The Michael Saunders Bursary Fund

The Michael Saunders Bursary Fund was established in October of 2023 with the Greater Saint John Community Foundation.

The annual income from this fund will fund a bursary annually to a resident of the North End of Saint John who has been accepted into a trade program at any NBCC Campus.

Michael Saunders is a longtime resident of the city of Saint John. He has volunteered extensively throughout his life in Greater Saint John and believes strongly in giving back to his community.

Michael retired from the City of Saint John after 34 years and decided to start this bursary to give back to his community. He wishes to help young people who want to get into the building trades and become entrepreneurs. Michael was born in Saint John and has lived in multiple locations across the country, including Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver.

Michael is the son of the late Richard and Lorraine Saunders, who had a family of ten. He attended Crescent Valley School, Princess Elizabeth School and Millidgeville North High School.

“I am proud to say I worked union jobs all my life. I worked in the Carpenters and Labourer’s Union and for the City of Saint John with Local 18. I like to give back to my community by volunteering with my church, my service club, unions, sports teams, the YMCA, the Saint John Y’s Men’s Club and was on the board of the United Way. I decided to start a bursary so students can pursue the building trades. I will be making a significant donation to start up this Bursary Fund because we need more trades people and entrepreneurs in the building trades in this part of New Brunswick.”

Michael states that he will continue to donate to this bursary for the rest of his life and that when he usually makes donations, he makes them to feed people or to educate people.

The Greater Saint John Community Foundation is pleased to be entrusted with this very important fund.