Our Stories
Always Striving: Lindsay's Story
by Amber Sandhu
Raised in a single-parent household, Lindsay Benjamin knew university was always the next step after graduating secondary school.
“No matter what, that was how my mom and I approached things growing up,” says Benjamin. “She helped provide me with a lot of opportunities, even if she wasn’t immediately certain how we would achieve them. We always made it work through savings, and my part-time job as well.”
Lindsay earned a $1,000 Future Aces Scholarship in 2002.
The Leaside High School alumna pursued her post-high school journey at the University of Waterloo, choosing Urban Planning as her program of study. Gaining experience from her time in the Co-op programs, coupled with undertaking research for her Masters, Benjamin knew this is what she enjoyed but wasn’t sure what shape her professional life would take.
Benjamin began work at a research centre at the University of Waterloo before accepting a position as a Cultural Heritage Planner for the Region of Waterloo for four years. She then moved into the private sector, working for a small Archaeology firm before joining a global engineering firm during the pandemic.
She is currently working full-time at Archaeological Research Associates Ltd. (ARA) as a Heritage Project Manager. After working for over a decade with her colleagues who she considers family, she appreciates the firm’s work ethic and high standards when managing cultural heritage projects across the province.
‘It feels more soulful, and I really respect the quality of the work they are doing in the industry and their approach. This is precisely where I hoped to be mid-career.”
Looking back at her accomplishments, she highlights key moments in her life she has never forgotten—the first being completion of her Master’s degree.
“I am still proud that I completed my Master’s while working full-time,” she says. “Sometimes I forget what an effort that was, and I am really proud that I persevered despite the challenges.”
Her Master’s degree led her to earn a professional designation as a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) from the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), as well as becoming a Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP), marking her expertise in the field.
Gaining technical expertise is another accomplishment she believes is helpful in the industry.
Having amassed many years of professional experience, Benjamin is also keen to give back, as a mentor.
“I enjoy it, it feels rewarding,” she says. “With 15 years of gained experience, it’s nice to share lessons learned with others entering the field, striving to find their place and sense of achievement.” Mentorship also helps her appreciate all that she has accomplished along the way.
As for advice for those entering post-secondary, Benjamin says, “When presented with an opportunity is equal parts exciting and scary—always say yes!”
She adds leveraging a professional network is also crucial in academics to tap into connections that may help open doors, and friendships, down the road.
Research and Self-Discovery: Nolan's Story
by Amber Sandhu
“I was searching for any available scholarships wondering what I could get with 1,000 hours?”
Nolan Dey remembers the excitement and joy he felt the night he won the Future Aces scholarship in 2014.
“It was fun to be there and have my parents by my side,” says the current Senior Research Scientist. “It was nice to receive the money as a student heading into post-secondary.”
The Mississauga Secondary alumnus was committed to serving his community by organizing events at his high school while a student.
In 2012, he organized Carols for Cans, where close to 600 students would go door-to-door singing Christmas carols. Along the way, they collected over 10,000 food items and donated them to food banks within the GTA. The initiative ran for seven years.
In addition to community service, Dey also planned to attend university.
Inspired by an interest in math and physics, along with what he learned building different models with his friends, Dey decided to pursue a career in engineering.
He knew that while it would be a rigorous program, the field could open many doors, and push him to work harder. “I felt maybe some of the soft skills I could supplement, which is why I chose to do engineering.”
Dey graduated from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering. He went on to intern at seven different software companies, and along that path discovered a love of research.
“There are different ways to quantify what leadership could mean,” says Dey, who currently works at Cerebras Systems, which builds “the industry’s fastest AI accelerator,” according to its website.
He is considered a thought leader in the space and is responsible for leading different engineering teams within his company. Dey describes his role as helping “steer the ship for all these teams and put the company in the right place.”
In pursuing his dream of conducting research and creating scientific papers foundational to his work, Day hopes that it will inspire and “bring up the next generation to walk the path that I was able to walk, hopefully even better.”
Seeing the Big Picture: Alex' Story
by Gianluca Berardis
It was just a positive feeling.
And back in 2014, at a time when he was unsure what his future would hold, the recognition of his efforts was a wonderful boost on all fronts.
“My parents were very proud and excited at the time,” says Alex, a graduate of A.B Lucas Secondary School in London, Ontario.
For him, the Future Aces Scholarship was something he really needed to kickstart his career. “It was kind of a catalyst for me finishing university and starting my career,” says Alex, who prefers to keep his identity confidential due to the nature of his work. “It has been good. Everything is going as planned!”
Alex attended Western University, where he studied criminology, and later Fanshawe College with a focus in police studies. He says he needed a couple years to figure out his path, even though, “since I was a kid, that was the career aspiration.”
Alex says the key to pinpointing your goals is being consistent and focused. In his case, there was also a fair share of adversity to overcome. He failed his statistics course in university and had to go to summer school. “Just don’t give up. You’re obviously going to have challenges. You just need to grind and bear when times get hard and not give up.”
While enrolling in summer school was a bitter pill for him, Alex says he chose to look at the big picture. “Dig deep, you’ve gotten to where you’re at now,” he says recalling his student journey. “Don’t take the easy way out. Utilize resources, utilize other people.”
