In the application, we’re wanting to know about three things broadly:
- Your initiative community and your connection to it
- Your initiative idea
- Yourself
Below are the actual questions asked of candidates in the application.
*Note that these questions may change slightly year-to-year
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 that community/organization
- Did the community express a desire for the initiative?
- What is the motivation of the community to work with you on this initiative?
Initiative Idea
- Describe your initiative/idea and how did you identify the initiative you are proposing?
- Lasting Impact: What are the changes you are hoping for as a result of your initiative? Describe the potential lasting and positive outcomes. Will the positive outcome last years after your initiative is completed? Will the community/organization continue the work you have initiated?
- Feasibility: Can your initiative be accomplished within the time frame and budget provided? What challenges and obstacles do you foresee? Could they jeopardize the success of your initiative? If so, how would you plan to overcome these challenges? Shortlisted candidates will be asked further questions surrounding feasibility.
About You
- Tell us about you. Why are you the appropriate candidate for this Fellowship?
- What is your background, relevant skills, knowledge and experience?
- Relevant volunteering experience?
- What are your motivations, your goal?
- 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:
- The strength of the individual candidate: Does this person show strong leadership qualities? Have a history of service to others? Demonstrate a readiness and desire to learn and grow? Do they show the capacity and potential to evolve into an effective change-maker? Is this person’s values able to come through in their application?
- The strength of the candidate’s connection to community: Does the candidate demonstrate a pre-existing, strong, and meaningful connection to their chosen community? Is the strength of their connection firm, regardless how broad or defined their identified community is? How was this person introduced to this community? What does this community mean to the candidate? Where does the passion come from to work with this community? Does the community want to work with the candidate?
- The strength of the project idea: Is the idea new, innovative or entrepreneurial in nature? Does it work to address community priorities in a solutions-oriented, innovative way? Does the project idea show promise to grow into a sustainable initiative beyond the Fellow’s involvement? Is the project feasible within the time, and budgetary restrictions and parameters? Does the project show potential to have a scalable impact within the community, or potential to be replicated elsewhere?
Additional advice:
- 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 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.
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 project is rooted in a strong connection to a community, beyond a company or business.
You must be completed all academic requirements prior to starting the Fellowship (if you are an MMIE student at Queen’s University, or feel that you have a compelling reason for an exemption, please contact us or your university representative).
This is not a grant.
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, and the like. At the application stage, we are looking to see 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.
Here is a compilation of common trends seen in unsuccessful applications.
Community
- Some candidates do not present sufficient evidence of a strong, meaningful connection with their chosen communities. As this is a community-centred program, candidates need to demonstrate a suitably significant pre-existing connection with the community with which they want to conduct their Fellowship.
- We expect Fellows to have a keen awareness and appreciation of cultures, opportunities and challenges present within their initiative communities. In some instances, this is not demonstrated sufficiently.
Initiative idea
- In some instances, there was not sufficient evidence that the proposed initiative addressed a social problem or identified opportunity.
- The Selection Committee needs to have confidence that the initiative is realistically able to be implemented within the Fellowship’s constraints of time and resources, and that there are likely to be meaningful outcomes or impacts from it. Some candidates do not adequately address the feasibility or potential lasting and scale of impact of their idea.
- There needs to be an element of innovation, and evidence that the applicant has confirmed that something similar to their proposed initiative idea does not already exist or has the potential of being taken on by other existing bodies in the near future.
- While we do not expect candidates to develop a fully-fledged project plan at the application stage, we do expect a certain level of detail and specificity in the initiative idea, demonstrating some depth and rigour of thought in putting the idea together. Some unsuccessful applications do not provide sufficient detail in describing what the candidate intends to do, even if purely indicative prior to receiving community input.
- We are looking for people who want the Fellowship experience as a whole, not solely the funding. With some proposals, we struggle to see the role of the Fellowship beyond the funding. We need to see how the candidate sees the Fellowship supporting the development of their initiative and/or their own personal learning journey.
- There are some instances in which it seems that candidates would not have sufficient autonomy within their initiative – this is a Fellowship, not an internship.
- This is an intensive year-long Fellowship, with ten months in an immersive community initiative. Some applications do not demonstrate that the initiative idea necessitates the level of commitment or funding provided through the Fellowship, and may be better suited to volunteer engagement.
