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 In the fall of 2008, Ottawa mourned the sudden, tragic loss of one of the city's best-loved mayors and champions for immigrants and refugees, Marion Dewar. Best known for galvanizing the community around Project 4,000, through which the city welcomed thousands of Southeast Asian refugees in the late '70s. Marion Dewar later gave new hope to a number of refugees who were some of the first clients of the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO), now an invaluable resource for new Canadians settling in Ottawa.
As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, OCISO established the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund in 2009 to honour her memory and her lifelong commitment to the cause of immigrant integration. Designed to inspire leadership and academic excellence among high-school and post-secondary refugee and immigrant students, the fund provides financial support to supplement tuition and supplies required for furthering their education.
After working directly with Marion during the early preparations for the 30th anniversary celebration, OCISO gained fresh inspiration and insight into the impact that people's efforts can have on the lives of others. Upon Marion's passing, OCISO was determined to find a meaningful way to honour her legacy, reaching out to the community to come up with a way to give back on her behalf. With the support of Marion's son, NDP MP Paul Dewar, and a group of community leaders, OCISO established the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund with the Community Foundation of Ottawa.
"Ultimately, a scholarship was at the forefront of my mind as the most tangible kind of lasting legacy that would most appropriately honour Marion's contribution to the immigrant experience in Ottawa," said Tyler Meredith, President of OCISO Board, "and the Community Foundation was a natural fit as the best organization to partner with because of all the integrity it brings to everything it's connected to."
In June 2009, the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund was launched during World Refugee Week. Thereafter, OCISO and the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund Committee embarked on a two-year public fundraising campaign to raise an initial $100,000 needed to sustain the fund. To date, almost half of that goal has been met. The campaign hopes to keep the legacy of Marion Dewar alive and ensure the necessary funding to enable immigrant and refugee youth to pursue their academic dreams.
In the fall of 2009, OCISO held its first scholarship ceremony to honour the first two recipients of the $1,000 Marion Dewar Scholarships: Ijabo Abdi and Damaris Sarai Gomez. Both first-year University of Ottawa students, these two young women have both overcome their fair share of challenges since coming to Canada. 
Born in war-torn Somalia, Ijabo Abdi immigrated to Canada when she was eight years old. Being the eldest of four children cared for by a single mother; Ijabo was immediately immersed in the difficulties of trying to simultaneously learn a new language while fitting into a new school system. After an early setback in grade three, Ijabo dug in and learned to speak English as fluently as any of her peers within her second school year. Ijabo plans to complete an under-graduate degree in commerce with a specialization in accounting. She is an active advocate for women's rights on campus.
Damaris Sarai Gomez was born in El Salvador and immigrated to Canada when she was one year old. School was always a challenge for her and she attended five different schools before graduating from Immaculata High School. Damaris credits her parents and the hospital volunteer work she undertook in grade nine with helping her strive to succeed. She is also a competitive soccer player who has used the sport to tap into her many inner capabilities and hidden talents. Damaris is studying life sciences and hopes to make a future in which she can give back to the people and community that have always supported her.
By supporting and encouraging the potential of these first two recipients, the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund is already creating a lasting and fitting legacy for its namesake.
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