Symons Trust for Canadian Studies - President

The Symons Trust for Canadian Studies was established in 1995 by friends and colleagues of Thomas H. B. Symons, the founding President of Trent University, to honour and to continue his work in the field of Canadian Studies. The purpose of the Symons Trust is to support and enhance the study of Canada, especially, though not exclusively, at Trent University. Under the direction of its Committee of Trustees, the Trust provides funding to support imaginative new activities, to act as seed money for worthy new endeavours, or to foster important long range projects.

Applications, which are welcome from any and all disciplines, programs, or individuals, are evaluated by the Trustees in terms of their originality, quality, and potential contribution to the study of Canada. Funding from the Symons Trust for Canadian Studies is disbursed annually by Trent University on the recommendation of the Committee of Trustees.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from individuals, groups, departments and programs within Trent University. Applications from outside the University are also eligible, provided that the research or activity is based at Trent or has some appropriate association with the University.

Application Procedures

No formal application procedures or forms are required. A letter of application accompanied by a comprehensive statement of intent and a detailed breakdown of anticipated expenses and funding sources should be sent by email in PDF or Word format to the attention of Kathryn Matheson, Administrative Coordinator at: symonstrust@trentu.ca. Please include “Symons Trust 2025 Application” in the subject line of the email.

All applications should include the following information:

covering letter, including a preferred email for correspondence, and stating generally the purpose, distinctiveness, and potential contribution of the proposed research or activity to the study of Canada;
a short bio or résumé;
detailed description of the proposed research or activity;
total amount requested and detailed breakdown of anticipated expenses;
list of any other funding sources to which application is being made for full or partial assistance for the proposed research or activity.

Applications should be submitted in a single document that does not exceed 10 pages.

Applications concerning graduate student thesis research will be supported on an exceptional basis where the proposed research involves travel or other extraordinary expenses and where the thesis or work product is expected to provide some general benefit to the community as a result of publication or otherwise. Applications must be accompanied by a supporting reference from the thesis/dissertation supervisor.

Application Deadline

Applications for grants from The Symons Trust for Canadian Studies must be received by email by 11:59 p.m. on 20 January, 2025 and will be considered by the Committee of Trustees shortly thereafter.

All applications should be sent in a single document in PDF or Word format to symonstrust@trentu.ca and include “Symons Trust 2025 Application” in the subject line.

All applicants receiving awards must, upon completion of their projects, provide a report on the project and an accounting of expenses. A copy of any publication resulting from the project should also be sent to the Symons Trust Committee of Trustees for deposit in the Symons Trust Archive at Trent University. As well, any public announcement of the project, or any document or publications prepared in connection with or resulting from the project, should acknowledge in print or by public broadcast funding support from The Symons Trust for Canadian Studies.

Unused funds will be recovered for redistribution two years after the date of the award unless an extension has been requested.

For more information, contact:
Kathryn Matheson
Administrative Coordinator
Symons Trust for Canadian Studies
symonstrust@trentu.ca

Tom and Christine Symons Archival Fellowship at Trent University, Canada

The Tom and Christine Symons Archival Fellowship was established in 2018 to honour the many facets of Professor Tom Symons’ work and legacy. It supports archival research using the T.H.B. Symons and related funds located in the Trent University Library and Archives, Peterborough, Canada.

This fellowship of up to $1000, administered by the Symons Archival Fellowship Committee, assists both graduate students and established researchers who need to travel to, and establish temporary residence in Peterborough. Intended to assist with travel, living and research expenses, the fellowship is available to scholars interested in any aspect of Tom Symons’ work although priority will be given to applicants whose proposal indicates how it will contribute to articles, monographs or other writing projects.

Applicants must submit a brief (2-3 pages) description of their project and a short curriculum vitae of no more than 20 pages. If the applicant is a graduate student, a letter from their supervisor or a thesis committee member is required. The proposal should include a description of how the applicant intends to use the archival materials, why the Symons papers are important to the project, how the funds will be used, as well as any other sources of funding the applicant has for this project.

Awards are made to individuals or a group of scholars, but not to institutions. Successful applicants should not be associated with Trent University or live in the Peterborough region although someone with an honorary affiliation to Trent may be considered if they do not live near to Trent University.

Recipients are required to commence their research at Trent University Library and Archives within 18 months of receiving the fellowship and are normally expected to be in residence near or at Trent while doing the research. They may be asked to participate in campus activities where appropriate, such as giving a public talk about their research. Recipients will submit a short report on the outcome of their research within two years of the award. The award can only be held once.

The Committee will receive applications on an ongoing basis. One award will be granted annually. Funding will be distributed by the Symons Trust for Canadian Studies.

Questions about the award can be sent to: symonstrust@trentu.ca

Please submit your application in PDF form by email to: symonstrust@trentu.ca

Committee of Trustees

Professor Christopher P. Dummitt (Chair)
Canadian Studies
Trent University

Mr. Daryl Bennett
President, Liftlock Group
Peterborough

Professor Stephen Hill
School of the Environment
Trent University

Professor Lewis MacLeod
Department of English Literature
Trent University

Mr. Jeffrey Symons
Partner, Foley and Lardner LLP
New York

Awarded Applicants for Symons Trust for Canadian Studies - 2024 [Word]

Awarded Applicants for Symons Trust for Canadian Studies - 2023 [Word]

Awarded Applicants for Symons Trust for Canadian Studies - 2022 [Word]

Awarded Applicants for Symons Trust for Canadian Studies - 2021 [Word]