Pathy Fellowship Foundation

Become a Pathy Fellow

The Pathy Foundation Fellowship is a unique opportunity for Canadian university students to contribute to meaningful change in their communities while benefiting from generous funding and wrap-around supports.

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Who is the program for?

The ideal Pathy Fellow is someone who sees possibility where others see limitation. They are driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to work with their communities to co-create meaningful, lasting change. They are curious and courageous, willing to step into the unknown with humility and openness. They may not have all the answers, but they ask the right questions. They listen deeply, reflect honestly, and adapt thoughtfully.

This person has already shown a spark of leadership; perhaps by organizing a grassroots initiative, advocating for equity, or simply showing up consistently for a cause they care about. They understand that real change is complex, relational, and often slow, and they are ready to commit to that journey.

If you are ready to take a bold step toward building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world, this Fellowship is for you.

How to Apply

Candidates who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

You must be a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident.

You must be under 30 by the first day of your Foundations for Community Change. This year, that is June 29th, 2026.

  • Eligibility is based on your academic completion date (the date you finish all required coursework and/or thesis requirements in the final semester of your degree), not your convocation ceremony date.
  • This year, the program start date is June 29th, 2026.
  • Candidates may be a current Undergraduate or Master’s student in any field or discipline (including 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, Pharmacy, or Dental degree are not eligible to apply.

Is your community initiative a good fit?

A community initiative is more than just a project — it’s a partnership. At the heart of every Pathy Foundation Fellowship initiative is a rooted connection between the Fellow and the community they work with.

Fellows design and lead initiatives that:

  • Respond to real interests, challenges, and opportunities identified by the community
  • Are co-created and collaborative
  • Aim to create sustainable, positive social change
  • Reflect the Fellow’s personal connection to the community, whether through lived experience, cultural ties, long-standing relationships, or demonstrated solidarity.

These initiatives can take many forms, from advocacy campaigns, to educational programs, to social enterprises, to community organizing, or environmental efforts. What matters most is that they are rooted in respect, built on trust, and driven by a shared vision for impact.

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.).

FAQs
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What can you expect as a Pathy Fellow?

The Fellowship is a 12-month full-time commitment, from the first day of the Foundations for Community Change in June to the last day of Debrief.

See the program schedule for further specifics.

Read our Candidate Handbook

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 several 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 training costs.

As this is a learning program, there are several expectations of Fellows whilst in community. These include participating in regular check-ins with program staff and any resultant work from these, coaching and mentorship, promotional engagements, peer learning processes, and periodic financial and reflective reporting. More details on these requirements will be provided to successful candidates. 

Program Schedule

Each Cohort of up to 12 Fellows will participate in:

Have more questions?

Foundations for Community Change

The Foundations for Community Change (FCC) experiential learning component, on-campus at Coady Institute during which Fellows explore their personal and professional development goals, establish rich, dynamic bonds within their cohort, and learn about topics such as participatory community engagement and leadership principles, project planning and management, strengths-based approaches and fund development.

The Transition Phase (TP), during which Fellows return home and further develop their initiatives based on learning from FCC. TP includes regular check-ins with peers and program staff, along with further distance-based learning and planning before beginning the Community Phase.

The Community Phase during which Fellows will work in and with their identified communities to implement their initiative. During this phase, Fellows receive ongoing support and distance learning from program staff, their mentors, and their peers.

Debrief in Montreal where Fellows will evaluate personal and professional growth, outcomes from the community phase, next steps, and complete visioning of possibilities in their journey as changemakers.

Please note that the program only covers travel within Canada for candidates and Fellows.