- Understandably, after four or more years within a university environment, many applicants’ vision is somewhat blinkered at the university level. While we appreciate the necessity and importance of social change and social justice at this level, the fellowship is focused on a higher or broader level, and we need to see that initiatives are relevant beyond the confines of your university.
- 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.
Candidate
- Regardless of the initiative idea, it is inherently developed and driven by the Fellow. The Selection Committee needs to see evidence that the candidate is appropriately qualified, experienced, and motivated to undertake the initiative.
- We are looking for authenticity and a certain vulnerability in our interactions with candidates. We want to see beyond the façade to the real you.
- A significant element in the Fellowship is the personal development that is available for Fellows. We need to see evidence of receptivity to this potential for personal learning and growth.
As registered StFX students for the duration of the Fellowship, Fellows have two options for Health Coverage:
- You are eligible to opt-in to the StFX student health coverage plan. The coverage period would follow the established 12-month time frame of September 1st to August 31st (if opting-in, your coverage would start after the start date of the program, and end after your Fellowship’s completion date). The opt-in process for this plan would take place between August-September. If choosing this option, Fellows would be charged a flat Students’ Union fee of $25.00 in addition to the plan fee. This would cover the requirement of being a member of the Students’ Union to be eligible for plan coverage. The plan fees would follow the StFX Part Time Student Opt In rates. This is what you would be charged on your student account, which would show up as two separate fees: Health + Dental. In 2021, the rates are: Health Plan $385.00 and Dental Plan $275.00. (There is also family coverage at $550.00 for Health and $475.00 for Dental, should any Fellows be interested in family coverage for their legal partner or dependents).
- In some cases, if you are already covered by a family member’s health coverage as a dependent or student, this may be extended as you are considered a full-time student during the Fellowship year. Appropriate documentation and proof of student status can be provided to you upon request to make the necessary inquiries with your current health plan provider.
Funding is not intended to make interest or other loan re-payments.
However, Fellows are registered as full-time students through StFX 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.
How you wish to prepare for Selection is up to you, however here are a few helpful starting places:
- Your University Representatives and the Program Assistant remain available to support you. Please feel free to reach out with questions, or to schedule a meeting. Your University Representatives are well-versed in the Pathy Selection process and will have specific guidance to help prepare you. They may also be able to support you in accessing university-specific career advancement services (such as support with your resume, and interview prep, etc).
- You may also wish to re-familiarize yourself with your application and accompanying documents. Some candidates find it helpful to use the ‘three-legged stool’ analogy (the strength of your project idea, your connection to community, and yourself as a candidate) as an anchor or focal point for preparations. Being able to discuss, synthesize and articulate your ideas will be essential for the group and interview activities during Selection.
- Some past candidates have found it helpful to practice potential interview questions and an ‘elevator pitch’ ahead of Selection with friends or family members who can support you with articulating your ideas succinctly and clearly.
- If you haven’t already, you may wish to read through the FAQs, Past Projects, or visit our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook). These all include helpful information and insights into the program.
- During Selection, you will have the opportunity to connect with various Alumnx and current Fellows during an informal Q&A event. This is a candid, unassessed Q&A, so please prepare your questions ahead of time to optimize your experience with program Alumnx.
- Keep an eye on your inbox for updates and read email communications carefully to avoid missing important information!
The Coady Institute administers all aspects of the program. 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. Rather, the program aims to empower Fellows to develop their own ideas or to provide a new and innovative element to an existing initiative or organization.
Fellowships are awarded to candidates who meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Hold Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency
- Are a graduating, full-time student 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 graduation 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
- Attend one of the partner universities – Bishop’s, Carleton, McGill, uOttawa, Queen’s or StFX.
- 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 one of our partner universities, of at least one full semester’s duration, you are also eligible upon completion of your studies.
- PhD, Medical and Dental students are not eligible to apply.
We would consider you eligible as a full-time student if over the course of your studies you have been primarily engaged with your studies (e.g., if you have been a full-time student but are currently only taking two or three courses to complete your degree you would be eligible).
For the current cohort, only full-time students are eligible to apply to the Fellowship. We would consider you eligible as a full-time student if over the course of your studies you have been primarily engaged with your studies (e.g., if you have been a full-time student but are currently only taking two or three courses to complete your degree you would be eligible).
