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CAAL-CBPA

BIPOC Information Professional Grant

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Submission Deadline: Application and all accompanying documentation must be received by Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

Purpose

CAAL-CBPA is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community through furthering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action as well as increasing the diverse knowledge represented within our member institutions. We welcome applicants who will contribute to expanding the voices represented in our field and its scholarship. CAAL-CBPA supports diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our community.


This Grant is intended to help achieve the following objectives:

  • Support self-identifying Black, Indigenous Peoples, and Persons of Colour in, or from, the Atlantic Region pursuing information management careers, either directly, or in partnership with other organizations and/or institutions.
  • Assist self-identifying Black, Indigenous Peoples, and Persons of Colour working in information management careers at CAAL-CBPA member libraries, either directly, or in partnership with other organizations and/or institutions.

Grant Amount

One grant of $1,000 to be be awarded annually, when merited.  Grant awards are subject to all Canada Revenue Agency reporting requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, and a resident of Atlantic Canada (who may be studying outside of Atlantic Canada).
  • Persons who self-identify as Black, Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, or Inuit), or a Person of Colour.
  • Current employee at a CAAL-CBPA library or archive; and/or is currently enrolled in, or has been accepted into, an ALA-accredited program in Library and Information Studies or a Library and Information technology program; and/or has graduated from an ALA-accredited program in Library and Information Studies or a Library and Information technology program in the last 2 years.

Ineligible Expenses

  • Administrative overhead costs.
  • Paying salaries for any individual already employed by the post-secondary institution. Exceptions are made for anyone who will be taking release time and will experience a reduction in income. It is also possible to pay individuals for a fixed period of time where they are not making their usual income (e.g., in the case where an individual does not make their income during the summer months, it is permissible to pay them for work during those summer months).

The Committee reserves the right to reject applications that do not adhere to the specifications below:

  • Description of current or future plans in the information field.
  • Description of your planned use of grant (e.g., support for degree, project, etc.), including associated costs.
  • Statement of self-identification.
  • Submission of a current résumé or curriculum vitae (CV).
  • Two letters of support or recommendations.
  • Letter of tax exemption status if applicable (grant awards are a taxable form of income).
  • The activity must commence in the year for which the grant is awarded.
  • Announcements of the grant award are included on the CAAL-CBPA website, CAAL-CBPA General listserv, APLA listserv, and additional channels as appropriate. The announcements will include a picture of the recipient, so acceptance of the grant indicates your  approval for CAAL-CBPA to use your photo in these announcements.
  • Grant funds are disbursed in mid-June of each year. Grant cheques will be issued directly to the applicant as one lump some unless otherwise indicated. The CAAL-CBPA Executive Director will coordinate this process once the award has been announced.
  • A final report will be submitted to the CAAL-CBPA Executive Director within two months of the completion of the activity.

Proposals will be adjudicated by a subset of members from the CAAL-CBPA Reconciliation Committee.

The adjudication committee will assess all proposals using a single-blind approach. This means that the CAAL-CBPA Executive Director will know the identities of individuals submitting proposals, but during the review process, the members of the committee will not.

Proposals for funding are judged on:


  • Current or future plans in the information field are clearly stated in the application; and
  • Planned use of grant.