Below are examples of questions asked of candidates in the application. *Note that these questions change year-to-year. We recommend utilizing program resources for more dedicated application support.
Your Community
- Tell us about the community at the center of your initiative and your affiliation with that community. Include information such as: What is your connection with this community/organization? Did the community express a desire for the proposed initiative?
Your Initiative Idea
- Describe your initiative/idea. Include information such as: How did you identify the initiative you are proposing and what is your connection to the social issue at hand? What are the changes and impacts you and your community are hoping for as a result of your initiative? Can your initiative be accomplished within the time frame and budget provided? What challenges and obstacles do you foresee?
About You
- Tell us about you. Include information such as: Why are you the appropriate candidate for this Fellowship? How will your relevant skills, knowledge areas, and experiences contribute to a positive year as a Pathy Fellow? What are your motivations, your goals? What are your personal and professional aspirations following this Fellowship?
In general, there are three main components that the Selection Committee will look for in a strong application: you as an individual candidate, the strength of your initiative idea, the strength of your connection to community. For example, do you show a readiness and desire to learn and grow as a changemaker? Is your initiative compelling, creative, innovative, and feasible? Do you demonstrate a strong, meaningful, and pre-existing connection with your chosen community? We recognize that there are intricacies and nuance in defining and writing on these three components. For more detailed information on how best to approach these three aspects of your application, we always recommend engaging with some of our application supports!
We are a very human-centric, community-centered program, which are both important things to keep in mind as you write your application. The Selection Committee will be looking to see an authentic, vulnerable approach to your application. They will want insights on your leadership style and values to come across. So, feel free to speak your truth! This is not a traditionally ‘academic’ or ‘clinically professional’ space – the Selection Committee will want the essence of who you are to be evident in your application. Similarly, they will be looking for your approach on how you describe and write about your community.
The character count is also a good indication of the level of detail that the Selection Committee will be hoping for from each question, so you should try to fill in the appropriate amount of detail and context in these spaces, while avoiding repetition. Make the best, most impactful use of the space provided as possible!
We welcome and encourage social entrepreneurship. This said, the Fellowship is not designed to provide seed funding for private enterprise. If an applicant has created or is involved with a profit-driven endeavour, some explanation must be provided for how the Fellowship would enable the candidate to work towards the public good in some way, and how funding would not simply be applied to the business’ bottom line. We are looking for people who want the Fellowship experience as a whole, not solely the funding. As the Fellowship is inherently community based, we are also looking for evidence that your initiative is rooted in a strong connection to a community, beyond a for-profit company or business.
The Pathy Fellowship is a full-time, funded commitment. You must be completed all academic requirements prior to starting the Fellowship. If you feel that you have a compelling reason for an exemption, please contact us.
This is not a grant, and the Pathy Fellowship does not fund ongoing or future research.
We are looking for people who want the Fellowship experience as a whole, not solely the funding.
The Fellowship experience includes personal coaching, dedicated support, comprehensive training, project management guidance, among other resources. At the application stage, we are looking to confirm your interest and availability for all aspects of the program, in addition to how the Fellowship’s holistic elements might contribute to the growth of your initiative and personal development.
Funding is not intended to make interest or other loan re-payments.
However, Fellows are registered as full-time students through St. Francis Xavier University throughout the Fellowship year and, in most cases, are able to defer student loan payments until after the completion of the Fellowship. Appropriate documentation and proof of student status can be provided to you upon request to make the necessary inquiries with your banks or student loan providers.
Being able to discuss, synthesize and articulate your ideas clearly and succinctly will be essential for activities during Selection. Selection consists of both group and individual interview activities. Regular interview preparation guidance applies, including re-familiarizing yourself with key points of your application, practicing your initiative pitch, participating in mock-interviews, and reviewing information about the Fellowship. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates and read email communications carefully to avoid missing important information!
The Program Assistant remains available to support you as a Fellowship finalist. Please feel free to reach out with questions, or to schedule a meeting. As an Alumnx of the program, they are well-versed in the Pathy Selection process and will have specific guidance to help prepare you.
The Pathy Foundation Fellowship began in 2015 as a partnership between the Pathy Family Foundation and Coady Institute to invest in Canada’s future leaders and strengthen resilient communities. Coady will facilitate all education, training, and support throughout the program.
