Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada announces 2025-2026 scholarship recipients

August 20, 2025 (Ottawa): The Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC), in partnership with the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), is thrilled to announce the 2025-2026 recipients of the IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship.

IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship by Shoppers Drug Mart: Natasha Big Smoke Woitte, a second-year student in the PharmD program at the University of British Columbia who is committed to improving Indigenous health outcomes and uplifting the voices of her peers.
IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship by BioScript Solutions: Kelvin Magun, a second-year student in the PharmD program at the University of British Columbia who is an active advocate for improving the health and wellness of Indigenous communities.
IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship by BioScript Solutions: Nicole Beskorwayne, a second-year student in the pharmacy technician program Saskatchewan Polytechnic who brings a passion for helping people to everything she does.
IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship by Sobeys National Pharmacy Group: Adam Lechkobit, a first-year student in the pharmacy technician program at Stenberg College who is dedicated to making sure the pharmacy is a judgement-free space and that all feel safe and welcome.
IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship: Alexa Harvey, a second-year student in the PharmD program at the University of Ottawa who is dedicated to delivering care that blends biomedical knowledge with traditional healing and supporting Indigenous-led health initiatives grounded in respect, resilience and justice.
IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship: Juliet Webster, a third-year student in the PharmD program at the University of British Columbia whose experiences navigating her own identity and reconnecting with her culture have profoundly shaped her passion for Indigenous health and culturally safe pharmacy practice.
IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship: Katlynn Derouard, a second-year student in the pharmacy technician program at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology who plans to practice in rural pharmacy to help bridge the gap between Indigenous patients and the health-care system.

These scholarships, each awarded to a pharmacy student with proof of First Nations, Métis or Inuit ancestry enrolled in a PharmD or pharmacy technician program in Canada, aim to encourage and support the growth of the Indigenous pharmacy community across the country. This year’s recipients were incredibly inspiring applicants, all dedicated to enhancing care for and by Indigenous peoples within and beyond their own communities.

The third year of the Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship received extensive interest, with nearly 30 applicants for the 3 PharmD and 2 technician scholarships available to be awarded in this cycle. “The IPPC was founded to improve the representation, safety and leadership of Indigenous professionals in the pharmacy sector. We continue to be inspired by the stories of the scholarship applicants and encouraged by the number of Indigenous students entering the pharmacy profession. Each one of the applicants was a deserving recipient, and the continued growth of this scholarship program is vital to strengthening Indigenous-led and determined pharmacy practice evolution,” says Amy Lamb, Executive Director of the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada. “These scholarships will alleviate financial barriers for those in greatest need, ensuring that we continue to dismantle structural barriers to Indigenous representation and leadership in Canada’s health systems.”

Both IPPC and CPhA aim to continue building this program with the generous contributions of existing and new funders, creating a community of partners who share this vision.

“CPhA is honoured to continue our partnership with IPPC, supporting Indigenous pharmacy students through this important scholarship program,” says Annette Robinson, CPhA Chair. “By fostering opportunities for Indigenous youth to pursue careers in pharmacy, we are helping to strengthen capacity within Indigenous communities and advancing culturally safe care. We remain deeply committed to addressing the health inequities faced by Indigenous peoples and are immensely grateful to our sponsors for their continued generosity and commitment to this shared goal.”

IPPC and CPhA thank our generous 2025-2026 sponsors, Shoppers Drug Mart, BioScript Solutions, Sobey’s National Pharmacy Group, McKesson Canada and Fresenius Kabi, for their support of the IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship. Please visit our website at www.pharmacists.ca/ippc for more information or to become a sponsor. The 2026-2027 application process will open in early 2026.

Learn more about the 2025-2026 Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship recipients on our website.

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About the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada
The Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) is an Indigenous-led association established to connect and support Indigenous pharmacy professionals and help all pharmacists provide better care to Indigenous patients by creating and promoting pharmacy practice models that respect the safety, equality, strengths and teachings of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. More information is available at www.indigenouspharmacy.ca.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Amy Lamb
Executive Director
Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada
ceo@indigenouspharmacy.ca

Tyler Gogo
Senior Manager, Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
tgogo@pharmacists.ca