Confirmed Awards for 2026-27
THE 2026-27 CREATE X WACOM LEADERSHIP AWARD
2026-27 status: Active
Application Deadline: March 26th 2027
Wacom CREATE Leadership Award
The Leadership Award recognizes an animation student who strengthens the creative community around them. Through collaboration, encouragement, and a willingness to share ideas and knowledge, this student helps others grow while pushing projects forward.
The recipient leads by nurturing creativity in others, fostering a supportive environment where artists feel confident experimenting, learning, and creating together.
Please email Mr Leduc if you would like to apply for this award before the 26th 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 an animation Program.
THE 2026-27 CREATE X WACOM PROFESSIONALISM & PERSISTENCE STAR AWARD
2026-27 status: Active
Application Deadline: March 26th 2027
Wacom CREATE Professionalism & Persistence Award
The Professionalism & Persistence Award recognizes an animation student who consistently shows dedication to their craft. Animation requires patience, focus, and countless revisions, and this student continues to put in the time and effort to see their ideas through.
Through long hours, repeated practice, and a commitment to improving their skills, the recipient demonstrates the determination needed to bring their work to life—one frame at a time.
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 an animation Program.
THE 2026-27 CREATE – EXCELLENCE IN STORYBOARDING AWARD
2026-27 status: Active
Application Deadline: April 5, 2027
The Sisler CREATE Program, in collaboration with Toon Boom Animation, has established the Toon Boom Excellence in Storyboarding Award is designed to support a talented animator from Sisler CREATE entering a post-secondary school 2D animation program.
Value: Monetary value has not been set yet
Award Software:
- Toon Boom Harmony Premium Professional Licence
- Toon Boom Storyboard Pro Professional Licence
The top runner may also receive an annual licence for Toon Boom Storyboard Pro.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number
- Actively participate in a mentorship project.
- Lead by example within the program.
- Be a post-high student of the Sisler CREATE Animation Program
- Finished with a 92% average (or higher) in Semester 1
- Finishes with a 92% average (or higher) in Semester 2, term 1
- Will graduate with above a 92% average in June 2027
- Received an acceptance letter from a post-secondary 2D Animation program by April 15, 2027
- Demonstrate both skill and passion for animation as their intended area of study.
- Excel in an animation classwork project.
- Does not miss more than 7 days and is on-time (no more than 8 lates in the year) throughout the year .
- Create all work only in Toon Boom Storyboard Pro; projects and assets created in other third party programs will not be accepted.
THE 2026-27 CREATE – EXCELLENCE IN ANIMATION AWARD
2026-27 status: Active
Application Deadline: April 5, 2027
The Sisler CREATE Program, in collaboration with Toon Boom Animation, has established the Toon Boom Excellence in Animation Scholarship/Award is designed to support a talented animator from Sisler CREATE entering a post-secondary school 2D animation program.
Value: Monetary value has not been set yet
Award Software:
- Toon Boom Harmony Premium Professional Licence
- Toon Boom Storyboard Pro Professional Licence
The top runner-up may also receive an annual licence for Toon Boom Harmony.
Application Deadline: 9:00 am before April 5, 2027
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To qualify, applicants must:
- Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number
- Actively participate in a mentorship project.
- Lead by example within the program.
- Be a post-high student of the Sisler CREATE Animation Program
- Finished with a 92% average (or higher) in Semester 1
- Finishes with a 92% average (or higher) in Semester 2, term 1
- Will graduate with above a 92% average in June 2027
- Received an acceptance letter from a post-secondary 2D Animation program by April 15, 2027
- Demonstrate both skill and passion for animation as their intended area of study.
- Excel in an animation classwork project.
- Does not miss more than 7 days and is on-time (no more than 8 lates in the year) throughout the year .
- Create all animation work only in Toon Boom Harmony; projects created in other programs will not be accepted.
JAM FILLED ENTERTAINMENT – INDUSTRY READINESS AWARD
2026-27 status: Active
Application Deadline: April 5, 2027
The Most Industry-Ready Award recognizes an animation student who approaches every opportunity to learn with curiosity and focus. This student actively seeks out feedback, absorbs knowledge from mentors and visiting artists, and applies those insights directly into their work. Through professionalism, adaptability, and a constant drive to improve, the recipient demonstrates the mindset and habits needed to thrive in a studio environment.
Value: Monetary value has not been set yet
Award Software:
- Toon Boom Harmony Premium Professional Licence
Eligibility:
- Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number
- Actively participate in a mentorship project.
- Lead by example within the program.
- Demonstrates Clear and Effective Communication Skills
- Demonstrates the ability to hit deadlines and follow instructions
- Be a post-high student of the Sisler CREATE Animation Program
- Finished with a 90% average (or higher) in Semester 1
- Finishes with a 90% average (or higher) in Semester 2, term 1
- Will graduate with above a 90% average in June 2027
- Received an acceptance letter from a post-secondary 2D Animation program by April 15, 2027
- Demonstrate both skill and passion for animation as their intended area of study.
- Excel in an animation classwork project.
- Does not miss more than 4 days and is on-time (no more than 4 lates in the year) throughout the year.
- Must plan, create, build and animate a 5-7 second character animation of Lumi Demonstrating a mastery of the Principles of Animation
AWARDS NOT-CONFIRMED YET
CREATE X VFS CLASSICAL ANIMATION – ANIMATION EXCELLENCE ENTRY SCHOLARSHIPS
2026-27 status: unknown
Application Deadline: February 20, 2027
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.
THE 2025-26 CAROLE VIVIER SCHOLARSHIP
2026-27 status: unknown
Application Deadline:
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
Winnipeg Jets X Sisler CREATE Awards
Application Deadline: April 3, 2026
2026-27 status: unknown
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.
FUTURES IN PLAY SCHOLARSHIP
status: active
Applications for the 2026 scholarship cohort are NOW OPEN until June 9, 2023. We look forward to receiving your application! At Spin Master, everyone is welcome in our sandbox. We value differences and are dedicated to building an environment where people feel valued, respected and supported. To support this objective, we are giving students from equity-seeking communities (BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, people with disabilities or women) the opportunity to hone their trade and be a part of the next generation of creators, inventors, designers and entrepreneurs in children’s entertainment.
All 2025-26 Scholarship & Award Winners
Archived Scholarships:
The following scholarships are no longer available.
Heshka Scholarship for Digital Innovation Scholarships
Application Deadline: TBD
Heshka Scholarships for Digital Innovation. (formerly known as the Schroeder-VFS Scholarships) These scholarships are provided by The Schroeder Foundation and Vancouver Film School. They are available to students in Sisler CREATE’s post grad program who wish to study animation, game design, 3D or VFX and have been accepted to Vancouver Film School. Each year, the scholarships are subject to availability.
2023-24 Awards & Scholarships
2024 Recipients
2022-23 Awards & Scholarships
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