The program is not an internship, nor may a candidate apply for the program with a specific internship position in mind. The Pathy Fellowship is an opportunity for young leaders to elevate their skills through intensive experiential learning and management over a sizeable budget and community initiative for change. This elevated experience aims to empower Fellows to develop their own ideas beyond the limitations of an internship opportunity. Fellows should expect to be constructively challenged as they carve their journey as a changemaker through this program.
The Pathy Fellowship is a year on, not a year off. It is positioned well for leaders who want to dive into exploring their pathway as a self-driven community changemaker. The intensity of the Fellowship requires a full–time investment of time and energy towards pursuing your passion.
Candidates who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- Hold Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency
- Are a graduating, full-time student at a Canadian university who will complete their final course requirements within this year’s eligibility window
- (i.e., AFTER last year’s Fellowship start date and BEFORE this year’s Fellowship start date. We operate on a July to July cycle. To check annual program start dates, please see the program schedule).
- We base eligibility on your end of studies date, not your physical convocation ceremony date.
- If you have already finished your studies (before the current Cohort’s program start date) you are not eligible to apply. If you complete your final course work after the start date of this year’s program, you are eligible to apply for next year’s cycle.
- Will be under 30 years of age by the program’s start date
- Have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree
- Candidates may be a current Undergraduate or Master’s student in any field or discipline (this includes post-graduate programs such as Law and Education).
- If you have previously completed at least a Bachelor’s level degree and are now studying towards a Diploma or Certificate at a Canadian university of at least one full semester’s duration, you are also eligible upon completion of your studies.
- Students pursuing or who hold a PhD, Medical, or Dental degree are not eligible to apply.
For the current cohort, only full-time students are eligible to apply to the Fellowship. If you are currently a part-time student, but have been a full-time student for the majority of your studies, you are eligible. If you feel that you have a compelling reason for an exemption, please contact us.
Fellowships are offered only to individuals, and joint/team applications will not be considered.
The Fellowship is not intended to be used as research funding for students, and is not open to students who are still actively engaged in their studies. The intention of the Fellowship is to focus on catalyzing action-based social change in a community and not on academic research.
Yes! The only exception to this is that we are unfortunately unable to consider applications for initiatives that will take place in areas where the Government of Canada has issued an ‘avoid non-essential travel’ or ‘avoid all travel’ advisory. Please consult https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories to learn about the status of the country and region where your community is situated.
Please reach out for guidance on your application if your community is situated in a travel advisory region. We would be happy to support you in exploring and developing alternative solutions.
There is no fee for applying to the Fellowship.
Up to twelve Fellowships are awarded annually. However, Fellowships will be awarded only if applications meet eligibility criteria and are sufficiently strong.
Candidates do not need to develop a complete initiative plan at application stage. At application stage, we’re looking for the core idea behind an initiative. While you should demonstrate that there’s been significant thought into the idea, you don’t have to develop a full “project proposal” for your application. During the initial on-campus “Foundations for Community Change” component of the program, and subsequently through distance learning, we will introduce you to participatory project planning and management and will work with you to develop your idea into a full initiative.
In order to participate in this Fellowship, candidates must demonstrate a strong, meaningful connection with a community. Your community can be defined geographically (domestic or international), or by commonality (i.e., a group of people sharing/expressing a collective sense of belonging, identity, particular goals, characteristics, interests, experiences, structure, etc.). Some examples of past communities have included: “Rickshaw drivers in Lagos, Nigeria,” “L’Arche, Antigonish,” “Indigenous youth interested in pursuing STEM fields,” and “2SLGBTQIA+ youth and adults in Halifax.”
Your community connection can be with an individual, a group, or an organization. If your connection to your community is not through a partner organization, you should be able to demonstrate interest for and receptivity of your project within the community at large through your relationships and networks.
If your community is one of identity or commonality, you must still define where geographically you intend to conduct your Fellowship.
References are an integral part of the application process, and contribute significantly to shortlisting decisions. You will provide contact information for two references in your application, who will be asked to submit a reference form. References are expected to complete this form one week following the application deadline.
For each reference, choose someone who you feel will best represent you in your application. The best references are highly credible (e.g., don’t ever use family members, and don’t use your peers or friends from university unless you are confident that they will add credibility to your application). We encourage candidates to reach out to their references well ahead of time to confirm their availability.
