The Carole and George Fletcher Foundation is a charitable organization, providing financial support for engineering and applied science students in Ontario colleges. 

The Fletcher Foundation fosters excellence and builds skilled capacity for the engineering and applied science field through our support for education. For over 35 years, the Foundation has awarded hundreds of bursaries to exceptional students for their academic excellence and the future promise they offer their profession. It aims to build funds to support educational initiatives, projects and programs that shape the future of the profession and student educational experiences at colleges. 

The Fletcher Foundation is a registered charitable organization, managed and operated by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Board of Directors who are the foundation's members. 

The 2025 - 2026 Fletcher Foundation Board of Trustees

• Cam Johnston, C.E.T., rcca, mica, chair
• Tony DiPede, C.E.T., trustee
• Devi M. Richards, C.E.T., trustee
• George Shaparew, C.E.T., trustee
• Andre Tardif, C.E.T., trustee
• Willem (Swen) van den Heuvel, C.Tech., trustee
• Cheryl Farrow, MBA, CAE, president

Read AGM 2024 Meeting Minutes here.

In addition to spouses, children, and grandchildren of OACETT members enrolled full-time in an engineering technology or applied science program at an Ontario college, part-time and post-graduate students within these groups are now also eligible to apply.

Applications reopen this winter. Members are encouraged to apply on behalf of their spouse, child, or grandchild.

Apply Here.

The deadline to apply is April 30, 2026.

The Fletcher Foundation has established the Kallio Award, which annually awards two $400 bursaries to support OACETT student members in writing the Professional Practice Exam (PPE) while they are in college. The bursary covers the cost of registration, exam preparation and the writing of the exam itself. The applicants must be full-time students registered in an engineering or applied science technology program in an Ontario college and must be student members of OACETT.

The deadline to apply is April 30, 2026.

Apply Here

The Kiani Award is an annual $1,000 bursary award created to support individuals from under-represented groups in engineering and applied science technology—such as Indigenous peoples, women, and persons with disabilities—who are pursuing full-time studies at an Ontario college. The award is intended for applicants with demonstrated financial need.

Apply Here (Eng)
Apply Here (Fr)The deadline to apply is April 30, 2026.

Through its 25 for 25 campaign, the Fletcher Foundation has established endowments to fund an annual $1,000 bursary at all colleges, known as the OACETT Engineering Technology Award. Award recipients are selected by criteria established by each college, but the overarching is demonstrated financial need. These endowed bursaries also recognize academic achievement and support future promise in the technology profession. 

Have questions? Please email fletcherfoundation@oacett.org

The Fletcher Foundation established the Enhancing Educational Experience grant in 2018, which is an annual grant of up to $20,000 available as direct matching funds to support innovative initiatives designed to enhance the educational experience for students in OACETT eligible programs in Ontario colleges.  Special consideration is given to programs designed to engage non-traditional audiences, such as women and Indigenous peoples. 

Applications are due the 17^th of April every year for funds for the September of the same academic year. For more information, contact Alla Bondarenko at fletcherfoundation@oacett.org. 

December 3 is Giving Tuesday, the largest generosity day of the year. A donation to the Fletcher Foundation triples the impact through the matching donation program, enhancing the educational initiatives and bursary programs we are dedicated to building for the next generation of engineering and applied science students at Ontario colleges.

The Fletcher Foundation Annual Community Cleanup is a neighbourhood cleanup program held in the spring that helps to keep public places in communities across Ontario cleaner and greener by collecting litter and recyclables, reducing the community’s carbon footprint. 

Local chapters of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) host cleanup events on neighbourhood streets, vacant lots or parking lots, or in parks, trails, play areas, or sporting venues in their region for a day or even weekly. 

With the support of sponsors, the more garbage collected, the more students in engineering technology and applied for science programs in Ontario colleges gain more opportunities to enhance their learning outcomes and secure more bursary funds. The campaign also raises awareness about the scale of litter in our communities and encourages people to change their behaviour. 

Interested in participating in the cleanup? Contact fletcherfoundation@oacett.org 

A planned gift leaves a legacy of kindness 

One of the most profound ways to leave a lasting impact on the engineering technology and applied science profession is by providing a legacy gift to the Carole and George Fletcher Foundation.  

By planning a gift to the Foundation, you are ensuring the work George Fletcher began decades ago will continue through our programs and initiatives. 

Your commitment to protecting the public, supporting worthy students, enhancing student experiences, and broadening their access to engineering technology and applied science programs in Ontario will be honoured and sustained when you leave a legacy. 

Contact Fletcher Foundation president Cheryl Farrow at cfarrow@oacett.org to discuss your legacy gift. 

A small change can make a big impact, and that’s what the Fletcher Foundation’s new round-up donation feature will do.  

The Fletcher Foundation has launched a new round-up donation feature on OACETT’s Member Portal, which provides OACETT members with a convenient option to round up their annual dues’ renewal payment to the nearest ten dollars, giving a generous gift to the Foundation.  

Every dollar counts when you want to elevate the educational experiences of engineering technology and applied science students. With your support of this new initiative, we can build more funds to support academic projects and programs that advance the training and skillfulness of students. 

As an OACETT member, you can round up to the nearest ten dollars, donate another amount or choose not to donate when renewing your dues on OACETT’s Member Portal. We hope you choose to give to this important cause, as we know you care about the future of your profession.  

How to make a round-up donation on OACETT’s Member Portal  

1. Go to OACETT’s Member Portal via the OACETT website and sign in. 
2. Under the Membership Renewal section, click the ‘Pay My Dues Now’ button. You will land on Renewal Page – Step One. 
3. On the Renewal Page – Step One default page, you will be asked, ‘Do you want to donate to the Fletcher Foundation’? You can choose either ‘Yes, I would like to Donate’ or ‘No, I would not like to Donate.’  
4. If you select ‘Yes’ at the bottom of the Renewal Page, you will choose one of two options – ‘Fletcher Foundation Donation, rounding up to the nearest ten dollar’ or ‘Fletcher Foundation Donation, other amount.’  
5. If you click on the round-up payment option, your payment will round up to the nearest ten dollars. For example, as a certified member, your renewal fee of $344.65 would round up to $350.00. After you click the round-up payment option, you must click on ‘Confirm and Continue’ to create the invoice.  
6. If you click the second option of entering your donation amount, you will be prompted to put any dollar figure, big or small, in the payment tab. Then you click on ‘Confirm and Continue’ to generate the invoice.  

If you have any questions, please email fletcherfoundation@oacett.org.  

We thank you in advance for your support of the Fletcher Foundation.