This criterion will be reviewed between each cohort, so if you are not graduating this year check back here to see if this criterion will apply when you graduate.
You need to indicate your competency in English on the application form. The language you speak in the community may be different (e.g., French), but all on-campus components are delivered in English and you must be able to communicate and submit any assignments and reporting requirements in English.
We encourage applications from people with disabilities and we make every effort to assist with any specific accommodations you may require while on campus. For more information about support on campus at StFX, visit http://sites.stfx.ca/accessible_learning/.
No – joint applications will not be considered. Each Fellowship is designed for a single individual.
The Fellowship is not intended to be used as research funding for students, and is not open to PhD students, nor to current students at any level. The experience of the program can relate to a Fellow’s research topic and can certainly contribute to subsequent further studies following the Fellowship. However, the intention of the Fellowship is to focus on catalyzing action-based social change in a community and not on academic research.
You may still be eligible, depending on your individual circumstances. We recommend emailing your university contact, and also suggest that the person you select to be your academic reference should be able to speak to the likelihood that you’ll successfully graduate as expected.
This initiative may qualify only if you are the one proposing and guiding your idea or if the initiative is being developed by individuals or organizations within the community and for which you have an innovative idea that will contribute to it; it cannot be an internship position proposed by the faculty, professor and/or community partner. The first step is to define the objective of your involvement and the desire for it from the community partner. We encourage you to discuss your ideas with the faculty/staff involved and to consult with the local partner(s) to ensure your idea would be sustainable and beneficial to everyone involved. You are also encouraged to reach out to your university contact for further guidance.
That’s fine. Candidates do not need to develop a complete initiative plan at application stage. 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. This approach is preferable to trying to take a fully- developed initiative and changing it to suit the new teachings you will receive at Coady.
Yes! The only exception to this is that we are unfortunately unable to consider applications for projects 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.
In the event that your chosen community is situated in a region with an active travel advisory, you may consider the following options:
- You could apply to the program without altering your application/project idea with the intention of going abroad, and hope that the travel restriction for your selected project location is removed prior to the Selection period (November-February).
- You could apply to the program with alterations to your international project, outlining clear and reasonably achievable contingencies, including whether your international project would be able to be implemented and run remotely from Canada. Contingencies in this instance should include both remote and in-person plans, to demonstrate to the Selection Committee the feasibility, safety, and impact of the project in either delivery/implementation possibilities of your proposed project (virtual and in-person).
- You could pivot your project and choose to work with a diasporic population connected to your chosen community, and work alongside either your international partner (if relevant), or within a network you have access to/experience in based in Canada. You are encouraged to show your creativity in developing alternative plans for your proposed project idea.
- You could consider an alternative project idea, centred around your community connections, experiences and passions, based in Canada, rather than with your intended international community.
It is not mandatory to speak the language to apply. However, applicants who do speak or display a strong willingness and plan to learn the language spoken in the community will have an advantage. You must definitely be able to demonstrate strong communication skills in order to effectively connect with community members and/or local partners. You will be required to integrate into the community and therefore must indicate that you will not be disadvantaged by the language barrier. Translators/interpreters can also be used if necessary, the costs of which would come out of your funding.
Applications open on this webpage, around the beginning of the school year. All relevant dates can be found here. Applications will only be considered if submitted before the deadline. The link to the application form will be removed at 3pm ADT on the deadline date. Review of applications will start the following morning.
Up to twelve Fellowships are awarded annually. However, Fellowships will be awarded only if applications meet eligibility criteria and are sufficiently strong.
No. Only one application can be submitted per candidate.
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. This approach is preferable to trying to take a fully-developed initiative and changing it to suit the new teachings you will receive at Coady.
The Pathy Fellowship is neither a research fellowship nor a research grant.
Fellows may, however, conduct research that would contribute to the success of their action-based ideas. If conducting research as part of a Pathy Fellowship, it must not be the sole or primary activity or outcome of the Fellowship year.
If a Fellow plans to conduct research which involves human subjects, and with the intention to publish or present findings, they will require Research Ethics Board (REB) approval from StFX university. This will be covered during the initial on-campus learning component of the Fellowship. As REB approval may not be forthcoming, the application must not rely on this aspect.
