​​Senator Josée Forest-Niesing Bursary​

This award was created in loving memory of Senator Josée Forest-Niesing

Award Overview

Value of the award:
Minimum $1,000
Number of awards:
Variable
Award frequency:
Annual
Level or program of study:
Undergraduate
Application Type:
Online Scholarship and Bursaries portal, accessible via uoZone.
Application Deadline:
November 3
Renewable:
No

Purpose of this Award

To award bursaries to students in financial need from Northern Ontario in the French Common Law Program (including joint programs) or the Canadian Law Program.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidate must:

  1. be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a person with protected or refugee status, or an international student
  2. be enrolled full time in the French Common Law Program (including joint programs) or the Canadian Law Program at the University of Ottawa
  3. demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid and Awards Service of the University of Ottawa
  4. have received a high school diploma from a school in Northern Ontario
  5. demonstrate a desire to protect and promote Francophone culture and advocate for vulnerable and underrepresented communities, as Josée Forest-Niesing did in her personal and professional life

How to Apply

Submitted in the Online Scholarship and Bursaries portal, accessible via uoZone, and must include:

  1. the Financial Questionnaire
  2. an official transcript from a Northern Ontario high school
  3. a letter (500 words max.) outlining the applicant’s desire to protect and promote Francophone culture and to advocate for vulnerable and underrepresented communities, as Josée Forest-Niesing did in her personal and professional life

About this Award

This bursary was created by the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, in memory of Senator Josée Forest-Niesing (1964–2021), whose exemplary commitment to justice and the Francophonie continue to inspire the legal community.
Creation of this bursary was made possible through the generosity of her family and friends, and major funding from Desjardins Ontario Credit Union.
Senator Forest-Niesing (LLB ’88) graduated from the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa and practised law in her hometown of Sudbury for 20 years, before being named to the Senate in 2018. A proud Franco-Ontarian, she always advocated passionately for access to justice in both official languages, as well as being involved in Canadian Francophone associations, including as president of the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario (AJEFO), chair of the Université de Sudbury’s Conseil des régents and a member of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada.
In recognition of her many contributions to the community and advocacy for the rights of francophones, the Hon. Josée Forest-Niesing was named to the AJEFO’s Ordre du mérite and was recognized by the Common Law Honour Society at the University of Ottawa.