- Programs
- Bursaries

Real Estate & Trades Bursary
Provide financial aid to Black Canadian High School students seeking to enter post-secondary education in a real estate-related field through a bursary awarded to students gaining acceptance to an accredited school.
Program Description
The RioCan and BNI Canadian Real Estate Bursary for Black High School Students focuses on supporting the Black community. The new bursary will help make post-secondary education ambitions a reality for disadvantaged graduating high-school students. Award recipients who meet all the criteria and are selected will receive funding support of up to $5,300 for a university degree program OR $2,650 for a trade education.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are high school students seeking post-secondary education in Canada.
The student must identify as Black (Afro-Caribbean, African Canadian, and/or racialized).
The student must provide proof of acceptance from a Canadian University/College or Trades School.
The student must demonstrate financial need.
The student must be enrolled in one of the qualified fields for commercial real estate. See the full list of qualified fields below.
Post-bursary Engagement:
Recipients will have the opportunity to sign on to the BlackNorth Connect Program for mentorship opportunities with some of Canada’s leaders and professionals.
Access to Summer 2024 internship opportunities established by RioCan.
For the recipients RioCan is unable to place in internships, BlackNorth will place in internships with other corporate partners and businesses.
List of Qualified Fields for Commercial Real Estate:
- Accounting Acquisitions/Dispositions Appraisal
- Architecture
- Asset Management Brokerage
- Business Development Commercial Insurance Commercial Lending Construction
- Management/General Contracting Consulting
- Corporate Real Estate Development, Real Estate Economic Development Engineering
- Environmental
- Facility Management
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Interior Design/Space Planning Investment Management
- Investor Relations
- Land Use Planning and Zoning Land Surveying
- Law
- Market Research
- Marketing
- Program Management/Project Management
- Property Management
- Public Sector
- Quasi-Governmental Transportation and Port Authorities
- Risk Management
- Urban Planning
Application for 2023 are closed.
For more information please contact us at
programs@blacknorth.ca

Athletes on Track
Providing financial support and world-class mentorship opportunities for Black student-athletes
Program Description
Athletes on Track is a bursary and mentorship program designed to financially support university-level student-athletes and supply them with the tools necessary to enter and thrive in the job market once they graduate. The program consists of a $5,000 bursary which will be awarded to Black student-athletes. A mentor will also be provided to each student by BNI for support and guidance in general skills such as resume building and public speaking, as well as topics targeted more specifically to each student’s requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
- The student-athlete must identify as Black (Afro-Caribbean, African Canadian, and/or racialized).
- The student-athlete must be enrolled at a Canadian University (U SPORTS).
- The student-athlete must demonstrate financial need.
- The student-athlete must be a member of a U SPORTS varsity team.
- Previously awarded winners will be eligible to re-apply in the future for the bursary, should they continue to meet program requirements.
Financial Component
- $5,000 bursary awarded to 4-8 Black student-athletes per year (based on funding).
- Recipients are encouraged to use this money towards room and board or books, however, there is no restriction on what the bursary can go towards.
This year funding is powered by Scotia Wealth Management, Sherrard Kutz LLP and Canada Basketball.
Mentorship Component
- Through the BlackNorth Connect Mentorship Platform, each bursary recipient will be paired with mentors, based on identified career aspirations.
- Mentors will include senior leadership & community leaders from our signatories and community network across Canada.
- Designed to improve accessibility for the Black Community to employment, internships, and mentorship opportunities.
Application for 2023 are closed
Scholarships with TMU

Since its creation in 2020, the BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) has been uniquely effective in rallying corporate Canada in the battle against anti-Black systemic racism. From board representation to a diverse workforce inclusion, from educational opportunity to pay equity, BNI has been shining a light on social and economic inequities and putting in place concrete measures and goals to address them.
BNI has focused its attention on the legal profession and legal education and the media industry and journalism education to increase the representation and inclusion of Black talent and voice. BNI’s mission to change the face of corporate Canada aligns with Toronto Metropolitan University’s desire to build a different kind of law and creative school that will equip its students with the multiplicity of perspectives required to be a champion for any and all people.
The Wes Hall Award for Black Journalism
A five thousand dollars annual award to be disbursed to:
- a first-year undergraduate student enrolled full-time in the School of Journalism
- who self-identifies as Black (including as Afro-Caribbean or African Canadian),
- demonstrates financial need,
- and demonstrate a commitment to their community.
To launch in Fall of 2022. For more information, please contact us at programs@blacknorth.ca.
The BlackNorth Initiative Scholarships
A renewable entrance scholarship of five thousand dollars to be awarded to five students:
- the same cohort of students enrolled full-time in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s JD Program of September 2021
- who self-identifies as Black (including as Afro-Caribbean or African Canadian),
- demonstrates financial need,
- and demonstrate a commitment to their community.
For more information, visit Scholarships & Awards – Lincoln Alexander School of Law – Ryerson University