The Cordova Bay Association, in conjunction with Claremont Secondary School, has established two annual one-time $500 scholarships intended to encourage a Claremont graduating student who is a resident of Cordova Bay to pursue further education at a recognized BC post-secondary institution and a student from W̱SÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən Nations to pursue further education at a recognized BC post-secondary Institution (new for 2022). For more details on these awards please go to the end of this page. We thank Lynda Vallee, former CBA board member and Transportation Committee co-chair, for spearheading this wonderful initiative.
June, 2024
CBA 2024 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS By Gloria Wills, CBACA 1st Vice-President
In 2024, one scholarship was awarded to a very deserving Cordova Bay resident and graduating student James McNamee. James is anticipating receiving a conditional acceptance to Simon Fraser University.
He has lived in Cordova Bay since July 2016 when his family moved here from the Westshore. He attended Cordova Bay Elementary School, Royal Oak Middle School and Claremont Secondary School.
The ways in which James has served his community include:
- Running and fundraising in 10+ Terry Fox Runs for cancer research;
- Representing Claremont Secondary or his community in soccer, lacrosse, hockey and rugby tournaments locally, provincially and as far away as Denver, Dallas and Seattle;
- Assisting in Terry Fox Run for Cordova Bay Elementary School kids;
- Participating in beach clean up;
- Receiving the Claremont Service/Citizenship Award for his longterm commitment to extra curricular volunteering (both visible and behind the scenes) and for making a positive contribution to the school community:
Congratulations James we wish you much success!
June, 2023
CBA 2023 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS By Barb Lucas, CBACA President
In 2023, one scholarship, the CBACA Community Award Scholarship, was awarded to very deserving Cordova Bay resident and graduating student Kaitlin Low. In June 2023 Barb Lucas, CBACA President was very pleased to make the presentation to Kaitlin at the Claremont Awards Ceremony. Kaitlin has lived in Cordova Bay her entire life. In her early years she enjoyed being part of the Cordova Bay Fastball League and participating in activities in partnership with the 55+ Association. At Claremont, Kaitlin regularly volunteered within the community through Claremont’s Key Club, an international student-led service and volunteering organization, and has received Claremont Service and Citizenship awards for her positive contributions to the school community. CBACA wishes Kaitlin much success in her upcoming year at UVic!
June, 2022
CBA 2022 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS By Gloria Wills, CBACA 1st Vice-President
It is my pleasure to announce that the recipients of this year’s Community Award Scholarships are Cheyanne Tinoco and Aaron McMicking. Cheyanne is our inaugural winner of the Cordova Bay ȾEL¸IȽĆE / c̓əl̓íɫč First Nations Scholarship Award and both recipients are Grade 12 graduating students at Claremont Secondary School, who are now set on pursuing academic goals at Camosun College and the University of Victoria respectively. The Award Certificate, together with a cheque for $500, was presented to Cheyanne and Aaron on June 28, 2022.
Cheyanne’s teachers describe her as incredibly gifted, and enthusiastically shares her talents with the world. She is so creative and hardworking. She loves to share W̱SÁNEĆ culture, hosting workshops for the community and district. She was a great stage manager of the play last year.
Growing up in Cordova Bay, Aaron played soccer with the Cordova Bay Soccer Club/Saanich Fusion Football Association for 8 years. He has volunteered with a variety of organizations, but mostly with Haliburton Community Organic Farm near the Claremont campus. He has volunteered with marine organizations in Cordova Bay regarding the monitoring and restoration of local beaches and ocean habitats.
The Cordova Bay Scholarship Award was first introduced in 2019 in partnership with Claremont Secondary School and the Cordova Bay ȾEL¸IȽĆE / c̓əl̓íɫč First Nations Scholarship Award was started this year in 2022. The Cordova Bay ȾEL¸IȽĆE / c̓əl̓íɫč First Nations Scholarship Award, named after the original village site in Cordova Bay ȾEL¸IȽĆE (in SENĆOŦEN) c̓əl̓íɫč (in lək̓ʷəŋən), honours young peoples’connections to this place into the future. This is a newly created scholarship, intended to support a graduating student who is a member of the W̱SÁNEĆ or lək̓ʷəŋən First Nations community or other closely related First Nation, and demonstrates commitment to their community, through work on their culture, language, leadership skills, or other teachings.
These annual awards are a onetime $500 scholarship intended to encourage Claremont graduating students who are a resident of Cordova Bay to pursue further education at a recognized B.C. post-secondary institution. Congratulations, Cheyanne and Aaron! The Cordova Bay Association for Community Affairs wishes you every success as you enter your post- secondary education, and all the best in your future endeavours.
