Migrant Workers Scholarships nominator profile: Olga Antipova

Toronto – September 23, 2014 – Olga Antipova is 29-years-old and works at Maple Leaf Foods in Brandon, Manitoba. She is a member of UFCW Canada Local 832. In 2011, Olga decided to come to Canada from her native Russia to learn English at a college or university. Olga holds degrees in business administration from post-secondary institutions in Russia.

Olga began working full-time at Maple Leaf and with the assistance of her union and a strong collective agreement, she changed her student visa to a work visa. Through sheer hard work and determination, she began balancing work with full-time post-secondary studies. In addition, Olga completed the provincial nominee program and was promoted to the position of Lead Hand at work.

With a passion to succeed, Olga decided to bring her son Egor Shurygin to Canada. Egor is now getting ready to enter Grade 2 in elementary school, and one of the 20 recipients of a 2013 Migrant Workers Scholarship. In a letter he penned to UFCW Canada, in both Russian and English, he expresses his gratitude for the scholarship and says that he looks forward to living in Canada and playing hockey. The scholarship will go towards saving for college or university – and a new backpack for the school year!

Since 2010, Canada’s union for agriculture workers has received over 15,000 applications for its Migrant Worker Scholarships program and has now awarded scholarships to 65 children to benefit their educations pursuits in their home countries.

The deadline to apply for the 2014 round of Migrant Workers Scholarships is December 31, 2014. To find out more about the UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarships program, and to download applications or apply online, visit ufcw.ca/migrantscholarship.