Treasures of Youth Fund

Treasures of Youth Fund www.treasuresofyouth.ca We invite you to help us with this endeavour by participating in our “Complete the Tune” Campaign.

The Nova Scotia Highland Village Society has created Stóras na h-Òigridh (Treasures of Youth) a fund to ensure that cultural skills based on Gaelic traditions continue to flourish with our youth in Nova Scotia. The purpose of this fund is to provide financial support and assistance to up-and-coming Nova Scotia youth between the ages of five and twenty-one, who are keen to advance their skills in t

he Gaelic tradition including: fiddle, pipes, piano, language, storytelling, song, and step dance. Financial donations can be made to the fund in general, or directed specifically to the discipline of the donor’s preference (as noted above). The Treasurers of Youth fund concept was inspired by the enthusiasm of the late Michael Anthony MacLean from Washabuck, Nova Scotia. It is with this enthusiasm in mind that disbursements supporting youth to better their fiddling skills will be issued under the name of Michael Anthony MacLean. Michael Anthony was a well-known fiddler who always had a keen interest in assisting youth to further their skills in playing traditional Cape Breton music, especially the fiddle. The fund has been ignited by the sales of Michael Anthony MacLean’s “Good Boy M.A.!” CD. Initially, we are hoping to capitalize the endowment fund with a minimum of $35,000. The intention is to develop an endowment fund, whereby the capital would not be used - rather only the annual earned income - which would then be awarded and disbursed to a successful applicant(s). We welcome you to participate in the “Complete the Tune” Campaign by purchasing one or more musical notes from “Michael Anthony MacLean’s Birthday” - a march composed by Lucy MacNeil. Please review the downloadable brochure for details and return the attached pledge form to the address. Donations can also be made online through Canada Helps. We would sincerely like to thank you in advance for your consideration in support of this visionary and worthwhile cause. With your help the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society will continue to foster the Gaelic traditions with the youth of today and tomorrow.

06/11/2026

The Stòras na h-Òigridh / Treasures of Youth committee is excited to announce the 2026 scholarship recipients! Wow, there were a lot of applicants we wanted to award. If you applied and your name isn't listed here, we truly hope you'll apply again next year.

Please enjoy this video and join us in thanking all who applied along with ELLA MACPHERSON and past scholarship recipient WESLEY MACLEAN for loaning us their voices and BOYD MACNEIL for volunteering his time and talent to put this video together for us.
--
Including today’s announcement and with the support of our community, $35,750.00 has been awarded to date.

Please give a drum roll for the 2026 Treasures of Youth scholarship recipients:

1. $1000 is awarded to 13 year old MAYA MACLEOD of Baddeck to learn fiddle, piano and Gaelic.

2. $1000 is awarded to 17 year old IAN KRILL of Halifax to learn Fiddle and Gaelic.

3. $1000 is awarded to 9 year old IRIS MACKENZIE of Mabou for Gaelic, Highland Dance and Fiddle.

4. $1000 is awarded to 16 year old JORDIE MARTIN of Pleasant Hill, to purchase a new keyboard

5. $500 is awarded to 8 year old EVA DWYRE of Little Bras d’Or to learn piano, step and highland dance.

Congratulations!!!!

Thanks to all who continue to support educating youth in Gaelic cultural arts. To offer support or to learn more about the fund, please visit treasuresofyouth.ca

06/06/2026

Great music happening at the Frolic’N Folk Pub today 3-6pm - some past Treasures of Youth scholarship recipients on the stage here! Kaj Udby and Luke Boudreau - along with John Angus MacNeil, Jordie Martin and Kyle LeVesconte. This years winners to be announced soon - so many incredibly deserving youth 🎶

05/23/2026
Last day to apply! You have until midnight to apply for this opportunity - it’s been decided that this deadline will no...
04/30/2026

Last day to apply! You have until midnight to apply for this opportunity - it’s been decided that this deadline will not be extended.
If you’ve applied in previous years unsuccessfully, we encourage you to try again!!

4 x $1000 and 1 x $500 scholarships to be awarded.

04/16/2026

April 15 marks the halfway point in the Treasures of Youth Fund annual scholarship application cycle!

If you have been considering applying, this is a great time to check in on your progress, gather any remaining materials, and start shaping your submission. The Treasures of Youth program supports young people in their pursuit of music, culture, and heritage, and we look forward each year to seeing the passion and talent that comes forward through these applications.

Applications remain open, and we encourage all eligible youth to take part:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/CFNS1/St%C3%B2rasNaH%C3%92igridhTreasuresOfYouthFund

Photograph of some of last year’s Treasures of Youth recipients alongside members of the selection committee at the 2025 Highland Village Day concert.

Stòras na h-Òigridh is now calling for submissions for this year's scholarships. The deadline is April 30th, 2026. This ...
04/01/2026

Stòras na h-Òigridh is now calling for submissions for this year's scholarships. The deadline is April 30th, 2026. This year, four $1,000 scholarships and one $500 scholarship are available to be won.

Applicants must be Nova Scotians between the ages of 5 and 21 who are keen to advance their skills in one or more of the following Scottish Gaelic traditions: fiddle, pipes, piano/guitar accompaniment, language, storytelling, song or dance.

The Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia (CFNS), has provided $31,250.00 to 36 youth across the province over the past ten years. The 2025 recipients were John Angus Muir from Sydney fiddle, Ruby Burton from Whitney Pier for piano, Gaelic language and dance, Ella Jo MacNeil from Halifax for fiddle, Aibha Campbell from MacKinnon’s Harbour for fiddle, Sarah Arsenault from Sydney River for fiddle and dance and Vayda Heavenor from Jamesville for fiddle, piano, guitar and dance.

Application forms are to be submitted online.
https://cfns.ca/treasuresofyouthfund/

It's Giving Tuesday! A day when we choose to give to charities and non-profits that have meaning and impact to us. Here'...
12/02/2025

It's Giving Tuesday! A day when we choose to give to charities and non-profits that have meaning and impact to us. Here's a little look back at what the Treasures of Youth fund has done in our province.

For 11 years, Stòras na h-Òigridh (in connection with Highland Village Museum) has helped young people across Nova Scotia in their quest to learn Gaelic, traditional music, and dance. A total of 36 youth have received support, 7 fiddles have been donated or loaned, and more than $31,000 has gone directly into the hands of keeners who help keep our culture strong and moving forward.

If you would like to help lift up the next generation of Nova Scotia Gaelic culture, you can make a donation here: https://treasuresofyouth.wordpress.com/how-to-donate/

Thank you to the many hands that have shaped this endowment fund. Your care and generosity will support learners for many years to come.

Address

4119 Highway 223
Iona, NS
B2C1A3

Telephone

+18664423542

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Treasures of Youth Fund posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category