The Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund (MDSF) was established by Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) in 2009, in honour of the late Marion Dewar, former Mayor of Ottawa. The goal of the scholarship fund is to provide financial support to foster academic and leadership excellence in immigrant and refugee youth. The fund supplements the tuition and supplies required for their post-secondary education in the National Capital Region.
Each year, a scholarship of $1,500 each is awarded up to three immigrant and refugee youth.
Eligibility:
Be a resident of the National Capital Region
Be an immigrant or refugee
Demonstrate financial need
Be a graduating senior from a high school or from another accredited secondary institution in the National Capital Region
Be pursuing a degree/diploma/certificate from an accredited post-secondary institution in the National Capital Region
Have good academic standing: A minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 80%
Demonstrate leadership skills and community involvement
How to Apply for the MDSF
All candidates must complete the application form in either way:
The deadline for applications to the MDSF is 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025 We encourage all candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Marion Dewar was closely tied to the early years of OCISO. She was instrumental in shaping the City of Ottawa’s immigrant and refugee policy. In 1979, Ms. Dewar led the city in a bold test of collective action with Project 4000, where Ottawa residents joined together to sponsor 4,000 Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian refugees, offering them the opportunity of a new life in the nation’s capital. Project 4000 earned Canada international recognition from the United Nations. These Southeast Asian refugees were among OCISO’s first clients.
