Mentors play an essential role in the development of new Scholars. They are role models outside academia, inspiring with their professional achievements and valuable skills.
They share their knowledge, for instance, about communication and public engagement, team and project management, financial and entrepreneurial skills, social innovation, negotiation, networking, creative and design thinking, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does the nomination process open and close?
The 2026 Mentorship nomination process opens on September 10, 2025, and closes on November 3, 2025. No nomination will be accepted after November 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. (ET). Incomplete or partial applications are not accepted.
How are applications to be submitted?
A complete nomination package must be submitted by the nominator or the candidate themselves to the Foundation by email: nominations@trudeaufoundation.ca
Can I apply myself?
Yes. Since the 2024/2025 selection process, candidates may nominate themselves. Please note that applications from academic candidates are not eligible.
What does the nomination package look like?
A nomination package for the Mentorship must include the following elements:
a short biography for the candidate including contact details if available;
an explanation why this candidate would be a good Mentor for the Foundation.
It is not necessary to confirm the availability of the candidate for the Mentorship program though we do encourage nominators to think about time commitment and probability of availability for the candidates they are nominating. Please note that academic candidates are not eligible to be nominated as Mentors .
Are the four Foundation themes of importance for the application?
Yes, they are. Candidates’ interests should be linked to one or several of the four Foundation themes: Human Rights and Dignity; Responsible Citizenship; Canada and the world; People and their natural environment.
What kind of candidates is the Foundation looking for?
The Mentorship program is an essential and original part of the Foundation’s programming where we invite non-academic eminent practitioners to connect Scholars with opportunities and networks outside of Academia.
Mentors are accomplished leaders who come from professional domains and various sectors – private, public, parapublic and non-profit. Mentors are intentionally not selected from the academic sector. They offer a range of opportunities for Scholars, from job shadowing to networking, from introductions to conferences to co-publications. One characteristic of the Mentorship program is that Mentors and Scholars are not and should not necessarily be working in the same fields: pushing Scholars to understand new and different approaches, encouraging them to transfer knowledge and to understand other opinions and needs, are part of the learning process intended with the Mentorship program.
What happens after the submission of the application?
A selection committee will determine a limited number of short-listed candidates who will be invited for an in-person interview in Montréal, QC, held usually in early March. Only candidates invited for an interview will be informed. Following the interview a final selection will be made by the selection committee which will be approved by the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
How will Mentors be evaluated?
The selection committee members are interested in having a conversation with all candidates to evaluate the professional experiences, the mentoring capacity, leadership and engagement and their availability.
When will the successful candidates be informed?
Successful candidates will usually be informed by the end of April.
How many Mentors are chosen per year?
Mentors are normally matched with one or two Scholars. The number of Mentors depends therefore on the number of nominated Scholars is usually around six to eight. Each year, Mentors are pairedwith new Scholars from their cohort.
What is the total value of the Mentorship?
Mentors are nominated for three years; they receive a yearly honorarium of $30,000 and a yearly travel allowance of up to $15,000 to be used for Foundation-related events and activities.
What are the Mentor’s obligations once chosen?
Mentors will join other community members (Scholars, Fellows, and Mentors). Involvement in the Foundation's programming is strongly encouraged. The Foundation requires Mentors to participate in the Foundation's annual summer schools and the Mentors-Scholars retreat in the first year; in other years, they are encouraged to participate in a second event of their choice organized by the Foundation; participation in Foundation conferences is encouraged but not mandatory. During their term, Mentors are encouraged to identify themselves as “Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Mentor.”
Expected time commitment
The expected time commitment is as follows:
monthly meeting with Scholars (online or in person); Mentors are usually matched with one or two different Scholars each year; the Foundation thrives to respect language differences but is interested in matching Mentors and Scholars who are not located in the same province;
availability to participate in Foundation events and to connect with all Scholars, Fellows and Mentors; such annual events are for example orientation meetings to welcome the new cohort of Scholars, Fellows and Mentors or annual public conferences;
partnerships and the organization of own events in collaboration with their Scholars and other community members; additional funds may be made available to this effect;
willingness to contribute actively to Foundation events.
For all other questions, contact Mai-Gee Hum, Program Director (mghum@trudeaufoundation.ca).