Sir William Stephenson Scholarship

These Scholarships, established in 1984 by Sir William Stephenson through The Winnipeg Foundation, are awarded annually to one or two students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, superior leadership qualities on or off campus, and the potential to make a valuable contribution to Canada.
Born on January 23, 1897 in Point Douglas, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sir William Samuel Stephenson, CC, MC, DFC was a Canadian soldier, airman, businessperson, inventor, lightweight boxing champion, and spymaster. In 1916 he volunteered for service in the 101st Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force and in 1917 was granted a commission in the RFC. By the end of World War I he had achieved the rank of Captain and earned the Military Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre.
Between the wars, he became a wealthy industrialist, involved in the steel industry, the automobile industry, and aviation. He helped develop the Spitfire airplane and patented a way of sending photographs through wireless telegraph. As Director of British Security Coordination in the Western Hemisphere, he was an indispensable asset to the allies during World War II. In 1941, he set up Camp X at Whitby, Ontario, the first spy training school for clandestine wartime operations for the Allies. He became Churchill’s personal representative to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with a mandate from both – from his base in New York City – to get public opinion changed to approve the US entering the War. He later became one of the first directors of public relations for the BBC. Stephenson is best known by his wartime intelligence code name “Intrepid” and has been referred to as “the Godfather of the CIA” whose initial members trained at Camp X. Many people consider him to be the real life inspiration for James Bond, and Ian Fleming, who trained at Camp X, once wrote that “James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing is…William Stephenson.”
NOTE: This award has a two-stage selection process. The initial committee review determines which applicants will move forward to the short-listed stage of this competition. Once determined, all applicants will be notified if moving onto the second stage or not. Second stage may include interviews.