Catholic Charities of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto (CCAT) is pleased to announce the creation of the Cardinal Thomas Collins Palliative Care & Gerontology Scholarship, which is designed to recognize the wise counsel and strong support Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Cardinal Collins offered to CCAT.

“Cardinal Collins served the archdiocese in countless ways in his 16 years as Archbishop and then as Cardinal. On top of his leadership of the Archdiocese, he was also the chairman of Catholic Charities’ board,” says CCAT Executive Director Agnes Thomas. “We want to honour his guidance and dedicated support in a way that reflects his extraordinary care for his community.” This is a timely tribute, as 2023 marked the 50th year of the ordination of the Cardinal in May of 1973.

Eligible applicants for the scholarship, which will be up to $5,000 annually, will be seeking to study issues related to palliative care or gerontology. This reflects the Cardinal’s passionate concern for older people and his desire to offer positive answers and alternative to the growing number of Canadians opting for MAiD, or physician-assisted suicide.

The Cardinal Thomas Collins Scholarship is the latest offering in a total of five new scholarships, which will be available as of this year. The newly created awards are designed to support learners from diverse backgrounds and capacities, including newcomers and people seeking refuge in Canada, outstanding and dedicated youth, and adults seeking to earn a degree or diploma or augment their skills in the services sector, such as in social work, community development, disability studies, and social services. All scholarship recipients will be announced during Catholic Charities Week, which runs the final week of September.

These newest awards join the Fr. Paul Lennon/Doreen Cullen Social Work Scholarship, which was established in 2013 on the occasion of CCAT’s 100th anniversary.

For more information on our scholarships and awards, including how to apply, please visit our website.