The Don Ennis Award Fund was established in April 2024 by Glenn Ennis, former National team player and Captain and BC Rugby Hall of Fame member, Glenn’s partner Gillie, a former rugby player who was coached by Don at KSS, and the Central Okanagan Rugby Enthusiasts (CORE).
Fund Purpose:
The Don Ennis Award Fund is intended to provide funding from its endowment for annual awards that further the broad objectives and purposes of Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation to develop and grow rugby across Canada, and that meet CRA requirements.
The Don Ennis Award is named for Don Ennis, a highly-respected Central Okanagan rugby player and coach. Don was also an advocate for rugby in his role as school Principal in the Rutland, Kelowna, and Okanagan Mission areas of the Central Okanagan. Don Ennis Obituary
In its initial form, the Don Ennis Award Fund will be used to provide educational assistance to rugby players graduating from a Central Okanagan high school and admitted to the University of British Columbia (Okanagan). In the future, the Fund may be used to support other youth-oriented rugby initiatives in the Central Okanagan. These may include player development camps and/or competitions that improve rugby skills and experiences for local high school and/or university youth players.
Initial Award Criteria:
In its initial form, the Fund will be used to award one male and one female graduating Central Okanagan rugby player the funds to assist in the costs of playing rugby and attending school at the University of British Columbia (Okanagan). In the case that no eligible players are heading to UBCO, the award(s) will go to a local grad going to play rugby at a comparable BC post-secondary institute. Award recipients must demonstrate the following attributes to qualify for the award. They include:
- Graduating or graduated from a Central Okanagan high school;
- Accepted into a program at the University of British Columbia (Okanagan) or a comparable BC-based post-secondary institution;
- Intent to play rugby for their post-secondary or club rugby team in the next year;
- High-quality rugby potential, as judged by Fund Representatives; and
- Leadership skills, as demonstrated in at least two leadership experiences.
Nomination Process:
- April – Potential award recipients are nominated by their school or club coaches.
- April/May – If possible, nominated recipients are observed in a game by Fund representatives.
- May – A shortlist of potential award recipients is identified and each are individually interviewed by Fund Representatives.
- June – One male and one female award recipient is selected and notified.
Other Information:
- The Awards will be managed (promotion, nomination, selection and announcement process) by CORE. Funds will be disbursed using a Grant Request Form from the Award Fund to CORE who will use the funds equally for the two recipients.
- The Awards are to be used to (a) pay the costs of rugby for each award recipient, and (b) use any remaining funds to contribute equally to the two recipients’ tuition and/or books.
- If only one eligible recipient is identified in any given year, CORE will use the total funds for that individual’s rugby and school expenses.
- If no recipient is identified in a given year, assets will remain in the Fund.
- The Fund Representatives will notify the Foundation of changes made to fund disbursement usage, as part of the annual Grant Request process.
TO DONATE TO THE DON ENNIS AWARD FUND AND TO HELP SUPPORT ITS AIMS , GO HERE:
