MaKami Announces New Veterans and Military Families Scholarship

Edmonton, Alberta – MaKami College is proud to announce that General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier, OC, CMM, ONL, MSC, CD will serve as the Chair of the Selection Committee for a new veteran and military families scholarship. Hillier first joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1973, rising through the ranks to serve as Chief of the Defence Staff from 2005 until his retirement in 2008.

“We are honoured to establish the General Hillier Valour and Service Scholarship (VSS), recognizing Canada’s veterans and their sacrifices made by them and their families,” said Marija Pavkovic-Tovissi, President of MaKami College. “General Hillier’s exceptional leadership makes him the perfect choice to guide the selection and development of this scholarship, which will bear his name in legacy. This initiative reflects our commitment to honouring those who have served our country.”

The General Hillier Valour and Service Scholarship for Veterans and their Families was established with an initial $1-million award by the founding family of MaKami College as a part of their ongoing commitment to creating educational opportunities with barrier-free access to higher education.

“It’s inspiring to see a post-secondary institution like MaKami College step up to recognize those who have put their lives on the line for Canada, as well as the families who served alongside them through their unwavering support,” said General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier, Chair of the scholarship committee and former Chief of the Defence Staff. “This scholarship honours both the veterans who served our nation and the families who stood by and with us, sacrificing and serving in their own right, while providing meaningful support for their pursuit of post-secondary education.”

MaKami College is currently recruiting committee members, including veterans and community and business leaders, to serve alongside General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier. This committee will be instrumental in establishing the eligibility criteria for the scholarships and selecting recipients quarterly.

MaKami College invites other post-secondary institutions and businesses to join in supporting this important initiative. Participation from the business community and post-secondary education sector will honour Canadian veterans and ensure that their sacrifices are recognized through educational opportunities. Together, scholarship opportunities like the VSS can make a significant impact on the lives of those who have served Canada. Additional details on the selection committee and scholarship will be announced in April 2025.

For more information on MaKami College scholarships and awards please visit https://makamicollege.com/student-awards/

To donate and support this or other charitable initiatives please visit https://makamifoundation.com/

About General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier, OC, CMM, ONL, MSC, CD

Newfoundland and Labrador, General Rick Hillier joined the Canadian Forces in 1973 through the Regular Officer Training Plan program and graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he is presently Chancellor. After completing his officer training, he joined his first regiment, the 8th Hussars in Petawawa, Ontario. Subsequently, he served with, and later commanded, the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Germany and Canada.

Throughout his career, General Hillier has had the privilege of commanding troops from the platoon to multi-national formation level within Canada, Europe, Asia and the United States. In 1998 Hillier was appointed as the first Canadian Deputy Commanding General of III Corps, US Army in Fort Hood, Texas and in 2000 took command of NATO’s Stabilization Force’s (SFOR) Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia.

In May 2003 Hillier was appointed as Commander of the Army and subsequently, in October 2003, he was selected as the Commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Hillier was promoted to General and assumed duties as the Chief of the Defence Staff on 4 February 2005 and retired from the Canadian Forces 2 July 2008.  He now focuses on leadership and charitable endeavours in a variety of venues.

Rick and his wife Joyce have two sons, Chris and Steven, two daughters in law, Caroline (Chris) and Amanda (Steven) and two grandsons, Jack and Matthew (Chris and Caroline). Rick and Joyce reside in Ottawa and often in Newfoundland.

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For more information:

Erika Barootes

Spokesperson / Director of External Relations

 1-833-262-5264