Even after becoming a police officer, Alex ran into new obstacles. They only pushed him.
“Adaptable. You must be adaptable,” he says. Things may not go the way you want.”
These days, Alex says he continues to enjoy his career choice. He loves getting involved in the community — something he attributes to earning his Future Aces scholarship.
“I like to think about the big picture,” he says. “I have the opportunity to potentially save somebody’s life,” — similar to the scholarship he won, which in many ways, helped to shape his.
Leading Through Public Service: Stephanie's Story
by Gianluca Berardis
“It was really nice to be recognized for the leadership work that I had been doing in the community when I was in high school.”
Ten years after earning a Future Aces Scholarship, Stephanie Bertolo reflects on its impact in her life. “I’m sure it really helped me get other opportunities moving forward.”
Bertolo graduated from Westmount Secondary School in Hamilton. Like many high school students, making the transition to a big university, caused her to have doubts.
“The scholarship did help,” says Bertolo, whose high school experience included several leadership roles as the president of her school’s health action team and co-chair of the Hamilton Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council. “It was a good reminder that I have done great work and belong in spaces I’m in.”
An active community member, Bertolo was moved when her efforts as a volunteer and service pursuits were noticed by Future Aces.
She attended McMaster University, studying Arts and Sciences, with a keen interest in science stemming from high school.
Bertolo now works in public policy — an area of study during her undergraduate years. She says that passion goes back to her involvement in the community.
“I pivoted and realized that I really had a lot of passion for politics and influencing change through public policy instead.”
Bertolo satiates that passion every day as an associate at Springboard Policy, a public policy research and advisory firm in Toronto. Their mission is to, “improve public policy by bringing more voices and ideas to the table.”
Now based in Toronto, Bertolo continues to seek out new ways to help her community. She is hopeful her career can make that direct link.
“I think my job reinforces my passion for the community because we work a lot with organizations, mostly nonprofits, or Indigenous organizations, who are making a strong impact on the public policy landscape, the betterment of the people they serve.”
Bertolo also loves municipal politics. She worked for a city councillor in Hamilton, and says she continues sharing her opinion on how Toronto can grow.
“I’m trying to get more involved in housing advocacy, making sure that this is an affordable place for everyone to live.”
A decade later after earning a Future Aces scholarship, Bertolo’s leadership qualities continue to be a guiding light.
A Role-Model Across the Ages: Saira's Story
by John Fairbrother
Saira Remtulla was always interested in giving back to the community as a young student.
“I always had it in me to do voluntary service,” says the elementary school teacher. “It was just something that was important to me.”
After receiving a Future Aces Foundation Scholarship in 2001, Remtulla pursued a degree in education. She now spreads the Future Aces philosophy in her classrooms. “It’s so great to come full circle!”
More than 20 years later, Remtulla still fondly remembers her experience with Future Aces. “I think receiving the award was a huge confidence booster,” she says.
“I was like, wow, me? I was the one selected out of all of my peers?” recalls Remtulla, who attended York University, before graduating from Queen’s with a degree in Education.
“Receiving the award helped with starting to believe that I have leadership qualities, and that maybe I can be something really important and make a difference in the world in the future”
As a high school student at George S. Henry Secondary School, Remtulla volunteered in multiple co-curricular activities, leading the school’s Multicultural Club as its president. She also headed the school’s Food Bank committee. Winning the scholarship further fuelled her. “Just the fact that they recognized me as the person who should receive the award? It was huge!”
The achievement was made even more meaningful for Remtulla, because on that night in 2001, when she received the Future Aces Scholarship prize of $1000, she also met Dr. Herb Carnegie and his family.
To this day, the late Future Aces’ founder continues to inspire her. “All the hardship that he went through and the determination and not giving up, it’s a wonderful story to share with the children.”
Now teaching part-time at a Future Aces school in east Toronto, Remtulla often retells the story of how she won her scholarship, and the work of Future Aces. She laughs as her students question her darker hair, or point out her different last name, but she always echoes the same message, “I would say that anyone who doesn’t know Mr. Herbert Carnegie should read about his story, learn about his character and share his story with every person they meet because he was an incredible man who never gave up.”
She adds, “he wanted to make a difference in the world and look at what he did, he made a difference, and his name still lives. His spirit is still very much alive.”
She encourages anyone who does not know Dr. Carnegie’s story to, “definitely research and learn about all the different leadership qualities he possessed because I think it’s something that all of us have within us.”
In 2022, Remtulla began her own business, Connected Start, running music, movement and play classes for caregivers, and recently began working in daycares. She spends her time teaching ways to be the best you that you can be.
“I think the best advice I could give is for a young person or any person to stay true to themselves and be who they are, and definitely try to grow. Do things that are uncomfortable, because when we are uncomfortable, that is when we grow.”
Remtulla is proud to be where she is, and looks to continue spreading positivity, based in large part on the values in the Future Aces Creed.
