2025 Scholarship and Bursary Recipients – Congratulations

The Lac du Bonnet Foundation is privileged to manage three scholarships and bursaries which are given out each year to deserving graduates.

Mitch Walker, Kobie McMurren, Marline Wruck, Noah Bacchus

The Winnipeg River Bursary Fund was created by former board member and donor Gus Wruck and is awarded annually to a deserving student(s) based on need and possible relevance or benefit to the Lac du Bonnet region. This year, two bursaries of $2,000 each were awarded to Kobie McMurran and Noah Bacchus and were presented to them on June 27 by Marline Wruck. (Please click on the following video link to see Marline Wruck’s presentation.)

Noah is currently attending the University of Winnipeg where he is in the Education program majoring in English and psychology. After obtaining his degree, he hopes to become a high school teacher in Lac du Bonnet Senior School, where he was inspired by many of his teachers.

Kobie is planning to attend the University of Manitoba where she will be studying Kinesiology with a future goal of working with a professional sports team.

The Chuck Reynolds Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Chuck Reynolds, a former high school teacher at LDBSS and Sunrise School Division Board member, by the Reynold’s family to support Lac Du Bonnet Senior School graduates in their attempts to pursue their passions at the post secondary level. The donor committee looks for applicants who are fueled by a combination of passion, talent, intellect, achievement and determination.

This year’s recipient of the $1,000 scholarship went to Jack Reynolds. Jack will be attending the University of Noth Dakota where he will be pursuing his education in the field of accountancy.

The Russ Reid Memorial Bursary was recently created in memory of Russ Reid, who was also a former high school teacher at LDBSS and Sunrise School Division Board member. The Bursary will be awarded annually to a Lac du Bonnet Senior School student(s) who will be pursuing further studies at an accredited university or collage is actively involved in sports, school activities and exhibits other positive attributes.

This year there were two recipients, Myles Rosnow and Jack Reynolds, each of whom was awarded $500. Myles will be pursuing his education in the field of accounting at the University of Manitoba.  Jack will be the University of North Dakota in the field of accountancy.

The Foundation Board Members would like to extend their congratulations to each of this year’s award recipients and to all local graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives.

LDB Foundation receives significant donations (Rick McGregor, Lac du Bonnet Clipper, Vol. 34, No.13, March 27, 2024)

The Lac du Bonnet and District’s Charitable Foundation’s ability to support more charitable causes in tis catchment area has been greatly enhanced by two significant donations in the last 10 months, both of which were six figure gifts.

Last spring, the Foundation celebrated surpassing the $1 million mark in its Endowed Funds for the first time. Putting them over that mark was a very generous donation by the Beverley Lynn Neisteter estate. Neisteter and her husband, Dennis Heckert had a farm in the Lac du Bonnet area for many years before his passing in 2014. Neisteter was a former CAO of the RM of Lac du Bonnet and passed away in May 2024.

More recently another very significant endowment from the estate of Joan and Melvin Sipley has put the Foundation well on its way towards the $2 million mark. Joan passed away in 2023 and Melvin’s death followed in 2024.

Originally from Winnipeg, they built a cottage on Lee River in 1979 and eventually moved there. In their later years, they moved to Lac du Bonnet. Joan was a frequent volunteer at the Pioneer Club, the Lac du Bonnet Historical Society and the Red Hat Society. She and her husband contributed to many local charities.

By establishing two new funds honouring these individuals who generously named the Foundation as a beneficiary in their wills, the Foundation has ensured that their legacy will permanently be remembered.

The Lac du Bonnet Foundation is a community based philanthropic organization led by a dedicated board with the goal of building significant capital, the earnings from which will provide grants for the betterment of the community now and in the future. Donations to the Foundation are invested in endowed funds and the growth of these funds can be used for the grants that the Foundation awards twice a year to charities in the Lac du Bonnet area and Ward 4 of the RM of Alexander. The fund’s principal amount continues to grow each year through donation and bequests, thereby increasing the amount that can be given out in grants.

The Foundation is currently seeking grant applications for its 2025 spring grant session and the deadline for applying expires on March 31. Only qualified donees or organizations holding a designated Charitable Registration Number from the CRA, operating in or benefitting the Foundation’s jurisdiction are eligible to apply. For more information and registration forms, please see the Foundation’s website at lacdubonnetfoundation.ca

Photo: LDB Foundation current directors include Dave Johnson (back left), Janice Leroux, Laurette Greenlay, Cheryl Lidfors-Karklin, Laverne Wojciechowski, Gary Rollins, and Dick Campbell while Mauri Rutherford, (front left), Cliff Zarecki, Gordon Emberley and John Barnard are all board member emeritus.