BOLT Financial Awards

BOLT Financial Awards are offered to students pursuing construction-related college or university programs. The awards are provided both directly through the BOLT Charitable Foundation and through our post-secondary and community partners. To date, BOLT has provided over 420 scholarships totaling $1.3 million.

Successful candidates receive $3,000 to $5,000 for the school year, depending on the type and length of their program.

We work with our industry partners to identify labour shortages in the skilled trades and other professions to ensure that programs related to those careers can be effectively supported. Once BOLT Financial Award recipients have completed their studies, every effort is made to help connect graduates to employment within the construction industry.

Please submit the complete application package to bolt@tridel.com. Application deadline is Friday, April 22 at 9PM.

Full-time student in a construction-related program at a college or university
You can demonstrate financial need
You are a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
Between the ages of 17-29 living in the Greater Toronto Area
You are passionate about a career in construction

Sustainability and Renewable Energy in Construction Student Award

BOLT is proud to introduce a dedicated financial award of $3,000 for the school year to an individual pursuing their studies in a program related to renewable energy and sustainability in construction. Eligibility criteria for applicants is the same as above, with candidates either entering their first or subsequent year into the program.

Eligible programs include, but are not limited to:

Sustainable Energy and Building Technology (Humber College);
Resources Drilling Technician (Fleming College);
Geothermal Systems (Fleming College);
Renewable Energy Techniques (Conestoga College); and
Applied Energy Management – Renewable Energy Stream (Conestoga College).

Lisa of Eligible Programs

Architecture or Architectural Technician/Technology
Building Automation
Building Renovation
Carpentry & Renovation
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Construction Boilermaker
Construction Engineering
Construction Management
Electrical Engineering
Electrician: Construction and Maintenance
Electromechanical Building Automation
Electromechanical Engineering
Energy Systems
Engineering Technology
Environmental Design/Studies
Fire Protection Engineering Technology
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
Home Renovation Technician
Industrial Woodworking Technician
Landscaping Technician
Mechanical Engineering
Renovation Technology
Sustainable Energy and Building Technology
Urban Planning/Studies
Welding

*Programs, courses or short-term trade related training that is relevant to construction but does not appear on the list will be evaluated on an individual basis. A link to the course/program should be submitted to Raly Chakarova at bolt@tridel.com for approval prior to completing the full application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Financial Awards are available?

There are 8 awards available for the 2021/2022 academic year.

Can I still apply if my program is not listed in the list of eligible programs?

Please email bolt@tridel.com with the website link to the college or university program you have applied to. We will answer you within 2 business days to let you know if the program is eligible.

Can I still apply if I don't have high grades?

Yes! While we review your grades, we look at the whole person, including your responsibilities, committments, jobs you’ve held, volunteer work, and, of course your passion for starting a career in construction. The long-form questions at the end of the application are a great opportunity to tell us about who you are and why you deserve the award.

Can I apply if my program has co-op?

Yes, as long as the program is on our eligible list or you have received prior approval from a BOLT team member. We can also help you with placement assistance for your co-op.

Can I apply if I'm a part-time student?

No. The BOLT Financial Awards program is open only to full-time students.

Can I apply if I'm doing block learning as part of my apprenticeship?

No. The BOLT Financial Awards program is open only to full-time students.

Can I apply for multiple years?

Yes, you can apply for the entire duration of your program. However, applications are accepted on an annual basis for the upcoming academic year, so you will submit an application for each year of your program.

Can I include an enrollment letter instead of an acceptance letter?

Yes. If you are a student going into subsequent years of your program, you can submit an Enrollment Verification letter along with trascripts from your last completed year.

Is the financial information based on the student or the parents/guardians?

The financial information required is based on the student. If you will be living with your parents, guardians or other family members and/or will be receiving financial support from them, please include that as part of pages 6 & 7 in the application.

Who can write a reference letter for me?

We recommend reaching out to a teacher, employer or supervisor at work, coach for a team sport you’ve played, guidance councellors, supervisor for volunteer work you’ve done, social worker, or anyone else who can speak about your character, work ethic, and accomplishments.

When will I find out if I was successful in getting the award?

We will notify both successful and unsuccessful candidates by June/July 2021.

What if I need help completing the application or have more questions?

Please bolt@tridel.com email with your questions or if you want to schedule a call to review your application with a member of the BOLT team before you submit your application.

PROGRAM PARTNERS

“Through job shadowing, one person stood out to me – a Health and Safety Specialist. Cheryl was extremely kind and knowledgeable, and I admired the fact that she was a woman working in construction. She truly inspired me while I shadowed her on site. After the program I was hired as a site administrator and 10 months later I was promoted to Health and Safety Specialist. As a result of BOLT, I was introduced to people and opportunities I did not think were possible for me. This program has given me an opportunity to better my life and the lives of those around me.”

Erika
Job Shadowing Participant
“Everyone was extremely kind and willing to teach and show me as much as possible. When it comes to looking to work in the trades, I now know for a fact that anything that has to do with hands on work is something that I want to pursue as my career. After the program, BOLT helped me enrol into the Hammer Heads program and now I’m working as a rodworker with Local 721.”

Hanibal
Job Shadowing Participant
“What I enjoyed the most was being able to see what trades I wanted to see and know more about, especially not knowing anything about them at all. I personally would recommend job shadowing to interested candidates because, based on my experience in the BOLT program, I got to learn actual lifelong skills and knowledge that I would need for my future career. I got to meet, learn from and work with amazingly skilled people.”

Avani
Job Shadowing Participant
“The best part about job shadowing was the tour taken with the project manager. It’s a career choice I’m now very interested in, so getting to understand what it’s like for such a massive project like The Well was fantastic. Listening to him explain to us the steps needed for various sections of the project and seeing the before of something great was fascinating.”

Angelo
Job Shadowing Participant

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