“The leadership qualities that the philosophy teaches is so important for success.” she says, “Teamwork, kindness, all of that is who humans should be. It’s very much part of life, but to have a philosophy that you could follow and to have it all structured already there for you is amazing!”
With two children of her own, and students to lead, she is always trying to be the best role-model possible.
“It’s great that I can say be a Future ACE (to students) because I was a Future ACE, and I am still a Future ACE!”
Setting a High Bar: Zameer's Story
by Gianluca Berardis
Imagine the pressure of running a nonprofit while in high school. That’s the challenge Zameer Bharwani chose back in 2010.
His motivation, initiative and efforts to help others, along with strong academics, were instrumental in Bharwani being awarded a Future Aces Foundation Scholarship a few years later.
“I think it just gives you confidence,” says Bharwani, reflecting on that time in 2014 when he claimed the $1,000 scholarship prize as a student at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, located in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood of Toronto.
“If the decisions you made leading to that point were recognized, it gives you confidence to go pursue whatever you want to do.”
And he has.
As a high school student, Bharwani set his sights on wanting to become a nanotechnology engineer.
The road to pursuing that goal has been paved with several additional, notable achievements including, winning the President’s Scholarship of Distinction at the University of Waterloo in 2015 — where he also earned two degrees — both with distinction — in Honors Computer Science and Honors, Nanotechnology Engineering.
Ten years later, Bharwani fondly remembers the impact of the Future Aces scholarship award, for several reasons.
“…being in grade 12, not really knowing what it means to be an engineer or a lawyer or a doctor and having to make that choice feels really consequential especially when the stakes are really high in terms of finances, going into debt, things like that,” he says. “That was my biggest concern at the time.”
Recalling that time, Bharwani says the scholarship gift, “enabled me to move away from home and attend the university of my choice.”
He was nine when he arrived in Canada from India with his family, which includes a brother. The scholarship helped relieve a looming burden.
“I knew it would be difficult for my parents to fund both of our educations, so being able to fund it heavily through scholarships, and then having some supplemental help from things like O.S.A.P [Ontario Student Assistance Program] loans and family funds, helped a lot just to know that my parents nor I had to go into deep debt. It gave me a lot of peace and happiness to know that.”
It also helped further fuel his academic and career desires, which had begun taking shape even earlier.
In 2010, while a middle school student, Bharwani was paired with a mentor, a neuroscientist from the UK, who would plant a seed in the young student that just kept growing.
The mentor taught him about the brain, the nervous system, dementia, and the variety of other neurological disorders that many people suffer from.
It led Bharwani – at age 15 – to create a nonprofit called, Initiative for Neuroscience & Dementia (I.N.D). The organization garnered media coverage.
Over the span of seven years, I.N.D., “hosted educational campaigns, funded research towards a cure, and worked with patients,” all while Bharwani balanced the various pressures of high school and future planning.
His advice for current students is to “leave your comfort zone,” something he has done throughout, having lived in Massachusetts, California and currently, the United Kingdom.
“We lived in Boston earning close to nothing, around $750 a month for a research position,” he says, of an experience several years ago.
“It was a really complicated time to make ends meet. It was a difficult life, but one that helped cultivate some of the best friendships and experiences.”
In 2022, Bharwani got accepted into Harvard for his master’s and had his mind set on going. He eventually turned down the opportunity to move to London, England, where he is now building a health and social care startup company.
Throughout his academic, entrepreneurial and life pursuits, Bharwani’s penchant for setting a high bar for himself has been evident, so too is his gratitude and appreciation for the Future Aces financial award that supported him at a most pivotal time in his life.
10 Years Later: Roya's Story
by Gianluca Berardis
Even a full decade later, the memories flood back quickly and easily “I remember being really over the moon!”
Roya Abdmoulaie remembers her emotions and actions clearly.
“Going to tell my parents, that’s the first thing I did,” says the 2014 recipient of a Future Aces Foundation Scholarship.
“Sometimes when you don’t come from a certain type of family or community, you might not necessarily have a lot of that encouragement or know what the right direction is,” she says. “But to have that reassurance, to have that support from Future Aces Foundation and encouragement really meant a lot.”
Dr. Abdmoulaie made her dream come true. She works as a family physician at Hospice Vaughan, in Woodbridge, Ontario. The 10-bed palliative care residence supports individuals at end of life and those diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses with specialized services, while also offering support to their families, loved ones and caregivers.
The work is especially important. “There’s a lot of stress in the world right now and a lot of pain,” says Dr. Abdmoulaie. “I hope that in some ways I’m able to combat that and to help people.”
And she has never forgotten the people who helped her on her path, including those she met the night she received her Future Aces Scholarship.
“I remember it was a really exciting evening,” she recalls fondly. “I met so many interesting students from across the GTA, and there were so many like-minded community-oriented people. That was pretty incredible! I remember the awards very distinctly and meeting the person who funded the scholarship. And that was so, so cool. I remember thinking to myself, one day, I’m going to be just like this person.”
A validating, impactful moment, that continues to reverberate in her life.
“Because of the Future Aces Foundation, I’m now going to be in that position where I can give back.”
A soon-to-be full circle moment that could well propel another young person “over the moon”!