Harley and AnnaRuth Osborne Bursary 

Each year, a bursary of $2,000 shall be awarded to a graduating student of either PECI (Prince Edward Collegiate Institute) or NDSS (Napanee District Secondary School) who has consistently shown leadership, initiative and a dedication to serving their community. The student must intend to pursue post-secondary education, in any area of study.   

Virginia Cowan.

This bursary has been established to honour Harley and AnnaRuth Osborne, whose lives reflect a long and continuing commitment to community service.     

Born in Prince Edward County, Harley developed an early interest in mathematics, later attending Queen’s University to pursue a degree in this field.  AnnaRuth, born in Haldimand County, demonstrated musical talent from a young age, and later pursued a degree in music education at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music.    

After meeting at OISE in Toronto, they embarked on a decades-long teaching journey that left a lasting positive impact — not only on the students they taught, but also on the broader community.  Both leveraged their talents in their respective teaching roles: AnnaRuth directed many memorable school drama productions, concerts and musical performances; Harley coached students preparing to enter national mathematics competitions. Together, they set a high bar, encouraging students to discover their interests and reach their potential.   

Today, their focus on community involvement remains strong.  In establishing this bursary, we honour their life-long legacy of serving, supporting and mentoring others. 

How to Apply

Applications should include the following component pieces:

  1. Completed application form (available below).
  2. A copy of letter of acceptance into a post-secondary program. 
  3. A letter of recommendation from someone with first-hand knowledge of your community service (must be from outside an academic setting). 
  4. A personal statement (500 words) OR a personal statement (500 words) plus a short video (under 5 minutes).  ​
    Please introduce yourself and describe your commitment to community service through leadership/ volunteer activities. Please highlight activities that go beyond the 40-hour mandatory OSSD requirement, or that demonstrate continuing commitment and leadership. Optionally, you may also wish to indicate how your volunteer experiences have influenced your chosen area of post-secondary study and future career plans.

    (Optional) Submitting a Personal Statement plus a Short Video:
    Students have the option to submit a 500-word written personal statement plus a short video, if the student feels that the video would enhance their application and help them to express their ideas in a more engaging way.


The deadline for applications is May 31st each year.

Printable PDF Form
​Applications can be scanned and emailed to info@thecountyfoundation.ca 
​OR mailed or dropped off to The County Foundation, Unit 104, 35 Bridge Street, PO Box 24, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0

Past Winners

  • 2025 – 

Accessibility

The County Foundation is happy to accept a short video instead of a written response to any scholarship or bursary application questions or essay portions. If you have any accessibility needs or require additional assistance then please feel free to reach out to info@thecountyfoundation.ca or call us at 613-519-4470.