Bernardi Bursary Application Portal

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR INTERNAL EMPLOYEES ONLY

Bursary History

In 2021, in honour of the 25th anniversary of Bernardi Human Resource Law, Lauren Bernardi, Founder of Bernardi Human Resource Law and CMHA Peel Dufferin Board Member, presented a cheque for $25,000 to CMHA Peel Dufferin. The generous donation was used to create the Bernardi Bursary. The bursary will serve to support staff members from marginalized communities to start or continue their education towards obtaining leadership roles within CMHA Peel Dufferin and beyond. The bursary provides the opportunity for CMHA Peel Dufferin staff to expand on their professional development, with the goal of and develop as leaders, connect with our community and ultimately to have leadership representative of the communities that we serve.

CMHA Peel Dufferin is dedicated to continuing to grow in their leadership, integrity, inclusiveness, advocacy, accessibility, and quality in order to support their mission to see mentally healthy people in a healthy society.

Purpose

Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin (“CMHA”) is committed to breaking down the systemic barriers that prevent people from furthering their education and support their pursuit of higher learning through post-secondary education. In support of our commitment to education, and CMHA employees, CMHA offers a bursary fund for employees that are enrolled in Part time and Full-Time undergraduate and/or graduate programs at a recognized post-secondary educational institution. We recognize the systemic barriers that historically disadvantaged groups have had to face in furthering their education.  It is for this reason that this bursary will provide priority to applicants who identify as a member of an historically disadvantaged group of persons. We acknowledge that removing and reducing existing barriers and preventing new barriers is required in providing opportunities that foster independence, inclusion, and dignity for people who have experienced discrimination and systemic oppression.

The intent of this bursary is to support ongoing educational efforts for employees in becoming mental health leaders and healthcare leaders of the future. CMHA is committed in our capabilities to support mental health initiatives and align them with federal and provincial priorities for Mental Health and Addiction services in Ontario; with the goal of improving community-based services and supports.

Scope

A permanent employee (including full-time, part-time and relief) of Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin, who has completed (12) months of continuous service with the organization, shall be eligible to apply for the bursary program.

Please see PolicyTech for the applicable policy and application eligibility, process and required application form.

Once you have completed the application form, please upload it here along with the required supporting documentation for consideration. Please use the "resume" and "cover letter" upload options for this.

If you have indicated that you will be submitting a video or completing an interview to satisfy section 5 of the application, a member of the Bernardi Bursary Committee will be in touch.

*Note* that applications without the required documents will not be considered. 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE for 2026/2027 academic year: Friday May 29th, 2026 at 12:00 PM