Candis Graham Writing Scholarship, Lambda Foundation Fund
This scholarship honours the memory and legacy of Canadian writer, Candis Graham, through the Lambda Foundation, with an annual award for writing excellence at the University of Victoria.
The Lambda Foundation is a federally incorporated charitable organization. It advances education by making awards to Canadian Universities, for programmes of study and research related to equality. Donations, contributions and bequests have resulted in a national series of Lambda Foundation scholarships in gay and lesbian studies. Recognition of the achievements of the recipients builds bridges of understanding of Gay and Lesbian people with other equality-seeking groups, and Canadian Society at large.

A brief biography of Candis Graham
Candis Graham was born on February 14th, 1949 in Kincardine, on the edge of Lake Huron, and lived most of her life in Ottawa. A writer of short fiction, she successfully moved into the genres of poetry, creative non-fiction, essays, and novels, and edited innovative feminist writing. Her work has been widely anthologized. Her published books include Tea for Thirteen (1990), and Imperfect Moments (1993). In 1995 Candis began teaching writing in many different formats. On occasion, she would partner with a Yoga Instructor, creatively combining Yoga practices with practical literary instruction. She moved to Victoria, British Columbia , in 2001 where she died on November 22, 2005.

Objectives:
1) to advance research and education in human rights through interpretation of the personal lives, social history, conditions and achievements of gay and lesbian people, through creative writing of all forms including fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction, film-writing, and playwriting
2) That the award be open to all university students enrolled in the Writing Department.

Criteria for selection:
a) Merit – that the student have a good or superior academic record
b) Writing Excellence - that the student display potential for achieving excellence in writing, namely originality, accessibility, creativity, impact or other criteria distinguished by the Chair of the Writing Department, and relevant to the objectives of the Award
c) Community involvement: that the student indicate an interest in community through:
  • active membership in a gay or lesbian society, or similar community equality-seeking groups or
  • letters of reference by at least two classmates, or from previous Candis Graham award recipents

Process:
1) Student submits application directly to the Chair of the Writing Department, with a letter of reference from her or his professors, and with a brief sample of her or his writing and proof of her or his interest in community.
2) Chair, Writing Department, considers the application with two other faculty members, and decides.
3) Lambda Foundation will be informed on the name and achievements of the successful application and may with donors and others arrange a ceremony recognizing the student's achievements and commemorating the memory and legacy of Canadian writer Candis Graham.
4) Lambda Foundation will be regularly informed on the growth and activity in the Fund.