Bursaries, Scholarships and Professional Development and Fee Funds
available for CUPE 1978 members
To see what funds may be available to you please click on your employer below:
Island Health (VIHA)
HSPBA Professional Fees Fund – Partial Reimbursement
In the last round of contract negotiations, CUPE achieved funding for members to be reimbursed for fees paid to professional associations and regulatory bodies. This fund allowed for a one-time payment and is not yet an annual benefit. In 2023, members that applied were reimbursed for fees paid that year. CUPE 1978 can now offer partial reimbursement for fees paid in 2024.
Additional Information:
- You can apply for reimbursement for fees paid to regulatory bodies and professional associations.
- Due to limited funds, members will only receive a partial reimbursement.
- We are streamlining the process for applying.
- The online application form is available – forms.office.com/r/sd53xVCv4p.
- After completing the form below you will receive an email confirmation and you must reply to that with your receipts.
- Applications will be accepted until August 31, 2024.
In order to maximize the amount for each member, cheques will be sent out after all applications are received.
HSPBA Annual Professional Development Fund
You can submit applications for reimbursement of professional development fees to hspba@cupe1978.com. Please allow 6-8 weeks for us to process your application; we will mail a cheque to your home address.
- Deadline to submit applications is August 31, 2024.
- The fund will reimburse for education or training that commenced between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024.
- Professional Fees will not be reimbursed through this fund.
- Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Before applying, see the eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions.
To apply now, fill out this form.
Submit applications with:
- proof of completion,
- receipts for all costs being claimed.
Please see CUPE Community Health Website for up to date information.
Education Leave
There is another opportunity that was bargained for to pay for education. You can apply through your manager for an Education Leave and may get more covered (e.g., wages, meals) than what you can through the union. Reasonable expenses for Education Leaves do not exceed $1,000 per member per year. Apply early as it may take some time for approval.
Under ARTICLE 17 – LEAVE – EDUCATION in the collective agreement, members can apply to the employer to attend educational programs/courses that relate to the member’s profession and employment and is outside of the employer required education.
- approved education programs/course, sitting exams, course/tuition fees, laboratory fees, books
- travel costs, meals, accommodation
- wages are covered through an education leave with pay (at straight time rates) up to 37.5/year for:
- each day or equal portion that member gives of their own time
- one education leave of absence with pay when member attends on two days off
Follow Island Health’s Reimbursement of Travel Expenses policy. Meals and accommodation rates can be found on the intranet. To apply use these forms located under Education & Training on the intranet and submit to your manager:
- Travel/Education Expenses Request
- Travel/Education Additional Information (this is where you justify reasons for the education)
- Leave form (tick Education Leave)
The current collective agreement can be found on this site and the CUPE Health Workers website.
CRD
Joint CUPE 1978/CRD Bursary Award
For the 42nd consecutive year, the Capital Regional District and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1978 are co-sponsoring a Bursary Award Program. The Bursary Award Program is available to the dependents of CRD staff, other than spouses, who are currently enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution. While the Bursary Award Program is based primarily on financial need, the Bursary Committee gives consideration to scholastic, athletic, and volunteering achievements in selecting recipients as well as applicant initiative and “greenness”.
If you have a dependent student in your family who has not been awarded the bursary on a previous occasion and who would be interested in making application, please obtain the 2023 Application form from CRD Human Resources or from their intranet – CRD Central. Completed application forms should be returned via email to HR@crd.bc.ca with subject line Bursary 2023 by Friday, June 30, 2023 where they will be received on behalf of the Bursary Award Committee, which is a joint union-management committee. The Committee will evaluate all applications and then announce the name(s) of the award winner(s) in early August.
West Shore Parks and Recreation
Similar to the CRD (above) there is a joint bursary available to family members of West Shore Parks and Recreation staff.
Greater Victoria Housing Society
Unfortunately, there are no bursaries at this time