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The board of the United Nations Association in Canada (Edmonton Branch) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Bertha Lawrence Memorial Awards to fund two underprivileged students (Male/Female) to attend the Seminar on the United Nations and International Affairs (www.sunia.ca) on an annual basis. The awards will cover tuition and registration for participants. Interested students may contact the branch directly or through SUNIA.
To apply for the Bertha Lawrence Memorial Award, please download and submit the following form by the application deadline of June 11, 2006. (Further details are available on the application form.)
 Download the application form in PDF format.
Bertha Lawrence was born in England, but came to Edmonton as a young child. During World War II she interrupted a 35 year teaching career to serve in Britain in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, but returned to the classroom in 1946. Bertha retired from teaching in 1964 but to her the term "retirement" meant only having more time to spend at her many  community activities, which are almost too numerous to mention. She was a very active member of I.O.D.E. and also the Professional Woman's Club. Her desire to respond to the needs of others was demonstrated by her years of participation in the United Nations Association, where her many activities inclued over 10 years service with UNICEF and being Edmonton representative to the United Nations High Commission ot Refugees. Bertha's wartime experiences sowed the seeds of pacifism and led to a lifetime dedicated to promoting peace. She was rewarded for decades of promoting peace when she won a three-month UN fellowship to study its inner workings in 1965. She spent time in the General Assembly and Security Council, hearing speeches by then-Secretary General U Thant and the Aga Khan. She was again recognized in 1976 when then Premier Peter Lougheed presented her with an Alberta Achievement Award. Throughout her life Bertha maintained faith that the UN will fulfill its mandate and stake its claim to the future when it finally achieves its role as peace maker. In her words "there is no other hope for mankind unless we have a body that cares and is prepared to do something about it."
In the context of the overall mission of the branch to engage Edmontonians on global issues, the board has identified the centrality of youth in this respect. The resources bequeathed by the late Bertha Lawrence, who emphasized the importance of youth in the work of the branch, has given the board the unique opportunity to carry out this important objective on a long-term basis. To attain this outcome the following approaches will be utilized:
- The current, and future boards, will use the Bertha Lawrence estate funds only for youth-oriented programs.
- The branch has agreed to establish the "Bertha Lawrence Memorial Awards;" essentially, the goal is to support two Northern Alberta students (male and female) annually (at a cost of about $750) to enable them attend SUNIA.
- As National is vigorously promoting the UN and global issues to youth through the WKOW program, the board has agreed to support this program in Northern Alberta by providing for incidental expenses, when required, to enhance the effectiveness of the program.
- At the discretion of the Edmonton board, support will be offered to youth in Northern Alberta to attend youth-oriented conferences, and also provide "Bertha Lawrence memorial prizes" to students participating in Model UNs held in Edmonton and Northern Alberta.
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