Scholarships, Financial Aid & Diversity Recruitment

Below is a list of scholarships, diversity recruitment programs and financial aid resources offered by Canadian railways and governments, to help you achieve your goal of working in the rail industry.

Railway Industry Initiatives

CN’s Aspire Program
CN’s Aspire Program provides young women with the resources they need to plan an innovative career in railway operations.

CN’s Diversity Scholarship Program
CN offers grants to support the post-secondary education of women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, military veterans and people of Aboriginal heritage enrolled in programs relevant to CN’s core business.

CP’s Immigrant Work Experience Program
CP partners with several organizations – such as the YMCA’s Canadian Employment Skills Program and the Centre for Newcomers, in Calgary, Alta. – to provide an opportunity for skilled immigrants to gain work experience in Canada’s railway sector.

CP’s Military Recruitment Program
CP recognizes the valuable skills and experience that members of the military gain from serving their country, and the company partners with military organizations to assist their personnel in transitioning to civilian jobs.

VIA Rail’s Military/Reservist Recruitment
VIA Rail recognizes that veteran military members and reservists have skills that are transferable to both management and front-line jobs within the railway industry. The company partners with a number of organizations that assist transitioning military members in their search for a civilian job.

Government Initiatives

Apprenticeship Incentive Grant
The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year, up to a maximum of $2,000 per person, available to registered apprentices once they have successfully finished their first or second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program in one of the Red Seal trades.

Apprenticeship Completion Grant
The Apprenticeship Completion Grant is a one-time taxable cash grant of a maximum of $2,000 available to registered apprentices who have successfully completed their apprenticeship training and obtained their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

Canada Apprentice Loan
The Canada Apprentice Loan can help you to complete your apprenticeship in a designated Red Seal trade. Starting in January 2015, you can apply for up to $4,000 in interest-free loans per period of technical training ― for everything from to tuition, to tools, equipment and living expenses.