RE/MAX Canada is offering $40,000 in the form of a scholarship program for high school students. Are you active in your community, or do you have ideas on how to make it a better place to call home? If so, you can submit an essay of up to 1250 words answering one of the questions below, and you could win $1000!
This post covers the 2023-2024 school year. The application window it describes closed on March 13, 2024.
What the RE/MAX Canada scholarship offers
The program rewards students who think about their communities and about housing. Instead of test scores, it asks for ideas, written in your own words. That makes it a good fit for students who volunteer, lead clubs or simply care about where they live. In total, RE/MAX Canada set aside $40,000 for the program.
The three RE/MAX Canada essay questions
Entrants choose one of these three questions from RE/MAX Canada and answer it in an essay.
- What does a “bright future” look like for you?
- How have you demonstrated leadership or charity within your community to make it a better place?
- How can we ensure fair and affordable housing for all Canadians?
Each question invites a personal answer. So there is no single right response. The best essays usually tell a real story and then explain what it taught the writer.
Who can apply to the RE/MAX Canada program
To be eligible, entrants must be a Grade 12 student attending high school in Canada in the September 2023 to June 2024 academic year. Also, entrants must not have previously taken part in a commencement ceremony.
In other words, the program is for students in their final year of high school. If you are a parent in Mississauga with a Grade 12 student at home, this could be worth a conversation at the dinner table.
How to apply and key dates
Submit your essay online between September 12, 2023, and March 13, 2024. You can find full details and the entry form on the RE/MAX Canada Quest for Excellence page. For inquiries, email questforexcellence@remax.ca.
Mark the deadline on your calendar now, because it is easy to leave essays until the last minute. Then plan to finish a draft at least two weeks early. That leaves time to rest, reread and improve it. It also protects you from a busy week of tests or a computer problem right before the due date.
Tips for writing a strong essay
A good essay starts with a clear plan. First, pick the question that you can answer with a real example. Next, write a short outline with a beginning, a middle and an end. Then write freely, and edit later.
Keep your sentences short and your ideas specific. For example, instead of saying you “help your community”, describe the food drive you ran or the neighbour you helped. Finally, ask a teacher or parent to read it before you submit it to RE/MAX Canada. A fresh pair of eyes often catches mistakes you miss.
Why this matters for Mississauga families
The third question asks how we can ensure fair and affordable housing for all Canadians. That is a question many families in Mississauga and the GTA think about every day. Young people will soon be renters and buyers themselves, so their ideas matter.
If your student chooses that question, it may help to read about the issue first. You can start with my posts on a practical solution to the housing crisis and Ontario’s housing crisis and possible solutions. Programs like this one from RE/MAX Canada show how much fresh thinking young people can bring to the topic.
Talk to a Mississauga real estate agent
Do you have questions about what this means for you? I am happy to help. I can help you find a solution that suits your unique needs and goals. Please send me a message or call me on my direct line at 416 908 5600. A. Q. Mufti, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage.
Disclaimer: this article was published on 18 January 2025 and reflects the information available at that time. Interest rates, prices, and government programs change, so check the current position before acting on anything here. It is provided for information only and is not financial, mortgage, tax or legal advice. A. Q. Mufti is a registered Sales Representative with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage, Ontario, Canada.
