The David Ellis Scholarship (2008)

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Why We Remember David

Every year in Canada, 60 young workers are killed on the job.

David Ellis was killed on his second day at work.

He was 18.

Every year in Canada, 60 young workers are killed on the job. More than 60,000 are injured, many of them seriously.

David Ellis didn’t get the chance to fulfill his dreams.

But in his memory – and in honour of all the other young workers killed or injured on the job – the United Steelworkers is making sure young workers know the risks and know their rights on the job.

That’s why in the week of April 28, the International Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job, Steelworkers go into high schools across Canada and talk to students about staying healthy and safe in the workplace.

And that’s why we’ve established the David Ellis Scholarship for the sons, daughters and grandchildren of Steelworkers.

In David’s honour, we will fight to make sure that young workers all come home from work healthy and safe.

The David Ellis Scholarship

The David Ellis Scholarship will make $1,000 available to a selected student to help continue his or her education at university, community college or another educational organization. Plus three additional students will each receive a $500 scholarship.  

The Scholarships will be awarded to high school students who write winning essays on health and safety as selected by a panel of judges.

The Scholarship is available only to high school students who are sons, daughters or grandchildren of Steelworker members.

The David Ellis Scholarship is part of the Young Workers Awareness campaign.

To mark the International Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job, the United Steelworkers go into high schools across Canada to teach students about their risks and rights in the workplace. We run radio ads, provide print materials and encourage our members across the country to talk to students about health and safety.

How to Apply for the David Ellis Scholarship

One Scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to the high school student who submits a winning essay or video on health and safety themes. Plus three additional students will each receive a $500 scholarship. 

The Scholarship is only available to high school students who are the son, daughter or grandchild of a member of the United Steelworkers.

Students may choose between two themes for the essay or video:

Spreading the word: How I would make high school students  aware of their risks and their rights in the workplace
How to be a workplace survivor: My personal experience with health and safety on the job

Essays must be between 750-1,000 words in French or English. The winning essays will be judged for creativity, style and content.

Essays must be typed and mailed or e-mailed (email preferred). Each essay must have a cover page with the student’s name, high school, home address, home phone number, and e-mail address, as well as the name and union local of the sponsoring member of the Steelworkers. Or, create a three to five minute video. Submit it to ‘Youtube and then email ‘Youtube’ link to
dellis_scholarship@usw.ca.

Submissions must be post-marked or e-mailed no later than June 30, 2008.  The winners will be notified by August 22, 2008.  Submissions may be
sent to:

David Ellis Scholarship
United Steelworkers, Health and Safety Department
234 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 800
Toronto ON  M4P 1K7
dellis_scholarship@usw.ca

We reserve the right to publish the winning essay or video in United Steelworker publications or website. No materials submitted will be returned.