Ottawa is giving $125 million to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to support advanced research in the humanities and human sciences.

The endowment will be used to support up to 100 doctoral fellowships, 20 mid-career achievement awards and 15 mentor relationships in the humanities in any given year.

The work undertaken by fellowship and mid-career award winners will cover themes reflective of the late prime minister's personal interests, including human rights and social justice, responsible citizenship, Canada and the world and humans in their natural environment. Winners will work in disciplines such as Canadian studies, history, international relations, journalism, law, peace and conflict studies, philosophy, political economy, political science, sociology and urban and community studies.

“Pierre Elliott Trudeau had a vision of a mature and confident Canada,
united by shared rights, mutual responsibility and a common citizenship,” said Industry Minister Allan Rock, who made the endowment announcement yesterday in Ottawa.

“This fund will help promote excellence and encourage
promising students, leading scholars and researchers to study issues of interest to all Canadians. These talented individuals will explore and study the values, rights and beliefs that inform Canada's sense of identity, our public policy and our place in the world.”

Sacha Trudeau, who is a director of the foundation, said his father had great expectations for Canada.

“He believed in our capacity as a country to excel at home and abroad.
These fellowships represent a vital tool in pursuing this vision of
excellence. The best way to commemorate the contribution of my father is to allow his dream to continue through this living memorial. On behalf of my family, I want to thank the people of Canada for this tribute.”

Up to 25 fellowships – valued at $50,000 per year for up to four years – will be awarded to doctoral and post-doctoral students each year. These fellowships also include a stipend of $35,000 and an allowance of $15,000 for tuition, fees and travel expenses.

A further five mid-career awards, renewable for up to four years, will recognize eminent scholars at Canadian universities whose work in the humanities and human sciences is internationally recognized. They will receive $50,000 per year for up to four years and an annual allowance of $25,000 for travel and expenses, such as participation at an annual conference to be organized as part of the fellowship program.

Up to 15 mentors will be appointed in any one year to provide advice, counsel and reflection to the scholarship winners. Their appointments will be renewable for up to three years. Mentors will receive a retainer of $20,000 per year, plus an allowance of $15,000 for travel expenses. They will also participate in the the program's annual conference.

Fellowship recipients will work with experts at institutions in a province other than their home university.