2026-27 Accreditation, Awards & Scholarships:

There are many scholarships, awards and accreditation created for Sisler CREATE post-high animation students.

Direct Entry Pathways to Select RRC Polytech 2D Animation Program

Sisler Create Post-high 2D Animation program X Red River College Polytechnic 2D Animation Diploma Program

Excelling at Sisler pays off! Students who qualify may receive accreditation and reduce their tuition costs.

Sisler Create Post-High 2D animation students will receive Recognition of Prior Learning if they:

• have a 93% or higher grade point average in Semester 1 of the Post-High Program, 
• have a 93% or higher grade point average in Semester 2 of the Post-High Program (must be at a 93% or higher on the term 3 report card in April 2026), 
• are on track to complete the Sisler Create 2D Animation Post-High program
• have been signed off by Post-High 2D Animation Department Head
• have been accepted into the Red River College Polytechnic Animation Diploma Program in September 2026

The following courses are eligible for credit in the Red River College Polytechnic Animation Diploma Program for students who qualify.

RRC Polytech 2D Animation Course	Sisler Create Post-High 2D Animation Course
Animation and Digital Tools 1 (ANMA-1002)	FUNDAMENTALS OF ANIMATION (MP208V3S.99)
Storyboarding (ANMA-1004)	FUNDAMENTALS OF PREVISUALIZATION & STORYBOARDING (MP210V3S.99)
Character Design 1 (ANMA-1003)	INTRODUCTION TO MOTION PICTURE ARTS (MP207V2S.99)

Schroeder Awards of Excellence

status: active

Value: TBD

The Schroeder Foundation Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding students from the Sisler High School CREATE Post-High Animation Program who:

• Have been accepted into RRC Polytechnic’s 2D Animation program by April 2026.
• Demonstrate academic merit in the Sisler CREATE Post-High Program. Selection will be based on:
  • Highest averages from Semester 1 and Term 1 of Semester 2
  • Students must maintain an excellence-level average through Term 2 of Semester 2
  • Demonstrate financial need in order to attend RRC Polytechnic.

These awards are designed to support students as they transition into post-secondary animation education and continue their development as emerging artists.

Other Eligibility Criteria

To be considered, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate clear skill and passion in their intended area of study
• Be on track to graduate at the end of the current school year
• Hold a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Demonstrate leadership, commitment, and professionalism through mentorship projects, focus in class, and consistent attendance
• Demonstrate strong leadership, professionalism, and work ethic. Stays focus during class time at all times.
• Be accepted into the Red River College 2D Animation Program (or provide proof of application)

CREATE X VFS CLASSICAL ANIMATION – ANIMATION EXCELLENCE ENTRY SCHOLARSHIPS

status: active

Application Deadline: February 20, 2026

The Vancouver Film School 40% Tuition Entrance Scholarship recognize outstanding students from the Sisler High School CREATE Post-High Animation Program who demonstrate exceptional artistic skill, leadership, and dedication to animation. This entrance scholarship supports students pursuing Classical Animation at Vancouver Film School (VFS) as they take the next step in their professional training. Successful candidates will have their Tuition reduced to $15,570.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a full-time post-high student enrolled in the Sisler CREATE Post-High Program
• Be on track to graduate at the end of the current school year
• Hold a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Demonstrate leadership, commitment, and professionalism through mentorship projects, focus in class, and consistent attendance
• Be accepted into Vancouver Film School’s Classical Animation program (or provide proof of application)
• Demonstrate strong skill and passion for classical animation as their intended area of study

Please email Mr Leduc if you would like to apply for this award before the 20th of February for consideration. In your email please:

• subject line: VFS Scholarship Application
• Email Body: should be professionally written and describe why you should be considered. Provide proof that you have applied to the VFS Classical Animation Program.

status: active

Application Deadline: March 20, 2026

Value: TBD
In the past, the top 3 applicants may also receive an annual licence for Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 24.

