Ridzon and Skladany-Repasky Family Scholarship

Award created thanks to the generosity of the Ridzon family, the Skladany-Repasky family and the Canadian Slovak Benefit Society

Award Overview

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

Purpose of this Award

To assist undergraduate and graduate students at the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ottawa who wish to study Slovak and/or Central European societies and the history of immigrants from Europe to North America. 

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 in an undergraduate or graduate program at the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ottawa
  3. demonstrate an interest in studying Slovak and/or Central European societies and the history of immigrants from Europe to North America
  4. demonstrate academic excellence

How to Apply

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

  1. a letter (max. 500 words) written by the applicant and detailing their interest in studying Slovak and/or Central European societies and the history of immigrants from Europe to North America
  2. an unofficial copy of the applicant’s academic transcript
  3. a curriculum vitae

About this Award

This fund was established by the Ridzon family, the Skladany-Repasky family and the Canadian Slovak Benefit Society.   
Established in 1946, the Canadian Slovak Benefit Society served as a central pillar of the Slovak community in Canada. As the second-largest fraternal organization in the country, the society shaped the immigrant experience and contributed to public discourse through the publication of The Slovak Voice. Its mandate extended beyond mutual aid, fostering political consciousness rooted in democratic principles and the right to self-determination. Although the society concluded its administrative activities in 2005, this endowment ensures the continuation of its historical legacy by supporting academic research on Slovak and Central European societies. 
John and Adela Ridzon were born and raised in Pohronska Polhora, Slovakia, during the Austro-Hungarian era, when Slovak language and culture were not formally recognized. Although educated in Hungarian, they remained deeply rooted in their Slovak identity, language and traditions. John briefly served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I before immigrating to Canada in 1928, shortly after their marriage, with Adela joining him in 1932. They settled in Delhi, Ontario, where they worked in railway, factory and farming jobs, raised four daughters and supported Slovak cultural and faith-based organizations. Their lifelong commitment to education, faith and Slovak heritage is honoured through family support of the Chair in Slovak History and Culture at the University of Ottawa. 
The families of Stefan and Veronica Repasky of Montréal and Paul and Mary Skladany of Timmins arrived in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. From the gold mines of Northern Ontario to urban property management, they embodied the resilience and ingenuity of a generation of Slovak immigrants confronting economic hardship. Their journey of social mobility, built through determination and hard work, found its fullest expression in education, most notably through Paul Peter Skladany, a 1964 graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Commerce. This fund honours the families’ courage and commemorates their lasting contribution to Canadian society. 
Just as these families met challenges of their time, Central Europe today stands as a region where the future of democracy is being tested. Through the Chair in Slovak and Central European Studies, this fund enables students to examine both the region’s historical legacy and its contemporary transformations. By focusing on societal resilience, democratic culture and human rights, students supported by this fund will contribute to a deeper understanding of current global challenges. Ultimately, this financial support will help train experts capable of analyzing how the experiences of Slovakia and its neighbours can inform responses to the complexities of today’s interconnected world.