The idea should be focused and can either be an original concept or build upon an existing initiative or organization, as long as it offers a novel idea with tangible positive results feasibly achievable within the available time and budget. Ideas can be based in any discipline or area of interest. We encourage you to be creative and innovative with your concept, as long as it is feasible and sustainable and comes about as a result of a meaningful connection with the community. For more information on what kinds of initiatives have been accepted in the past, visit our Fellows’ Thematic Areas table.
A community can be a geographic community (whether in your home town or elsewhere in Canada, or anywhere in the world) or it can be a group of people sharing a particular common characteristic or interest (e.g., Deaf community). The connection can be with an individual, a group of individuals or with an organization in the community. If your community is one of identity or commonality, you must still define where geographically you intend to conduct your Fellowship (e.g., if your community is the Deaf community, you may intend to work with this community in Toronto, given your specific connections there).
Sustainability means that the idea that has been developed will have the potential to continue in some way after the Fellow has left the community, without the need for or expectation of further support or funding from the Fellow or Coady Institute. Working in collaboration with a local organization or local partner is an essential component to ensure this.
We don’t need any budget elements in your application. You will simply need to do some math for yourself to ensure that the $40,000 will cover all foreseeable expenses. So while we don’t expect great detail, we do expect that you’ll have considered this aspect. We will do some extensive work on budgeting during pre-community on-campus components.
Academic standing is only one of many indicators, primarily used to confirm that candidates are on track to graduate when expected, in time for program commencement. As long as you are performing satisfactorily and are expected to graduate on time, the selection committee will be satisfied. Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit a transcript.
References are an integral part of the application process, and contribute significantly to shortlisting decisions.
A letter of support from a community reference is due upon submission of your application. Your community reference should be someone of standing in the community with which you wish to work during the Fellowship. They should be able to be a representative voice for the community, and someone who knows you well and can affirm that they are willing to support and/or partner with you in your initiative for the ten months of the community phase. Your community reference will act as your community contact during the Fellowship. They can expect to be contacted upon your selection as a Fellow, 2-3 times during your Fellowship to monitor progress, and will be asked to evaluate the impact of your initiative upon the completion of your Fellowship.
Additionally, you will select a reference (professional, academic, volunteer, etc.) who knows you well and is able to speak to your capacities and motivations in a way that is relevant to the Fellowship. You will provide contact information for this reference, and they will be expected to complete a reference 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.
The Selection Committee will consider the following components in determining the success of your application: the strength of your community connection; the quality of your idea or concept (feasible, reasoned and sustainable); and your demonstrated and potential capacity (experience, skills, knowledge and attitude) to successfully turn your idea into an initiative, work with your chosen community, and develop as a leader.
The selection process has two stages. In the first stage, applicants will be shortlisted based on their applications. Shortlisting should be complete not later than three weeks after the references’ deadline (which is a week after the application deadline). In the second stage, all shortlisted candidates will be invited and funded to attend a two-day selection process consisting of participatory and interactive activities, conducted in Montreal. Fellows will be announced the following week. All shortlisted candidates MUST make themselves available to attend Selection, and potentially travel days either side.
The makeup of the Selection Committee is determined anew each year, but will comprise PFF board member(s), PFF staff member(s), Coady staff member(s), and others.
Following 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.
Selection consists of participatory and interactive activities with the other candidates along with an individual interview with members of the Selection Committee. Activities require reading, writing and speaking; along with 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.
Fellows are not to have paid employment while attending on-campus components (FCC and Debrief). Classes are held from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. In addition, you are expected to read and work on assignments during some of your own time in the evenings and on weekends.
During the Transition Phase and the Community Phase you are expected to work full-time on your initiative. The Fellowship is designed to cover all living expenses so you should not be out-of-pocket as a result of your participation. However, if you feel it is necessary, you may also seek other part-time employment during this time provided it doesn’t interfere with your ability to devote time and energy to the Fellowship.
Fellows will be introduced to and guided in the development of a work plan for their Fellowship, which will include details such as vacation. This will be discussed and determined together during on-campus components prior to the Community Phase. In the event of requiring time away due to something unexpected during the Fellowship, this can be discussed as it happens with the program coordinator.
