George Hitchcock Memorial Endowment Fund

Aspiring to be part of the fire service? Apply for a bursary of $1000

To assist Brampton residents who are pursuing a career in the fire service, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services created the George Hitchcock Memorial Endowment Fund. It honours the late George Hitchcock who guided and encouraged many people in their pursuit of a career in the fire service.

During his 33-year tenure with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, George Hitchcock played a significant role in developing and nurturing many innovative programs. George’s direction and leadership was pivotal to the development and success of the Fire/Life Safety Education Centre. The Centre has grown to be an award-winning and internationally recognized facility for safety awareness and education. The endowment fund is a tribute to the valuable contribution made by George to our community.

Apply Now

Endowment Fund Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the fund, applicants must fulfil all ofthe following criteria:

Individual is a Brampton resident
Legally entitled to work in Canada
Applicant is pursuing an Ontario post-secondary school diploma in a fire-related program
All applicants must fully complete the requirements listed in the application form
All applications must be submitted by the submission deadline, April 12, 2024, by 4pm. See the funding guidelines and process section below
After the interview process, the successful applicant must provide proof of acceptance to an Ontario post-secondary school program

Note: City of Brampton Employees and their family members are not eligible to apply. Family is defined as the following: Spouse, Parents/Step Parent, Son- in-law, Children/Step Children, Sisters/Step Sisters/Half Sisters, Daughter-in-law, Mother-in-Law, Brothers/Step Brothers/Half Brothers, Brother-in-law, Father-in-law, Same-Sex Spouse, Common Law Spouse, Sister-in-law, Grandparent, Grandchildren/Aunt/Uncle Step-Grandparent/Step-Grandchildren, Cousin and Guardian.

Funding guidelines and process

The selection committee will select a specific number of applicants for an interview based on their application form and eligibility
The submission period is from March 1, 2024 to April 12, 2024
The submission period will close on April 12, 2024, at 4pm
Submissions must be emailed to The George Hitchcock Memorial Endowment Fund Committee: firelife@brampton.ca
Applications that are incomplete, illegible or not received during the submission period will not be considered.
Interviews will take place in late April/early May 2024.
The successful applicant will be notified by May 31, 2024.
Application Form

George Hitchcock

Division Chief, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services

George Hitchcock joined Brampton Fire and Emergency Services in 1974 and served the community for 33 years. Starting as a firefighter, George was then assigned to the Division of Communications for a brief period, and then subsequently in 1990 assigned to the Division of Community Relations where he was promoted to the rank of Director. As the Division he led grew and developed according to the needs of the community, George held the rank of Division Chief of the Fire/Life Safety Education Division.

Working alongside Fire Chief Andy MacDonald, George proudly watched the construction of the Fire/Life Safety Education Centre. Under George’s direction and leadership, the Fire/Life Safety Education Centre has grown to be an award-winning and internationally recognized facility for safety awareness and education.

George played a significant role in developing and nurturing many of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services’ innovative programs. A program that was near and dear to his heart was the High School Co-operative Education program. It was a way for George to promote the fire service as a wonderful career choice and help mentor those students who felt the same passion for the fire service as he did.

Whether speaking about fire safety or the fire service to children or adults, his compassion for the fire service shone through, and has inspired many to follow in his career path.

FAQs

What is the George Hitchcock Endowment Fund?: The George Hitchcock Memorial Endowment Fund was set up by Brampton Fire and Emergency Services to assist local students pursuing a career in the fire service. This initiative is in honour of the late George Hitchcock who served Brampton Fire and Emergency Services for 33 years and was a driving force behind the Fire and Emergency Services’ high-school co-op program.
What does the fund offer?: The fund will offer an annual bursary to one eligible student and will be paid directly toward course enrolment. The bursary amount for 2024 will be $1,000 but the amount could vary for future years.
Is there a fee to apply for the fund?: No, there is no application fee. To be considered for the bursary, eligible students must complete and submit the form by the submission due date, April 12, 2024 by 4pm.
Who can apply for the bursary?: The applicant must be a Brampton resident pursuing an Ontario post-secondary diploma in a fire-related program. Application forms are available online and must be submitted to firelife@brampton.ca.
Note: City of Brampton Employees and their family members are not able to apply. Family is defined as the following: Spouse, Parents/Step Parent, Son- in-law, Children/Step Children, Sisters/Step Sisters/Half Sisters, Daughter-in-law, Mother-in-Law, Brothers/Step Brothers/Half Brothers, Brother- in-law, Father- in-Law, Same-Sex Spouse, Common Law Spouse, Sister- in-law, Grandparent, Grandchildren/Aunt/Uncle Step-Grandparent/Step-Grandchildren, Cousin and Guardian..
Are the funds provided by the City?: No, the fund was set up with seed money of more than $31,000 collected from public donations. The bursary is paid out from the interest earned on the fund.
Who manages the fund?: The fund is managed by Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation. Reviewing applications, shortlisting and selecting the candidate is managed by a committee comprising staff from Brampton Fire and Emergency Services and as well as from Human Resources.

​​​​​​​​​​​​Aspiring to be part of the fire service? Apply for a bursary of $1000

​Endowment Fund Eligibility Criteria