovertones.ca) once again as well as Wed By Hand (wedbyhand.com) and Idle Hands Craft Sale (idlehandscraftsale.blogspot.c a). These awesome local organizations are doing cool things in Ottawa and we're happy to be both the recipient of their generosity as well as associated with them in their community building. We threw some kick ass parties this past year too, with the help of Fall Down Gallery (falldowngallery.tumblr.com) and Babylon Night Club (www.babylonclub.ca) as well as dozens of volunteers and performers, it's been one heck of a year for us! One of the most exciting things we've done lately is a public service type video (one in french and one in english) so that we can promote the bursary fund more easily to students and folks who work with students. I'll post them here shortly!

2011 was an incredible year for the VEBF! We threw more parties and raised more money than any year in out history! Check out an upcoming Certain Sort or Q Bounce party to support the fund (and have a blast)! Join the Ottawa Venus Envy group on Facebook to keep track of the parties, other events and bursary news in general.

In 2010, the bursary grew to offer more money! We're now awarding $1500 to at least two people each year, a nice jump for the $1000 we've offered in the past.

In both 2009 and 2010, Catherine Purdie and the Hot Women Fall Nights Dance for donating $800 to the fund.

In 2009, Ladyfest Ottawa (ladyfestottawa.com) donated $500 from their fabulous "Tarts and Crafts" sale as did the Sexual Overtones (sexualovertones.ca) from "Get Sprung" on April 4th! And the fine folks at Unholy Harvest (unholyharvest.ca) have made us their recipient in both 2009 and 2010.

We continue to raise about $50 a month selling zines by Megan Butcher and cute pins created by Jimmie Sepulis of ballyhoomedia.com. Bursary Mondays are still going strong; come into VE on the first Monday of each month and 5% of your purchases will be donated to the fund. In 2010 over $1100 was raised from your purchases on Bursary Mondays!

Thanks!

Over the years, many people have helped with the bursary fund. Some of the most constant supporters have been Ottawa board member and performer/writer, Megan Butcher (meganbutcher.com), Ottawa DJ CPI (thetastates.com), illustrator/designer Candace Sepulis (ballyhoomedia.com), and graphic designer Amy Campbell (www.amycampbell.ca/design). The board in Ottawa is currently comprised of Shelley Taylor, Meera Chander, Kathryn Trevenen, Andrea Simms Karp, Simmi Dixit, and Megan Butcher. Of course a host of other board members, selection committee people, volunteers and performers have made the bursary fund fly and for that we love you forever! If you're interested in donating money, raising money, sitting in the selection process or have some great ideas for us, please contact Shelley Taylor.

Contact us

Venus Envy Bursary Fund

320 Lisgar Street

Ottawa, ON K2P 0E2

613 789 4646

ottawabursary@venusenvy.ca

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Venus-Envy-Ottawa/470523735520

Application!