Maple Leaf Foods and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security have announced the recipients of the 2025-26 Maple Leaf Board Scholarships in Food Insecurity. This year, four outstanding scholars have been awarded a total of $60,000 to support their research on food insecurity in Canada.

Master's candidates Rachel Blais from University of Victoria, Sylvia Odhiambo from University of Alberta, Michaela Tokarski from Carleton University, and Doctoral candidate Gabrielle Jacob from McGill University will each receive a $15,000 scholarship to support their research:

• Rachel Blais, University of Victoria: Examining the role of the nonprofit sector in addressing food insecurity in Iqaluit and developing community-led recommendations for poverty reduction policy measures.
• Gabrielle Jacob, McGill University: Measuring differences in food insecurity rates between marginalized populations and determining how food insecurity changes over time with food bank usage.
• Sylvia Odhiambo, University of Alberta: Investigating the relationship between immigration status, experiences of trauma/mental disorders, and food insecurity.
• Michaela Tokarski, Carleton University: Analyzing the impact of Ottawa Food Bank's recent decision to reduce food distribution by 20-50% on clients, member agencies, and staff.

These scholarships honor the extraordinary contributions of David Emerson, Wallace McCain, Purdy Crawford, and W. Geoffrey Beattie, past Chairs of the Maple Leaf Foods Board of Directors. Each year, the Centre awards four scholarships to masters or doctoral students who are pursuing research that contributes to the body of knowledge on food insecurity in Canada. Candidates are selected based on their academic standing, contribution to filling research gaps, and quality of the submission, including feasibility and methodological rigor.

"The rise in food insecurity rates in Canada is prompting changes in the way the nonprofit sector is responding and coping," said Sarah Stern, executive director of the center. "These research projects will help to expand our knowledge of how charities are addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including newcomers and those living with mental disorders."

The centre supports research that contributes to our understanding of barriers and interventions to achieve food security. Since its inception in 2020, the scholarship program has supported 21 students in their research endeavors. For more information about the scholarship process, visit the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security.

Source: Maple Leaf Foods