The TEAL Charitable Foundation (TCF) is the charitable arm of BC TEAL. The Foundation gives out a number of annual awards and scholarships each year.

David Lam/BC TEAL English Language Learner Scholarship

David Lam/BC TEAL English Language Learner Scholarship was established by the TEAL Charitable Foundation to honour David C. Lam, the 25th Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia. During his lifetime, David C. Lam was respected for his commitment to excellence, English language study and public service. The scholarship is valued at up to $4,000. The David Lam/BC TEAL English Language Learner Scholarship is awarded annually to an English language student who wishes to study at a post-secondary institution, has excelled academically and has taken an active part in community and/or school service.

Please note that applicants for the David Lam/BC TEAL English Language Learner Scholarship must be documented permanent residents or citizens of Canada. International students on study visas are not eligible for this award.
 

TCF Awards for Refugees

There are now four TCF Refugee Awards, each valued at $4,000. In order to apply for any of these awards, the student only needs to fill out one application.

1) The Nicholas Collins Founders Refugee Award
Nick Collins was an active member of the EAL community for over 40 years. He taught at VSB, VCC, and 30 years at Capilano University. Nick was president of BC TEAL (1981-1985) and TESL Canada and chaired BC TEAL and TESOL International Conferences. Nick is a BC TEAL Honourary Lifetime Contributor and a founding member of the TEAL Charitable Foundation. (Source: https://bcteal.org/nick_collins.php) He originally established this award in 2019 with a $125,000 contribution.

2) The Taiga Galli Memorial Refugee Award
This award was established by the TCF and inspired by Michael Galli, frequent contributor and TEAL Charitable Foundation past president, in memory of his first son, Taiga. For more information on Michael Galli, please click here: https://bcteal.org/michael_galli.php

3) The TCF Refugee Award
This award was established and endowed by the TEAL Charitable Foundation itself in response to a perceived need for more support for refugees.

4) The Dr. William McMichael TCF Refugee Award
The TCF’s newest award was spearheaded in the summer of 2023 by Nicholas Collins (see above) in honour of his friend and colleague, Bill McMichael, who had a distinguished career as Coordinator of Language and Literacy Education Program at the UBC Ritsumeikan Academic Exchange Program and served on the UBC Senate for many years. Bill also served on the BC TEAL Board and TESL Canada Board. Bill is a TESL Canada Lifetime Member. (Source: https://bcteal.org/dr_bill_mcmichael.php)

 

Announcing a new award in 2025 – only for a previous winner of one of our Refugee Awards:

The Jennifer Pearson Terell Refugee Award for Continued Studies

The Jennifer Pearson Terell Refugee Award for Continued Studies, in the amount of $4,000, is for a student who: