MLA Bursary

About the Bursary

Each year the Muskoka Lakes Association offers one Bursary to students from Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School (BMLSS), Gravenhurst High School and Saint Dominic Catholic Secondary School are all eligible to apply.

The Bursary is in the amount of $5,000.00 and awarded to one student who demonstrates financial need to continue to their post-secondary education.

All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the MLA Bursary Committee. Any information provided on your application form is kept confidential to the Committee members and will not be shared outside of Committee discussions.

Applicant interviews will be scheduled on a Saturday in May,  so that the Committee members can meet the selected applicants in person before making final decisions.

Students at these schools are expected to be living within the membership catchment area of the Muskoka Lakes Association.

The Muskoka Lakes Associations mission is to promote the responsible use, enjoyment and conservation of the unique Muskoka environment. 

Our efforts are concentrated in four areas:

We protect and promote water quality

We advocate for responsible government and fair taxation

We promote responsible land use

We lead on important Muskoka issues year round

Applications available in the guidance department at each school.


2021 MLA Bursary Winner!

The Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) has awarded its 9th annual MLA Bursary to Hayden Foley, a Grade 12 student who is graduating from Gravenhurst High School. 

Hayden is an honours student and an enthusiastic member of the school's FIRST Robotics Team of more than 30 members that participates in the annual international competition to build robots to solve an engineering challenge, develop community partnerships and promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) locally. His fundraising for the team included more than 50 cold calls on local businesses. He is also active in his church. 

In the fall he will begin the Engineering program at the University of Guelph. 

Hayden has been saving for his post-secondary education through part time work since Grade 9. During the pandemic, he was designated an essential worker. Informing him that he had won the bursary left Hayden uncharacteristically speech; he is very grateful to the MLA for this award. 

Congratulations Hayden!


2020 MLA Bursary Winner!

The Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) Bursary recipient for 2020 is Makayla Smith-Lagrandeur. Makayla is a local resident, growing up on the Wahta Mohawks Territory in Bala. Makayla is an honor student from Gravenhurst High School, she successfully completed her grade 12. Makayla was also involved in Community and Volunteer Associations. She was a student delegate for the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee, a delegate for Youth Leadership and attended a conference for the Iroquois and Allied Indians in London in 2018.

Makayla will be attending the Law Clerk program at Georgian College in Barrie this fall. She looks forward to continuing her vision of becoming a Family lawyer one day in order to help people in her community. Makayla has many positive attributes. She is a mature, responsible, and caring friend and she has helped her mom at home raise her two younger brothers.

Makayla’s application to the MLA was exceptionally well written, organized, and thoughtful. 

Congratulations Makayla! 


2019 MLA Bursary Winner!

The Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) has awarded its 7th Annual MLA Bursary to Laken Hobson of Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School in Bracebridge, Ontario.

Laken is involved in many extra-curricular activities and has multiple certifications. Laken has been on the school’s swim team since grade 9 and is a certified National lifeguard, Red cross lifeguard as well as a water safety instructor. Laken often finds herself volunteering to support her local community; Leadership Council, Rotary Youth Leadership awards camp, Special Olympics Ontario swim coach, Women’s advocacy group child care and many more.

Academically, Laken accomplished an outstanding achievement of receiving Honour roll four years in a row. She’s also been nominated for the Lieutenant Governor’s Volunteer award and the All-Round Student award.

Laken has accepted her offer to York University, Glendon Campus for International Studies.

Congratulations Laken!



MLA 2017 Student Bursary Winner!

The Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) has awarded its 5th Annual MLA Bursary to Robyn McIntyre of St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Bracebridge, Ontario.

Robyn has been involved in many aspects of school life, including sitting on the Student Council since grade 10 and a member of the St. Dominic Peer Support group. She is actively involved in the school’s athletic teams, soccer, volleyball and badminton and an honour roll student for 4 years. She has also volunteered in many charitable initiatives, including the Salvation Army Christmas Food Drives, teen homeless nights and 4 years with an Anti-Bullying Awareness group. This year Robyn was a member of the St. Dominic’s Tanzania Team, where she travelled to Tanzania in May to help in the construction of a school for underprivileged students.

Robyn has accepted admission to the University of Waterloo co-op Bachelor of Planning program where she begins pursuing her degree this fall. Eventually, Robyn hopes to return to Muskoka and use her Planning degree.

Congratulations Robyn!


MLA 2016 Student Bursary Winner!

The Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) has awarded the 2016 MLA Bursary to Laiken Pratt of Gravenhurst High School in Gravenhurst, Ontario.

Laiken will be attending Sir Sanford Fleming College in the fall in the Ecosystem Management Technology program.  Laiken loves the outdoors and wanted to make a difference working to maintain and protect the health of the environment using sustainable environmental practices and would like to pursue a career that allows her to actively participate in environmental change from within the system.

Congratulations Laiken!