Micheal D. Laird Memorial Scholarship

The Micheal D. Laird Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of Michael D. Laird, a Red Seal Chef with a passion for Canadian cuisine who was inspired by Indigenous cultures and approaches to food. His culinary career took him across Alberta, where his menus reflected a unique perspective on combining local ingredients to create imaginative flavor profiles. This scholarship assists students pursuing careers as Red Seal Chefs who share Michael's passion for farm-to-table cooking while raising awareness of mental health. The award is available to students enrolled in the third period of the Cook apprenticeship program at NAIT, awarded on the basis of academic achievement in Trade Math and Management or equivalent menu planning curriculum. Recipients must complete 'Tough Enough to Talk About It' or similar mental health resiliency training. This requirement helps students build resiliency in dealing with the everyday demands of working in high stress and high stakes culinary environments. Students are automatically considered for this opportunity based on their completed General Application.