The (formerly Toon Boom) Excellence in Storyboarding Scholarship/Award has been established through a partnership between Sisler CREATE and Toon Boom Animation to support an exceptional and dedicated storyboard artist entering a post-secondary 2D animation program in Manitoba. This scholarship/Award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding storytelling ability, technical skill, leadership, and a strong commitment to their creative practice.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Projects created in other software will not be accepted

• Hold a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Be a post-high student enrolled in the Sisler CREATE Program and on track to graduate by the end of the school year
• Maintain a minimum 92% academic average
• Actively participate in a mentorship project and demonstrate leadership within the program
• Receive acceptance to a recognized post-secondary 2D animation program in Manitoba by April 26.
• Post a Storyboarding Demo-reel on Linkedin before March 20, 2026
• Demonstrate strong skill and passion for storyboarding  as their intended area of study
• Excel in an animation classwork project
• Create all submitted animation work using Toon Boom Storyboard Pro

THE 2025-26 CREATE – ANIMATION EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP/AWARD

status: active

Application Deadline: March 20, 2026

Value: TBD

In the past, the top 3 applicants may also receive an annual licence for Toon Boom Harmony 24 Premium.

The Sisler CREATE Program has established the Toon Boom Excellence in Animation Scholarship/Award designed to support a talented animator from Sisler CREATE entering a post-secondary school 2D animation program in Manitoba.  

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To qualify, applicants must:

1. Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number 
2. Actively participate in a mentorship project.
3. Lead by example within the program.
4. Be a post-high student of the Sisler CREATE Program, on track to graduate with a minimum 92% average by the end of the school year.
5. Receive acceptance to a recognized post-secondary 2D animation program in Manitoba by April 26.
6. Demonstrate both skill and passion for animation as their intended area of study.
7. Post an animation Demo-reel on Linkedin before March 20, 2026
8. Excel in an animation classwork project.
9. Create all animation work in Toon Boom Harmony; projects created in other programs will not be accepted.

THE 2025-26 CAROLE VIVIER SCHOLARSHIP

status: active

Application Deadline: March 20th 2026

The Carole Vivier Scholarship for Women in Film was established in honour of Carole Vivier upon her retirement as CEO and Film Commissioner of Manitoba Film & Music. A leader in Manitoba’s creative sector for over 30 years, Carole was instrumental in shaping the province’s film and music industries into what they are today. She was a strong supporter of the Sisler CREATE program and deeply admired its students. Carole sadly passed away in March 2025, and this scholarship continues her legacy of mentorship, leadership, and support for emerging creators.

Eligibility & Criteria

This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating woman or non-binary student enrolled in the Sisler High School CREATE Post-High Program who meets the following criteria:

• Must be a full-time post-high student in the Sisler CREATE Program
• Must be on track to graduate at the end of the current school year
• Must have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Must demonstrate leadership, commitment, and professionalism through mentorship projects, focus in class, and strong attendance
• Must be accepted to a recognized post-secondary film or animation program in Manitoba for the following academic year (or provide proof of application) OR be actively pursuing studies within the CREATE post-high program
• Must demonstrate skill and passion in their intended area of study

Application Requirements

• 30–60 second demo reel
• Reflective Letter to the Judges (maximum 500 words), including:
  • A paragraph demonstrating your skill and passion for your intended area of study
  • Your personal story and desire to create
  • The impact this scholarship would have on your education and future

THE 2025-26 CREATE X WACOM LEADERSHIP AWARD

status: active

Application Deadline: March 20th 2026

Wacom CREATE Excellence Award
Over the past two years, post-high students who have demonstrated outstanding excellence, leadership, and professionalism—both within and beyond the Sisler CREATE post-high program—have been eligible for awards to support their post-secondary education. To qualify, students must actively contribute to the development and promotion of Wacom-related initiatives, maintain a positive, professional, and consistently engaged LinkedIn profile. Only students planning on continuing their studies in the Red River College 2D Animation program may be considered.

Please email Mr Leduc if you would like to apply for this award before the 20th of March for consideration. In your email please:

• subject line: Wacom Award Application
• Email Body: should be professionally written and describe why you should be considered. Provide proof that you have applied to the Red River College 2D Animation Program.

