Willow Grey Agency Inc., a strategic marketing consultancy serving mission-driven organizations, has established two annual financial aid awards to support students in the Business – Management and Entrepreneurship program at Algonquin College’s School of Business and Hospitality. These awards will provide $2,000 annually for five years, totalling $10,000.
The awards reflect Willow Grey’s commitment to empowering the next generation of purpose-driven leaders and entrepreneurs.
The Willow Grey Leadership Excellence Award
This annual award recognizes two students who demonstrate outstanding leadership through mentorship, collaboration, and meaningful contributions to their college or wider community. The award honors students who uplift others, lead with integrity, and embody inclusive and values-driven leadership.
The Willow Grey Entrepreneurial Mindset & Skills Award
This annual award celebrates two students who exemplify entrepreneurial thinking, innovative problem-solving, and the practical application of business skills. Recipients may have launched or supported ventures, led creative projects, or turned ideas into action through coursework or real-world experiences.
Both awards will be presented annually to students in their final semester of the Business – Management and Entrepreneurship program, with the first scholarships awarded in 2026. The five-year commitment aligns with Willow Grey’s core value of giving back to the communities it serves.
“I had incredible mentors when I was starting out—people who believed in me and showed me what was possible,” said Erin Blaskie, Founder and CEO of Willow Grey Agency. “These awards are about paying that forward and supporting students who are building businesses with purpose at the centre, not just as an afterthought.”
Blaskie chairs the Entrepreneurship Program Advisory Committee at Algonquin College and volunteers with other organizations that provide mentorship to young entrepreneurs and leaders, bringing more than 20 years of entrepreneurial and marketing experience to her mentorship work.
Cory Haskins, Dean of Algonquin College’s School of Business and Hospitality, expressed his appreciation for the creation of these new awards. “As a supporter of Algonquin College, Erin Blaskie knows we strive to provide students with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge they can rely on to launch fulfilling careers, just like she has. By financially supporting students today, the Willow Grey awards will inspire the next generation of business professionals to lead with creativity, determination, and heart.”
“Supporting students who lead with both ambition and empathy—who want to build businesses that actually contribute something meaningful—that’s the kind of leadership our world needs more of,” Blaskie added.