ABOUT
BURSARIES
Bursaries
Have your group's travel and accommodation costs reimbursed!
We’re pleased to announce that travel and accommodation reimbursement bursaries will be available to all chaperone and delegate groups attending Gathering Our Voices 2026. This program has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia.
A GOV 2026 Travel Reimbursement Bursary form will be given to each group on March 17, 2026 as part of the registration process.
The deadline to submit your bursary form is April 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. PST. Bursaries will be sent out in May 2026.
Bursary Q&A
Here’s what you need to know.
Groups attending from outside of B.C. are eligible for reimbursements of up to $1,000 for accommodation and up to $2,000 for travel to and from Gathering Our Voices 2026, regardless of group size.
Groups attending from within B.C. are eligible for reimbursements of up to $1,000 for accommodation and up to $1,200 for travel to and from Gathering Our Voices 2026, regardless of group size.
Groups attending through a BC Friendship Centre are eligible for reimbursements of up to $3,800 for accommodation and up to $1,200 for travel to and from Gathering Our Voices 2026, regardless of group size.
Reimbursement bursaries are available for delegate/chaperone groups only.
Chaperone/delegate groups must be present at GOV and registered in the GOV app by Feb. 27, 2025 to be eligible.
One bursary per group, regardless of group size.
Due to funder requirements, advance payments are not available. Bursaries are available only on a reimbursement basis.
Please hold onto your receipts! Proof of expenses is required.
The chaperone/group leader must send their group’s completed form along with copies of receipts to [email protected] by 4:00 p.m. on April 16, 2026.
Accommodations at GOV 2026;
Airfare for group members;
Ferry fare for group members;
Mileage for group members*; and
Vehicle rental for group members.
*Please note that if your vehicle rental package includes a set amount of mileage, that included mileage cannot also be claimed as a separate mileage expense. Only mileage exceeding what is included in the rental agreement can be claimed.
GOV 2026 Travel Reimbursement Bursary forms will be given to all participating groups (one form per group) on March 17, 2026 as part of the registration process.
Groups who register late will receive a form on March 18, 2026 as part of the late registration process.
The chaperone/group leader must send their group’s completed form along with copies of receipts to [email protected] by April 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Submission instructions will be available in detail on the form.
Reimbursements received by the April 16 deadline will be sent by cheque or EFT (depending on the option you select on the form) in May 2026.
The bursary is for reimbursement purposes only.
You can check the BCAAFC website for a list of our Friendship Centres: https://bcaafc.com.
We have identified in the app which groups are associated with a Friendship Centre, so we will let you know when we give you the form at Registration which pool of funding your group is eligible for.
Reimbursement bursaries are only for ticket-holders (i.e. chaperone and delegate groups).
You can email Jean Wylie, Registration Coordinator, at [email protected] for another copy.