Fort Erie Kin clubs urge students to apply before bursary deadline

Five Kin clubs in Greater Fort Erie are urging local students to apply for Kin Canada bursaries before the February 1 deadline, with awards that can total up to $2,000 when combined with local club support.

Martina Post, District 1 Vice Governor and member of the Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kin Club, and Casi McCrae, bursary committee member from the Kinette Club of Fort Erie, say the bursaries are one way residents can connect with local service clubs that are also looking to add younger members across Stevensville, Fort Erie, Ridgeway and Crystal Beach.

Kin Canada’s national bursary program is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents entering post-secondary education, including trades, college and university, and it includes mature students.

“We truly believe that the future is the youth. If we can help them financially take off some of the burden so they can focus on studies, they shape the future,” McCrae told Fort Erie Radio.

The program typically receives about 800 applications across Canada and is aiming to award 104 bursaries worth $1,000 each this year.

Local Kin clubs in the Fort Erie area also offer their own bursaries, with amounts ranging from $500 to $1,000 depending on the club.

Students who are not selected at the national level can still be considered for local bursaries, and some applicants could receive both a national $1,000 bursary and a local award.

Post said the five clubs are looking for more members, with a focus on bringing in younger people to help keep local projects going. Bursary applications are evaluated in part on what students know about Kin Canada, along with community and school involvement and financial need.

The five Kin clubs in the area are Stevensville Kinettes, Stevensville Kinsmen, Fort Erie Kinettes, Fort Erie Kinsmen and Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kin. Membership across the five clubs totals about 50 to 60 people.

McCrae said the Fort Erie Kinsmen are known for Gift of Love, a holiday program run with the Salvation Army that collects toys for local families.

Fort Erie Kinettes run a Prom Project that provides free outfits for students graduating from Grade 8 or Grade 12, including help with tailoring.

Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kin is known for the Crystal Beach Supper Market and a Community Day in the Park event that included a free barbecue and bouncy castles last year. Post said her group has also worked on reopening its hall for rentals and has been creating a garden at its building.

Stevensville Kinettes run seniors dinners out of Stevensville Memorial Hall, along with takeout nights, sit-down meals, a free Easter egg hunt and a free Halloween party.

Fort Erie Kinettes have also been involved in Pictures with Santa at the race track in partnership with Fort Erie Festivals.

“Everybody knows who the Lions are. Everybody knows who the Rotary are. We’ve been around just as long, if not longer,” said McCrae.

Post said the five clubs have been collaborating more often on urgent needs, including support after a fire at Happy Days Sanctuary led to multiple cats dying or receiving serious injuries.

“It was within a matter of less than 24 hours, and we had over $2,100 donated, and close to 400 pounds in clothing and food,” said Post.

The clubs are also planning a joint Feed the Need food drive, with timing expected in early spring, though details were not finalized during the interview.

Applications for the 2026-27 Kin Canada bursary program are open until February 1 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, and applicants must submit through the online form at kincanada.ca.

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