The 2025 Tidbits of Change Foundation bursaries celebrate young people who partnered with a parent or mentor to create meaningful change in their communities.
Every year, young Canadians prove that one idea, combined with the support of a parent or mentor, can make a remarkable difference.
From supporting families of children with special needs to empowering young filmmakers and serving people experiencing homelessness, this year’s Tidbits of Change Foundation bursary recipients remind us that meaningful change often begins with a simple decision to act.
The Foundation is proud to recognize three exceptional young Canadians whose projects embody the spirit of collaboration, compassion and community leadership. Together, they will receive bursaries ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to support their post-secondary education while encouraging them to continue making a positive impact.
“Every year we hear from Canadian youths doing incredible things alongside a parent or mentor. Our selection committee had an incredibly difficult task, but these three individuals truly stood out. We’re proud to celebrate their initiatives and help support the next chapter of their education.” — Hali ScottSmith, Co-founder, Tidbits of Change Foundation
Supporting siblings through shared experience
The Foundation’s 2025 Tidbits of Change Award has been presented to Amy Attalla of Fernie, British Columbia, for creating Sibshops Fernie, a non-profit organization that provides peer support for siblings of children with special needs.
Inspired by her own experience growing up alongside her younger sister, Amy transformed a personal challenge into a community resource. With guidance from her older sister Joy, along with her mother’s background in special education and her father’s experience in camp leadership and business, she developed workshops where siblings can connect, share experiences and simply enjoy being kids together.
Amy’s work has already made a lasting impact in her community while creating a stronger support network for families facing similar experiences.
Creating a stage for young storytellers
The Youth Inspiration Bursary Award, presented by HEAD/Tyrolia, has been awarded to Sho Kagawa Brooks, now a student at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Sho co-founded the Sea to Sky Student Short Film Festival, working closely with a mentor from the Whistler Film Festival and his high school vice-principal to bring the vision to life. What began as an idea has grown into an annual platform that gives student filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their creativity and inspire others through storytelling.
His project demonstrates how mentorship and initiative can create opportunities that extend far beyond one individual.
A father-daughter commitment to serving others
The Youth Inspiration Bursary Award, presented by Kal Tire, has been awarded to Kaelyn Smith of Sherwood Park, Alberta, now attending Grant MacEwan University.
Kaelyn partnered with her father to volunteer with organizations including The Mustard Seed, PAC Mission and Hope Mission, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. Together, they have committed countless hours to serving vulnerable members of their community and are now planning to expand their efforts through a future outreach project focused on Los Angeles’ Skid Row.
Their story reflects the Foundation’s belief that meaningful experiences shared between parents and children can strengthen families while making a genuine difference in the lives of others.
Inspiring the next ripple effect
While each project is unique, they all share something in common: they began with a young person, a trusted parent or mentor, and a willingness to take the first step.
“These collaborative initiatives have each made a meaningful impact in their communities,” said Greg Scott, co-founder of the Tidbits of Change Foundation. “Their stories are inspirational, but equally important is the way these projects strengthened their relationships with the parents and mentors who supported them. That’s an incredible outcome in today’s world.”
The Tidbits of Change Foundation hopes these stories inspire other young Canadians to pursue their own passion projects and discover the impact they can have when they work alongside someone who believes in them.
Applications for the 2026 Tidbits of Change Foundation Bursaries are now open and will be accepted until April 30, 2026.
Ready to start your own journey? Learn more about the bursaries and apply today.