Your Community Reference should be someone who is rooted in or deeply connected to your community. They should be someone who has an understanding and awareness of community values and priorities. This should be a person who you have an established connection with, who knows you well. This reference should be able to speak to your position and experience within the community, and affirm the community’s broad receptivity and interest in your proposed initiative.
You will also be requested to select an Additional Reference (professional, academic, volunteer, etc.). This should be someone who knows you well and is able to speak to your capacities and motivations in a way that is relevant to the Fellowship. This individual should be someone who has seen your workstyle and leadership in action and can speak to your character and abilities in a meaningful way.
The Selection process consists of rigorous multi-stage review of applications, including use of detailed rubrics, individual review, contextual research, and collaborative deliberations among application reviewers and Selection Committee members. Candidates will be informed of the status of their candidacy approximately six to seven weeks after submitting their application, including details on Selection Days in Montreal, if invited for interviews.
Following a multi-stage review of applications, up to 20 shortlisted candidates will be invited and funded to attend a two-day Selection process. Selection takes place at a centrally located hotel in Montreal. All shortlisted candidates must make themselves available to attend Selection. Travel within Canada will be arranged to arrive on the evening prior and depart on the morning following. International travel will not be arranged by the program.
Selection consists of interactive group activities with the other candidates along with an individual panel interview with members of the Selection Committee. Activities require reading, writing,speaking and some light physical activities. Candidates who have specific learning accommodations are requested to indicate this upon being shortlisted, and alternative activities will be chosen to ensure all candidates’ accessibility. Requests made for specific accommodations will in no way impact candidates’ eligibility for the Fellowship.
The Fellowship is a 12-month full-time commitment, from the first day of the Foundations for Community Change to the last day of Debrief. See the program schedule on the main page for further specifics.
The Fellowship is a full-time, primary commitment for the duration of the program year. Additional commitments that will compete or interfere with your ability to devote time and energy to the Fellowship are strongly discouraged. Fellows are not permitted to hold additional academic, volunteer, professional, or work commitments during the Fellowship year, except in exceptional circumstances, with written approval by Program Staff. Fellows will confirm these details with program staff before accepting their offer.
Yes. As this is a learning program, there are several expectations of Fellows whilst in community. These include participating in regular check-ins with the program coordinator and any resultant work from these, regular sessions with the Fellows’ personal coach, supporting Fellowship promotion, peer learning engagements, and completing periodic reporting. More details on these requirements will be provided to successful candidates.
The Fellowship funding covers all costs directly related to the program up to an amount of $50,000. The suggested breakdown of funding is $35,000 for living and travel expenses, and $15,000 for direct initiative costs, though actual allocations will be determined on an individual basis with Fellows depending on the contexts of their host communities and initiatives.
The Fellowship package also includes a number of additional non-cash benefits, paid for directly by the program for each Fellow, including, leadership development coaching, individualized mentorship pairings, travel, meals, and accommodations for all training components of the program in Antigonish and Montreal, and all tuition costs.
Given the significant cost-of-living differences across Canada and between countries around the world, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to conduct an initial broad of what their living and initiative expenses may be to determine whether or not it would be financially viable to apply to the program.
The Fellowship funding package is taxable. Tax is not deducted at the source. The Fellowship does not provide tax advice to Fellows. The tax implications of the Fellowship are the sole responsibility of the Fellow. It is recommended that Fellows consult and rely upon the advice of their own counsel, accountant, tax advisor, or other advisor(s).
The Pathy Foundation Fellowship will provide all necessary support that Fellows may require from the start of the application process through to the end of Debrief, including responding to queries during the application, supporting Fellows’ learning through on-campus and distance components throughout the Fellowship, establishing peer support structures, and maintaining contact with Fellows in the field to monitor progress and to offer guidance and support in the event of personal or professional challenges. For more information on the comprehensive wrap-around supports offered in the Fellowship, please click here.
During coaching, Fellows will have the opportunity to explore their individual leadership style and set intentions for areas in which they would like to learn and grow personally. Throughout the Fellowship, Fellows will have periodic one-on-one virtual sessions with a coach to support them as they move toward their personal growth intentions. The coaching offers supportive and non-prescriptive guidance to allow the Fellow to process their personal learning at their own pace, in parallel with their experiences in community. The coaching experience is highly individualized in order to create space for Fellows to set their own learning priorities.