Bird Construction and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), in partnership with Paul and Gerri Charette, have announced the establishment of the Bird Construction/Paul and Gerri Charette Endowment Fund.

The new fund will ensure the ongoing financing of a brand-new bursary offered to  Indigenous students across the country.

The fund has been established to advance reconciliation and empower Indigenous individuals and communities by removing barriers to education for learners, while promoting a culture of respect and inclusion.

Thanks to the support of Bird and the Charettes, who both provided $100,000 in funding, CICan will be able to provide financial support, by way of bursaries, to Indigenous students attending a college or institute in Canada. It will help individuals who demonstrate financial need and who face greater challenges and barriers to participate in and complete post-secondary education.

The fund of $200,000, will be held in perpetuity with annual disbursements. For the 2021-2022 school year, the first distribution of the Bird Construction/Paul and Gerri Charette Fund will include four bursaries of $2,500 each. For future years, the number and the amount of bursaries will be dependent on the investment income generated by the fund.

“Bird strives to be a positive contributor to the overall well-being of Indigenous peoples across Canada, including being committed to building an equitable and inclusive future. I am pleased to establish this fund as a meaningful way to support Indigenous students. Paul Charette has been an integral part of Bird for many years and has been a tireless supporter and champion of college and institute education and we are honoured to support this fund in his name,” said Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird.

Charette has over 50 years of experience in construction, having been active involved with Bird Construction as well as many industry associations. He and his wife, Gerri, are long-term supporters of student bursaries and scholarships.