Winnipeg Jets X Sisler CREATE Awards

Application Deadline: March 20th 2026

status: pending

Over the past two years, post-high students who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and professionalism—both within and beyond the Sisler CREATE post-high program—have received awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to support their post-secondary education.

To qualify, students must participate in the creation of content for Winnipeg Jets community games and submit a 60-second demo reel to Mr. Leduc via email by the 20th of March for consideration.

Archived Scholarships:

The following scholarships are no longer available.

CREATE Program celebrates $677K in scholarships

Sisler’s CREATE Program celebrates 677K in scholarships to Vancouver Film School with friends, family

Sisler High School students stood facing the crowd on three rows of bleachers, whooping and hollering and even fighting back tears as classmates were called up one-by-one. The pretenses of high school and teenage life, the jockeying for social leverage, seemed non-existent in the group, whether buried beneath the jubilation of their mutual accomplishment and acceptance into Vancouver Film School or eroded by hard work, evenly shared. They were the students of Sisler’s CREATE Program, in which students study film, animation, game design, digital media and more.

This was all before the real good news was broken to the students: all 23 students in this year’s scholarship group would share in more than $677,000 worth of scholarships from The Schroeder Foundation, which would cover 90 per cent of each student’s tuition to Vancouver Film School.

The rows of parents in folding chairs in the school’s Taras Korol Theatre applauded their kids and, as soon as the formalities ended, rushed the bleachers to lavish them with congratulations and pride.

Everett Dawson was one of the students who received the scholarship and acceptance to the film school.

“I am gobsmacked. I was not expecting any of this. I was so panicked. I was sitting beside people who were also anxious, and we were all just shaking and sweaty,” Dawson said. “I am beyond thrilled.”

Dawson, who a teacher called “the heartbeat of the class” during the ceremony, said figuring out how to pay for post-secondary and maybe move to the west coast to pursue their career goals weighed heavily on him and his classmates.

“To have this wonderful gift — I’m so grateful, and all of us are so grateful,” he said.

He encouraged younger students to join the CREATE Program, and said the program became its own community. His friend, Shaun Murillo, agreed.

“The teachers support us 100 per cent. They’re always there for us, and we have each other. We can tell when someone’s down, and it just feels right to help each other out,” Murillo said. “So having everyone here, it just feels so crazy. Moving together as a unit.”

Paulina Fuentes said it meant a lot to her that she and all her friends were accepted into the film school together.

“Earlier I was shaking, and I was trying to smile,” she said of the time waiting to learn the news. “But we all got accepted, and I’m very thankful for that.”

Student Alex Gulewich was well-aware of the potential burden he’d had lifted from his future: “I can go and get my entire education now without going $30,000 into debt.”

Gulewich’s father, beaming, said: “I’m very proud. He does all the work himself; it’s way over my head.”

The program’s teachers were also basking in their students’ success.

“They’ve worked so hard, and just to see that, and it’s great just to see that they’re given the opportunity to pursue a career and what they love to do,” teacher Bernard Alibudbud said.

Alibudbud said the only downside is they’re forced to leave the city to do so, as Winnipeg lacks an animation or 3D visual effects program, which are focal points of the Sisler program.

The teacher said he felt confident his students were prepared to lift each other up and to make an impact in the industry.

“All these kids genuinely care for each other, and the big thing is they understand how things work. We work with so many industry partners, and we have so many projects and deadlines. So, they’re getting these real-world skills of deadlines and milestones,” Alibudbud said.

The scholarship was recently renamed the Heshka scholarship for digital innovation to honour longtime Sisler principal George Heshka, who died in March of 2021 and to whom one teacher paid tribute while choking back tears: “The program wouldn’t be here without him.”

2023 Vancouver Film School & Schroeder Foundation Scholarship Announcement ($677,000 in scholarships)

2022 Scholarship Vancouver Film School & Schroeder Foundation Scholarship Announcement ($500,000 in scholarships)

2021 Scholarship Vancouver Film School & Schroeder Foundation Scholarship Announcement ($500,000.00 in scholarships)

2020 Scholarship Vancouver Film School & Schroeder Foundation Scholarship Announcement