PETER WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL BURSARY
ABOUT
The Peter Williamson Memorial Bursary is awarded to a deserving and promising National Program speed skater who best combine athletic and scholastic achievements. Since its establishment in 1992, the bursary has supported the educational pursuits of over 70 athletes, many of whom have gone on to represent Canada on the World Cup circuit and at the Olympic Games.
This prestigious award is named in honour of the late Peter Williamson (1946-1991), a 1968 Olympian who held coaching and technical leadership roles for both the Manitoba Speed Skating Association and the Canadian Amateur Speed Skating Association, and who believed that sport and education could be combined to truly stimulate success in one another.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the Peter Williamson Memorial Bursary, an athlete must meet the following requirements:
- Be a registered member in good standing of Speed Skating Canada.
- Be a member of the short track or long track National Team or NextGen Team for the upcoming season. Members of the National B or Training Partners are not eligible.
- Be enrolled in, or demonstrate the intention to enroll in, a post-secondary educational institution during the upcoming season.
- An athlete may only receive the bursary a maximum of two times throughout their career and will not be awarded a bursary in back-to-back years.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications for the Peter Williamson Memorial Bursary open each year in July. Details about the application process are communicated directly to athletes who are eligible for the award.
Athletes must answer a series of questions on their athletic and academic accomplishments, and must also upload a copy of their course transcripts and provide the contact information for a reference that supports their nomination (e.g.: coach, teacher, community leader, etc.).
- Form: Application Form
- Deadline: August 17, 2025
SELECTION CRITERIA & PROCESS
Candidates for the Peter Williamson Memorial Bursary will be ranked based on the following criteria:
- Combination of high level athletic and scholastic achievements
- Commitment to balancing training, competing and schoolwork
- Contributions to the speed skating community in a coaching or volunteer capacity
- Ability to communicate well with coaches, staff members, teammates and classmates
- Demonstration of leadership qualities both on and off the ice
The bursary recipient(s) are selected by a panel consisting of the following individuals:
- The SSC Athlete Director or designate
- A representative of the Williamson-Derraugh family
- A representative of the Short Track High Performance Program
- A representative of the Long Track High Performance Program