The Christie Foreman and Christopher Wong Scholarship
When Christie Foreman and Christopher (Chris) Wong set out to create a scholarship for Banff locals, the priority was giving back to their beloved community.
The result was a beautiful reflection of one of the things they love most about Banff: how people can take such vastly different paths in life to arrive at the same destination.
The Christie Foreman and Christopher Wong Scholarship supports young adults on non-traditional education paths. That could look like a lapse in schooling for a period of time, a major career change later in life, or any number of unique directions to finding a career.
We sat down with Chris Wong to get a better understanding of the scholarship, its inspiration, and the pair’s passion for our mountain town.
The Christie Foreman and Christopher Wong Scholarship supports further education for people who may not have taken the more traditional route through school. What inspired this unique scholarship?
We owned a business in Banff for about a decade and fell in love with the community. A local business needs residents to support it, and so the success of our work boiled down to the people who live here.
We wanted to give back and at the same time lead by example and encourage other businesses to follow suit.
Starting a scholarship was always on our bucket list, but we weren’t sure exactly how. That’s when former BCF executive director, Lorraine Widmer-Carson, suggested we look at gaps in the current scholarship coverage.
That really resonated with us, and we thought: “What about those people who fall off of the more traditional career path?”
We found that encompasses a lot of people in Banff because people come here from overseas or across Canada and take a break from their education. There weren’t many scholarship opportunities available for that group so we wanted to support people who otherwise didn't have as many funding avenues.
Do you find the scholarship reflects a more real-world understanding of how life can play out?
Absolutely. We don't want people to miss out on opportunities just because they took a slightly different path to get to the same place.
Practical, real-world application is very important to us. This support rewards someone who's making a sensible decision as well as pursuing something that may help them give back to the community in the long run.
We want to make it easier for these adventurous folks to stay in Banff where the whole community can benefit.
What kind of careers does the scholarship support?
We’ve been able to help recipients become future teachers, wildlife conservationists, and even dental hygienists.
The scholarship isn’t limited to university, however. It's a very wide breadth and could even include additional first aid training, avalanche safety, or any type of educational program that has real-world benefits to our community in the long run.
Why was it important for you to invest in the community through a scholarship?
Something interesting about scholarships, particularly with how BCF administers them, is that the scholarship will hopefully outlive you.
That becomes particularly impactful when you start to consider that we just want to help leave the community in better shape than when we joined it. The scholarship has the potential to continue to give back to the community for generations to come.
What is it about the Bow Valley that has captured your hearts?
There's so much. The people and the real sense of the small-town community are part of it.
What sets it apart from other small towns, however, is the international flavour, culture, and diversity. Banff is a small town, but it has big-town amenities, which is rare and draws incredible people from across the world.
Working from our dental office in Banff we had the privilege of meeting so many of those people face-to-face and hearing their stories. It’s really special.
What do you hope the long-term impact of this fund will be?
We hope that leading by example will encourage other business owners to consider doing something similar and give back to the community or help ensure that there are support systems in place to keep it healthy and vibrant.
About the Christie Foreman and Christopher Wong Scholarship
The Christie Foreman and Christopher Wong Scholarship supports students actively pursuing educational goals that are practical and will prepare them for real-world success. Candidates must also have a demonstrated connection to the communities within Banff National Park and a vision for how they plan to give back in the future. Applicants must be aged 21-35 at the time of application; priority will be given to non-traditional students such as those who are returning to school after a hiatus, changing careers, seeking advancement in their career, or those in need of additional education/training to pursue their vision. Make an account to learn more and find out if you’re eligible.
