2021/2022 Dr. Emily Ellingsen Memorial Bursary applications are now being accepted.

Emily's memorial bursaries support Cortes Island students in their pursuit of postsecondary education. Students who attended a Cortes Island school or home-schooled on the island for three or more years are eligible to apply.

Emily Ellingsen (née Woolley) was born on July 27, 1978. She spent her childhood on Cortes Island, before pursuing degrees at the University of Victoria and McMaster University in Hamilton. Emily passed away at the age of 31 on February 19, 2010, following two rounds of treatment for metastatic cervical cancer.

Although her life was cut short, Emily was blessed with a rare capacity for living well. She passed away after completing her Doctor of Medicine degree, only months away from becoming the first UBC medical graduate to complete a five-year Psychiatry residency in Victoria. A lovely maple tree and memorial plaque in the courtyard at the Royal Jubilee mark her social and professional connections with the medical community there.

Emily was proud of her many accomplishments. She loved her family and friends. She loved her work. She loved her pets. She loved to run. She loved to row. She loved her life. We family members are proud of her accomplishments and think of them often. We think of her often.

These bursaries are a reminder to all of us of Emily, keeping her with us and in her community. She was a wonder!

Applications for two $1,500 2021/2022 Dr. Emily Ellingsen Memorial Bursaries will be accepted until midnight on September 30, 2021.