Benjamin Thomas
Candidate in the Entrepreneurship, Business, and Social Economy category as a member of the Lodavo project.
Forces AVENIR
Get recognized for student engagement and perseverance
Forces AVENIR is a Quebec-wide award program that honours students who show leadership and perseverance, and student-led projects that create positive change in their communities.
The application deadline is March 31, 2026.
Why apply
Each year, Forces AVENIR awards $114,000 in grants:
- Forces AVENIR par excellence: One project and one individual receive $15,000 and a trophy
- Category winners: Projects and individuals in each category receive $4,000 and a trophy
- Finalists: Projects and individuals selected as finalists receive $2,000
All finalists are invited to a gala in Quebec City, which is a chance to celebrate and connect with students and leaders from across Quebec.
Categories & criteria
You can apply as to Forces AVENIR an individual or on behalf of a project.
Categories
- Graduate students
- Undergraduate students
- Perseverant students
Eligibility criteria
- Be registered as a full-time student for at least one term during the eligibility period
- Be 35 years old or younger
- Not have previously won a Forces AVENIR University Personality AVENIR award
Categories
- Arts, Literature, and Culture
- Entrepreneurship, Business, and Social Economy
- Environment
- Health and Healthy Living
- Mutual Aid, Peace and Justice
- Science and Technology
- Society, Communications and Education
Eligibility criteria
Your project must:
- Have a team made up of at least 80% eligible students
- Not be part of an undergraduate course worth more than three credits, or a requirement of a graduate degree
- Not have previously won a Forces AVENIR University Project AVENIR award
- Apply based on activities from the current academic year
Consult the bilingual Forces AVENIR brochure for full details, including category descriptions and selection criteria.
How to apply
The application deadline is March 31, 2026.
For help navigating the application portal, review the application guide.
Application support
The Office of Student Life and Engagement team can help you build a strong application! You'll learn how to demonstrate your impact and tell your story.
- Book an appointment for one-on-one application coaching.
- Attend a drop-in to get feedback on your application:
Wednesday, March 18, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Friday, March 27, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Contact forcesavenir@concordia.ca if you have questions.
Candidate testimonials
Forces AVENIR recognizes community engagement and leadership with the same seriousness as academic achievement. The application process pushes you to reflect, quantify your impact and communicate your story clearly, which is valuable even beyond the bursary.
Mahimur Rahman Khan
Candidate in the Science & Technology category as a member of the cyber-security project Tech-Nest.
Applying to Forces AVENIR made me really think about what we were doing, why it mattered and how it fit into the bigger picture of being a student who cares. The process changes how you see yourself and your work in ways you can’t imagine.
Past winners from Concordia
Learn about some of the Concordians and Concordia projects that have been recognized with Forces AVENIR awards.
