The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program, which will award a total of $15,000 to local high school students. The program provides three separate $5,000 scholarships aimed at supporting students pursuing education in manufacturing, skilled trades, and business.
Applications for the awards are open until April 26, 2026. According to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the scholarship initiative was first launched in 2023 to help address the need for new talent in these key sectors. This effort comes at a time when the provincial government predicts that Ontario will need over 400,000 skilled tradespeople in the next decade to replace workers who are retiring.
The scholarships are made possible through the support of corporate sponsors. For the 2026 program, the manufacturing scholarship is sponsored by BUNN, the skilled trades scholarship is supported by Alectra Utilities, and the business scholarship is sponsored by Lenard Lind Realty.
The program has grown since its inaugural year in 2023, when it awarded two $5,000 scholarships to students pursuing careers in manufacturing and skilled trades. In subsequent years, the chamber expanded the program to include the third scholarship dedicated to business studies. The organization, currently led by board chair David Olesen, continues to focus on connecting youth with local career opportunities.