Yes. As this is a learning program, there are several expectations of Fellows whilst in community. These include participation in regular check-ins with the program coordinator and any resultant work from these, regular sessions with the Fellows’ personal coach, and completion of periodic reflections and reviews that will document Fellows’ learning throughout the program, culminating in a Final Fellowship Summary and presentation due at Debrief. Specifics of these requirements will be provided during the initial on-campus component
It is expected and in fact encouraged that changes will need to be made once in the field. Fellows need to keep Coady informed of developments and discuss any proposed changes with Coady PRIOR TO expenditure of funds or making commitments or guarantees.
Fellowship Funding ($40,000):
Your initiative is a full-time commitment and the Fellowship covers all costs directly related to it, up to an amount of $40,000. Fellowship funding is broken down as follows*:
- $25,000
- living costs (including housing, food, local transport and insurances);
- travel and travel-related expenses, to cover airfares to and from home locations and the community (if required), and, for those traveling internationally, such things as visas, immunizations and health insurance; and
- $10,000
- initiative-related funding, to cover expenses such as start-up and operational costs.
- $5,000
- transitionary funding, held back and disbursed to Fellows at the end of the Fellowship. This funding is intended to support Fellows as they transition into new opportunities post-Fellowship, and to subsidize any tax implications resulting from the Fellowship.
*This breakdown is general guidance for Fellows. Actual breakdowns will be determined on an individual basis with Fellows.
Non-Cash Benefits (Program Funding):
The program will pay for the following (which will NOT come out of Fellowship funding):
- Travel within Canada for all Fellows to come to the town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia for all on-campus components (Foundations for Community Change (FCC), Final Planning Workshop (FPW) and Debrief).
- During all on-campus components of the program, accommodation and meals at St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) will be provided.
- All tuition costs for educational components.
- Personal development and leadership coaching.
- Access to Coady Staff and Associates (leading development practitioners who are able to provide project and professional development related resources and supports).
Disbursements:
At the beginning of Foundations for Community Change (FCC), Fellows will receive an initial advance payment of $7,000 to ensure that they are not out-of-pocket at any stage. This amount should be sufficient to cover all expenses incurred by Fellows prior to the next disbursement in July. During FCC, Fellows will be introduced to personal and initiative budgeting and will be required to develop their own budgets including all three elements above (living costs, travel expenses and initiative funding). Budgets will then be reviewed and approved prior to release of further funding.
Coady will then disburse $3,000 per month throughout the Fellowship. Fellows will be requested to provide details of project expenditures at various points throughout the year. This will all be explained during FCC.
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 estimate (though not a detailed budget, as this will be developed during FCC) of what their living and initiative expenses may be to determine whether or not it would be financially viable to apply to the program.
Coady will reach out to community partners at the end of the Fellowship to complete an impact evaluation. Additionally, Coady encourages all Fellows to create long-lasting connections with the communities with which they work. As part of their planning, Fellows are taught how to produce, and are guided in the development of, a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and learning plan, which is expected to continue to the end of the Fellowship and beyond if possible.
This question will be incorporated into the project planning and management training as part of the Foundations for Community Change experiential learning component prior to the community phase. Fellows will need to elaborate on what will happen after the end of the program, in order to ensure sustainability for the community and/or the community partner.
When you return, you will attend a one-week Debrief with your cohort in Montréal. There will be requirements of you at this time, including such things as a final report, a presentation, a program evaluation and program promotional activities. In some instances we may subsequently request pairing with Fellows in future cohorts for peer-to-peer support, if that is possible for Alumnx.
*The disclaimer that follows is designed purely to provide general information about the Pathy Foundation Fellowship funding and benefits. There can be no assurance that this information will not change and/or that relevant authorities will not disagree with or challenge this information. No responsibility is assumed by the Coady Institute (Governors of St. Francis Xavier University) for tax consequences or any other consequences to any other parties. Other parties should consult and rely upon the advice of their own counsel, accountant, tax advisor, or other advisor(s).
The entirety of the Fellowship funding package is taxable. Tax is not deducted at the source.
- Payments and benefits received by all Fellows have Canadian tax implications. This is regardless of whether Fellows conduct the Fellowship in their home communities, elsewhere in Canada, or anywhere in the world.
