Suncrest College says a new scholarship it is launching promises to eliminate barriers for female firefighters.

Marianne Boychuk is considered a trailblazer in the field. She became Regina’s first woman to be named captain with Regina Fire. Her newest title is one she hopes lays the groundwork for the future: an Instructor with Suncrest College as well as a scholarship donor for the Fire program.

On Friday, Suncrest College officially unveiled the Marianne Boychuk Women in Firefighting Scholarship, a $10,000 credit for a female firefighter starting her training in the 20th platoon in April at the Saskatchewan Emergency Response Institution (SERI) near Melville.

Boychuk says, “Removing one of the barriers for women to achieve their goal of becoming a firefighter, (this scholarship) will promote firefighting as a great career choice for women. It may not occur to some women because we always don’t see ourselves in the job.”

Boychuk’s initial $5,000 scholarship offer to Suncrest was also matched in full by the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Advanced Education. Applications for the scholarship are now open, with the closing date set as January 31st, 2024.