Rick Mcfarlane became a volunteer firefighter for the Campbell River Fire Department in 1970, he was hired as a career firefighter by the department in 1980 and retired as a Lieutenant in 2006. Tragically he passed away from occupational cancer in 2014. This scholarship is in memory of Rick, who believed deeply in the importance of academics.
Rick lived his life to the fullest and was an avid outdoorsman enjoying skiing, mountain biking, hiking, baseball, camping and hunting. Rick also loved to curl and in 2010 he won the Canadian Fire Fighters Curling Championship.
In his retirement Rick and his wife Judith enjoyed traveling by truck and camper across Canada and the US as well as spending time with their daughter.
Tragically Rick developed leukemia as a result of his years in the fire service, he never gave up, but after a courageous battle passed away in July 2014. He was an inspiration to his friends and family, determined to keep things positive to the end. In his words "I had a pretty good ride."
Rick was a "perpetual learner" and believed strongly in the importance of academics and continued learning. As such, CRFFU felt this scholarship would be an appropriate legacy to carry on Rick's memory.
Instructions to Applicants
1. This $1,000 scholarship is open to grade 12 students attending a Campbell River high school who will attend an accredited post-secondary institute in September of the year following their graduation. Preference will be given to applicants with labour union affiliation.
2. Applications open February 1 and must be received at the #1 Fire Hall by 16:30 on March 31 of each year. Late applications will not be considered.
3. Submit in a single envelope, a completed application form (pages 1-3), your essay response, and a transcript showing your grade 10, grade 11 and 1st semester grade 12 marks. The transcript must be embossed with your school's seal but is not required to be in its own envelope. For a PDF of the application Click Here, you may fill out the application by pen or print it via a computer.
4. The successful applicant will be notified via email by May 31 and will, after providing a copy of their post-secondary registration form, have the scholarship award presently to them at their school's awards ceremony in June.
This scholarship is sponsored by the Campbell River Professional Fire Fighters' Association, which is member local 1668 of the International Association of Fire Fighters. All decisions of the selection committee shall be final. Should the recipient withdraw from post-secondary schooling in the 1s year, the award shall be returned to the sponsor.