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2026-27 Award Letter (English)

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to receive a financial award in the amount of $1,600 from the Help Our Students Program for the 2026-27 school year.  This award is given to a high school student who has demonstrated a commitment to school, a strong work ethic and dedication towards their academic program, and one who would benefit from a financial helping hand. You have been selected because your teachers and your Guidance Counselors recognize how hard you are working to graduate as well as other contributions that you make at school.

 

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR MONEY

  1. You need to have a STUDENT ACCOUNT (not a Youth Account), with online banking, from any Branch of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).

  2. You can obtain your account by visiting any branch of RBC (you should call ahead for an appointment), by telephone or online. However, if you do not open your account in person, you must go to a branch with identification to activate the account.  You will only receive money if your account is active.

  3. You must complete the RBC Bank Information Form at the following link:

      https://form.jotform.com/261565407670258.  You will not receive any money unless you complete and submit the Form. Emailing only a copy of your void cheque is not sufficient.

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You must open your bank account as soon as possible. Under normal circumstances, you will receive the full award, retroactive to September 1st.  However, if you delay opening your account, we may limit how much retroactivity you will receive. Read the attached OPENING A STUDENT BANK ACCOUNT to see what types of identification you require before the bank will open an account for you. Present the attached page TO: ROYAL BANK of CANADA OFFICIAL to the bank official to ensure they know what type of account you need.

Upon receipt of your RBC Bank Information Form, we will electronically transfer one hundred and sixty dollars ($160.00) each month into your account, for ten (10) months, for a total of $1,600.00. 

If you are having difficulties opening a bank account for any reason, tell your Guidance Counsellor. We may be able to help you open your account, but you must tell us that you need help.

You may use the money as you wish; there are no restrictions.

IMPORTANT POINTS

  • Your account must be with the Royal Bank (RBC). No other bank is acceptable.

  • The account must be in your name only, not a joint account with a parent or guardian.

  • If you cease to attend school, you will no longer be eligible to receive financial support from the Help Our Students Program.  The school will decide whether you are still in school.

 

 

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The Help Our Students Program will not divulge your identity.  Your Guidance Counsellor, the Principal or the Vice-Principal and a few officials from our organization will be the only persons who will be given your name as a recipient of this award.  You are under no such restriction; you may share the good news as you wish.

There is a section at the bottom of the home page of our web site (www.HelpOurStudentsProgram.com) that is reserved for students. It contains useful information and the answer to many frequently-asked questions. It is called Student Resource Files. You can access the files by clicking on the link and entering the password HOSTstudent.

Congratulations and best wishes for a successful and happy year.

 

 

 

 

Richard Lussier

President, Help Our Students Program

Email: HOSTProgram@rogers.com

(613) 983-3633

 

 

 

 

 

Opening a STUDENT BANK ACCOUNT

Important:  RBC will not give you a bank account unless you present a document that has your photo on it. Birth certificates usually do not have a photo. If you have a birth certificate but no other document with a photo, Service Ontario can provide you an Ontario Photo Card. It costs $35 and is valid for 5 years. This “purple” card is an acceptable document to open a bank account. 

You need to open a Student Bank Account with Internet Banking. Visit any branch of the Royal Bank of Canada and provide two valid pieces of identification.

Identification Requirements

When opening a personal deposit account, you must provide at least one piece of Type A Identification (see below).  The second piece may be Type B Identification (see below).

Type A Identification

  • Ontario Photo Card

  • Birth certificate or Driver’s licence issued in Canada.

  • Canadian or Foreign passport.

  • Social Insurance number card issued by the Government of Canada.

  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization.

  • Permanent Resident Card or Citizenship and Immigration Canada Form.

Type B Identification

  • Identity of the applicant confirmed by a client in good standing with RBC, or by an individual in good standing in the community where the branch is situated.

  • Employee identity card with your photograph issued by an employer well known in the community.

  • Bank or automated banking machine or client card issued by a member of the Canadian Payments Association in your name or bearing your name and your signature.

  • Credit card issued by a known retailer.

  • School student card (may not be accepted at all branches).

You must ensure that your account is set up for internet banking.  

 

You can obtain your account by visiting any branch of RBC (you should call for an appointment) or by telephone or online. However, if you do not open your account in person, you are required to go to a branch with identification to activate the account.  You will not receive any money unless your account is active.

 

 

 

 

To:      Royal Bank of Canada official

 

The student for whom you are opening a STUDENT ACCOUNT (not a Youth Account) is a recipient of an award given by the Help Our Students Program.  The award is intended to give hard-working students a helping hand to help them graduate high school.

The award normally consists of monthly transfers of $160.00 from September through June transferred directly into the student’s account from the Help Our Students Program RBC account.  It is therefore critical that the account be set up to allow such direct transfers; you should set the electronic Entitlement as 054, 056 or 058. Please do not use entitlement 068 as this will not allow the student to receive electronic transfers. 

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact one of the following RBC staff:

Once the account is set up, the student is required to complete an online RBC Bank Information Form that includes the student’s first and last name as displayed with RBC so that arrangements can be made for RBC to RBC online transfers.  The link is: https://form.jotform.com/251425473900251.

The Bank Information Form includes a requirement to include a copy of a VOID cheque. Please provide one to the student. 

Please note that sending us a copy of the void cheque is not sufficient to send the student any funds. Funds can only be transferred once the complete Bank Information Form is submitted.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Richard Lussier

President

hostprogram@rogers.com / tel. 613-983-3633

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