The University of Winnipeg celebrates the achievements of the Métis students who were awarded Louis Riel Bursaries during the 2025-26 academic year. Over $200,000 was granted to the 131 recipients with awards valued between $1,300 and $2,000.
Jennifer Bonner and Tiffany Evans are two of the 131 recipients of the Louis Riel Bursary. This Bursary is available to Métis students who are eligible to apply for this award every year they are at UWinnipeg.
Jennifer Bonner
Jennifer Bonner is in her final year of the After-Degree Bachelor of Education program. She chose this path after completing her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Theatre and Dance, which allows her to continue her passion for teaching.
I look forward to fostering a love of learning in my students and giving back to the community that has supported me throughout my educational journey.
Jennifer Bonner
When she is not in class, Bonner likes to spend time in nature which helps ground her and gives her a deep sense of joy and balance.
The Louis Riel Bursary has allowed Bonner to reduce her work schedule, giving her more time to focus on her academic responsibilities.
“This additional time has improved my work-life-school balance and enabled me to engage more fully in my coursework,” said Bonner.
Bonner began exploring her Métis heritage later in life. “Receiving this scholarship has been deeply affirming,” shared Bonner. “It reminds me that I am part of this community and that I belong. It motivates me to continue learning about my heritage and to support others in their journeys of identity and belonging.”
As a teacher she hopes to educate students about Indigenous communities, histories, and traditions to help develop a stronger sense of identity and inclusion for others on a similar path.
Bonner, who is inspired by her students’ curiosity, will be graduating this June and intends to secure a teaching position in an Early or Middle Years school. Her plan is to create inclusive classroom environments where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.
“I look forward to fostering a love of learning in my students and giving back to the community that has supported me throughout my educational journey.”
Tiffany Evans
After a seven-year absence from the workforce to raise her son, Tiffany Evans began her UWinnipeg journey at PACE, the Professional, Applied and Continuing Education Program where she received a Human Resources Management diploma and Certificate in Management in 2021. She also earned her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation the same year and began her Bachelor of Arts.
By learning new things and obtaining skills, we gain more confidence and capacity that doesn’t just benefit the individual; that growth extends to families, workplaces, and our community.
Tiffany Evans
What started as a three-year degree program, turned into a Bachelor of Business Administration (BAA) major in human resources/organizational behaviour, and a second degree in conflict resolution studies (CRS), and she is just two courses short from a major in marketing.
“Overall, I appreciate how UWinnipeg allows me to gain hands-on knowledge in my passions while venturing into different fields of study,” said Evans.
Evans values the feeling of community, and a culture of learning that supports her while she juggles many of life’s responsibilities.
The Louis Riel Bursary took some of the financial pressure off Evans that allowed her to continue with her classes while keeping up with responsibilities at home and in the community.
“I also view the bursary as one piece of a larger cycle of giving,” shared Evans. “When learners are supported, they have more opportunities to return as mentors, role models, and helpers. The scholarship truly encouraged and motivated me.”
Despite completing her BAA requirements this past December, Evans has fallen in love with lifelong learning and is taking more classes this semester. As she plans to pursue a graduate degree, and is considering several fields, she has a particular interest in a Professional Master of Industrial Relations (PMIR).
Evans one day would like to return to UWinnipeg to teach and help other students discover their own paths.
“By learning new things and obtaining skills, we gain more confidence and capacity that doesn’t just benefit the individual,” shared Evans. “That growth extends to families, workplaces, and our community.”
The Manitoba Métis Federation
Since 1999, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) and its educational arm, the Louis Riel Institute (LRI), through funding from Employment and Social Development Canada, have provided millions of dollars in bursaries to Métis students.
Approximately 11.8 per cent of UWinnipeg students self-identify as Indigenous, and half of those students are Métis — among the highest participation rates across Canada.