June, 2021
This year’s Community Award Scholarship is Akash Dhillon. Akash is a Grade 12 graduating student at Claremont Secondary School, who is now set on pursuing his academic goals at the University of Victoria studying Social Studies. The Award Certificate, together with a cheque for $500, was presented to Akash mid-June. Unfortunately, with the ongoing COVID restrictions on gatherings, there was no graduation ceremony to allow the handover in person. Growing up in Cordova Bay, and when not at school, Akash could be found on the local soccer fields, initially playing with Saanich Fusion, and then Lakehill and Island Fire, and went on to share his passion for the beautiful game by coaching and refereeing in the community. Akash is also an active member of Apna Virsa, a south Asian cultural association where dance plays a prominent role in the development of the Indian youth of the Greater Victoria community. He performs as both a student and teacher of dance; demonstrating leadership by example for multiple generations taking pride in their heritage.
Congratulations, Akash! The Cordova Bay Association for Community Affairs
wishes you every success as you enter your 1st year at UVic, and all the best
in your future endeavours.
August, 2020
Jacob Rambo is the very deserving 2020 CBA community award scholarship winner. Jacob’s cover letter included: “I have passion, and I love my community. Ever since I moved here I have volunteered to improve my Cordova Bay. From simply cleaning up garbage and doing the recycling at my school, to volunteering to dispose of old Christmas trees, something about it just makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than myself. I love Cordova Bay because it has given me a lot to be thankful for”.
Congratulations Jacob!
June, 2019
CBA President Larry Gontovnick presented the inaugural Cordova Bay Community Award Scholarship to Claremont Secondary School grade 12 graduating student Emma Kapus at the June 26th, 2019 Claremont Secondary School Awards Event. Emma grew up, attended school, volunteered, worked and demonstrated good leadership in our Cordova Bay community. We wish Emma much success in university as she pursues a career in nursing.
Cordova Bay Claremont Secondary School Scholarship Award
This is a annual one-time $500 award intended to encourage a Claremont graduating student to pursue further education at a recognized BC post-secondary institution. This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating student from Claremont who meets the following criteria:
1) Is a resident of Cordova Bay
2) Is able to demonstrate commitment to the community, and that they possess good leadership skills.
3) Is able to provide a cover letter that explains why they think they qualify for the award, giving specific examples, as to how they meet the criteria outlined above. A copy of this letter is to be provided to the President of the CBA before the June annual awards ceremony.
4) Is able to provide transcripts demonstrating grades appropriate to the entrance requirements of their chosen BC post-secondary program.
5) Is able to provide a letter of conditional acceptance from a BC post-secondary institution for a post-secondary program that will commence in the fall of their graduating year.
6) Must not have received another scholarship of a value greater than $2,000.
Eligible graduating students must complete a Claremont Application Form prior to the application deadline. Documents that need to be included with the application form are: a resume, cover letter and a transcript of grade 11 and 12 marks to date. All documents must be complete and handed into the Claremont Scholarship Coordinator. The Claremont Scholarship Committee will choose the successful candidate.
The successful candidate is required to write a letter to the CBA to share how this award helped in their
post-secondary studies.
Cordova Bay ȾEL¸IȽĆE / c̓əl̓íɫč First Nations Scholarship Award
This is a annual one-time $500 award intended to encourage students from W̱SÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən Nations to pursue further education at a recognized BC Post-Secondary Institution. The award is named after the original village site in Cordova Bay ȾEL¸IȽĆE (in SENĆOŦEN) c̓əl̓íɫč (in lək̓ʷəŋən), and the CBACA honours young peoples’ connections to this place into the future.
This award will be awarded to a graduating student from Claremont Secondary School who meets the following criteria:
1) Is a member of the W̱SÁNEĆ or lək̓ʷəŋən First Nations community (ie: Tsawout, Tsartlip, Tseycum, Pauchaquin, Songhees, Esquimalt, or other closely related First Nation).
2) Is able to provide a letter of conditional acceptance from a BC Post-Secondary Institution for a post-secondary program that will commence in the Fall of their graduating year.
3) Is able to demonstrate commitment to their community, through work on their culture, language, leadership skills, or other teachings that connect to their community.
Students must complete a Claremont Application Form (provided by Claremont Secondary School). To demonstrate the student fits the criteria for this award, they must provide a cover letter that explains why they think they qualify for the award, giving specific examples, as to how they meet the criteria outlined above. A copy of this letter is to be provided to the President of the Cordova Bay Association for Community Affairs before the awards ceremony. Also included in the application would be evidence of post-secondary acceptance OR a transcript of grade 11 and 12 marks to date. All documents must be complete and handed into the Claremont Scholarship Coordinator.
Claremont Scholarship Committee will choose the successful candidate. The award will be presented to the successful candidate at the Claremont June Awards Ceremony by the President of the Cordova Bay Association of Community Affairs.
During the calendar year of the receipt of this award, the successful candidate is requested to write a letter to the Cordova Bay Association for Community Affairs to share how this award helped in their post-secondary studies.
