Town awards first-ever Beffort Scholarships to local students

Local students Gracie Kehoe and Amanda Cannon are the first-ever recipients of the Doug and Doreen Beffort Legacy Scholarship.  Funded out of proceeds from the Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament, the two $1,000 scholarships support current or former residents of Caledon pursuing a post-secondary degree in the field of education. 

“Doreen and I are absolutely thrilled and proud to see the scholarships go to such amazing young women,” said former Councillor Doug Beffort. “As a former principal I'm so excited to see such talented and capable young educators entering the profession.”

Gracie Kehoe attended Robert F Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East prior to enrolling at Queen's University in the Concurrent Education program. She is working toward a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education, with hopes of being a High School teacher. She notes her parents as her biggest inspiration.

Amanda Cannon, a Mayfield Secondary School graduate, is also currently enrolled at Queen's pursuing her Bachelor of Education for the Primary and Junior levels. You could say teaching is in her blood, with multiple generations of teachers in her family, including both of her parents. Amanda has achieved her undergrad at York's Schulich School of Business, where she combined business courses with electives in psychology. She has an interest in teaching mathematics and intends to enroll in the first of three Primary/Junior Mathematics Additional Qualification courses in August 2019.

The Beffort scholarship was announced last year in honour of Doug and Doreen Beffort, both of whom had been pivotal in the success of the Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament which over its lifetime has raised over a million dollars towards community projects in Caledon.  Doug Beffort is a former Town of Caledon Councillor for Ward 1 and school principal and Doreen for many years was the lead organizer of the tournament. 

“We couldn't think of a better way to honour the Befforts,” said Ward 3 and 4 Coun. Johanna Downey, the 2018 Chair of the Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament.  “They are all about giving back to the community — and combined with Doug's longtime passion for education — supporting two young future educators seemed the best way to honour them and benefit the community.”

The Doug and Doreen Beffort Legacy Scholarship is presented yearly.  Applications for next year's scholarships will open this fall at www.caledon.ca/golf. 

The recipients were honoured at a ceremony at Town Hall on May 28.

Courtesy of the Town of Caledon