- Fellows will be provided with two T4A slips from St. Francis Xavier University (one for each tax year of the Fellowship), inclusive of funding and non-cash benefits (related to on-campus learning components).
- Proper documentation for expenditures incurred for the development and implementation of Fellowship projects should be kept by the Fellow, as these may be relevant for income tax purposes.
- *Partial funds from the Fellowship funding package may be used to cover taxes owed.
- Additionally, Fellows will be provided with project management training, including budgeting for personal and initiative expenses.
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 seek their own tax advice.
Foreign tax obligations of Fellows will vary depending on each country. It is advisable that Fellows seek additional guidance regarding any non-Canadian tax implications of the Fellowship.
The Coady Institute espouses a citizen-led, community-driven, asset-based approach to development. This approach is consistent through all Coady programming. Fellows will learn more about this during FCC but if you would like to learn more about an asset-based approach to community development click here.
Coady will provide all necessary support that Fellows may require from the start of the application process (in conjunction with university partners) 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, 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. University contacts are also available for support during the application process.
Coady does not prescribe any changes to Fellows’ initiative plans – within the bounds of the contract signed upon acceptance, Fellows are autonomous decision-makers for the duration of their Fellowship. Having said this, our experience has been that Fellows’ initiatives always change in some way – sometimes significantly – between application and entering community. As stated, at Coady we take a community-driven, asset-based, participatory approach to community development, and we introduce Fellows to this approach and to many of the tools, techniques and principles that we espouse. This often causes changes in Fellows’ thinking which, combined with the work we do to help Fellows think through and create a concrete initiative plan, tends to be reflected in changes to how they decide to implement their plan in community.
Coady doesn’t have any direct involvement in any of the communities in which Fellows work. Our role is to support Fellows to enable them to enter and live in communities appropriately and implement their initiatives effectively, as well as supporting Fellows’ personal learning and growth and offering logistical support and other guidance. So from the community’s perspective it is only the Fellow that they deal with. The three exceptions to this are:
- Upon acceptance as a Fellow, an email is sent to the Fellow’s community reference to request confirmation that they continue to be the appropriate point of contact in the community and of their continued endorsement of the Fellow and their initiative plan, and to provide them with a contact at Coady to whom they can reach out if need be.
- During the transition phase, Fellows will coordinate a call with the program coordinator and their community partner. There may also be a call around the midpoint of the Community Phase.
- At the end of the Fellowship, Coady will reach out to the community partner to request that they complete a brief questionnaire to ascertain what impact the Fellow and their initiative might have had.
During the initial on-campus learning components, each Fellow 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, contemporaneous with their experiences in community.
Accommodations are provided in standard student residences on the beautiful St. Francis Xavier University campus. Accommodations consist of a room with a single bed, desk, chair and closet space. Linens are provided and cleaned on a weekly basis. There are laundry facilities in the building, as well as lounges with TV and games room. Residences are a short walk from the dining hall and Coady Institute. All Fellows will stay in residence during on-campus components to help to build a community of learning with their cohort.
Meals are provided for all participants in Morrison Hall, the central dining hall for all StFX university students. A meal plan of 19 meals a week (breakfasts, lunches and dinners during the week, and brunch and dinner on weekends) is included during on-campus components.
Morrison Hall serves primarily standard Canadian fare. Efforts are made to accommodate the tastes and needs of foreign students and those with specific dietary needs. The cafeteria houses different stations each serving different meals (for instance the salad bar, pizza station, soup station and international station). If you have specific needs regarding meals remember to indicate them on the appropriate form you will receive with your acceptance package.
No. Whilst there are limited cooking facilities available in the residences, all meals are to be eaten at Morrison Hall. Those Fellows with special dietary requirements who may be concerned about accommodation of their particular circumstances (e.g., Muslim Fellows observing Ramadan) are requested to make these concerns known to the program coordinator upon selection as a Fellow.
Coady provides WiFi in both the residences and the classrooms. Fellows are strongly encouraged to bring their own computer to on-campus components, as Coady does not have spare computers available for Fellows. However there are many computer labs on the StFX campus that all Coady students can access. We also have computers available in the Marie Michael Library at Coady. All computer labs have printers for your use.