Kourtney Trill didn’t know much about unions until she started her first union job at a Chilliwack Save-On-Foods three years ago. She was just 15. “I think it’s cool that even at this age I can have a union. All of my friends have part-time non-union jobs,” comments Trill. Now a student at the University of Fraser Valley, Trill has begun discovering more about opportunities for UFCW 1518 members. After seeing a poster in her union bulletin board, Trill decided to apply for a variety of union scholarships to support her studies. To her delight, she won the $1000 UFCW Beggs-Dowling-Mathieu Scholarship Award. “I think it’s great that I get to have a union to back me up and support me,” says Trill. “Winning a scholarship is not something I thought I would have had the chance to do through my union!”

The UFCW Beggs-Dowling-Mathieu Scholarship commemorates the contributions of three of UFCW’s builders – William Beggs, Fred Dowling, and Roméo Mathieu. It was established by the UFCW Canada National Council and it is one of many opportunities available to UFCW 1518 members and their families.

After graduating from the architectural drafting program next year, Kourtney has big plans to pursue a specialization or move up north to find a job in her field. A union job and now a union award will continue to enable Kourtney to pursue her passion for drawing and building. At UFCW 1518 we believe in our members and see value in investing in their life long learning. Find out more about union scholarships and professional development opportunities by visiting our Member Resource Centre.