UM alum Justin Price created a memorial scholarship to support young people in their grief journeys.
A very outgoing person by nature, this was one club UM alum Justin Price [BComm(Hons)/10] never imagined he would join.
“I lost my mom when I was 15, a week before Christmas and a few weeks before my 16th birthday,” he said. “We were very close, the whole family was, but I had a bond with her. At the time, I was a teenage boy, an athlete, and I had these preconceived notions about what it meant to be tough. I didn’t cry, and I put up this shield to show everyone how strong I was and meanwhile I’m dying on the inside.”
Price said it was at least a decade until he really started reflecting on how her death impacted him. On the outside, he had graduated from UM with distinction, played sports at a high level and had landed a great job in Toronto right out of school.
“But just because something looks good on the outside doesn't mean that it is,” he said. “When I had my first son in 2017, he started asking about Grandma Laurie because we have pictures of her in our house. I realized that other than my wife and one other friend that lost a parent I hadn't talked much about my mom to anybody. Not even my dad or my brother.”
In talking with his son, he realized that one of his blocks to telling his story was a general societal feeling of discomfort around death. He vividly remembers how it felt like the people closest to him were walking on eggshells around him, unsure of what to say or do. He said the longer he went without talking about his mom the harder it became to start, and he decided he wanted to do something to start breaking down some of those barriers for others. So, he created the Laurie Price Memorial Scholarship.
“In my research creating the scholarship and learning about what type of grief support there is out there, I found a massive gap in supporting teens and young adults outside of seeking professional help,” he said. “I know firsthand seeking help is difficult, so I wanted to offer a different kind of support and offer young people the opportunity to connect with someone who has been through a similar experience."
Payton Slobodian [BA/22] lost her father in a bicycle accident on her first day of grade 10. She said he was an extraordinary dad to her and her sisters and a beloved husband to her mom. She often finds there are no words that can begin to shed a glimpse on the impact that his death had on her, but she always remembers how he taught her how to live life simply and find beauty in the little things.
“When I discovered the Laurie Price Memorial Scholarship, I felt a connection to the criteria of the scholarship, and I knew I had to apply,” said Slobodian. “Because of the scholarship, I was able to complete my Bachelor of Arts in three years, as it allowed me to focus on my schoolwork instead of limiting my studying time due to working a job with lengthy hours to pay for schooling. It provided me with a sense of relief in my world of grief and motivated me to tackle my schooling and persevere during the most strenuous time of my life."
Abby Edmond [BSc/23] heard about the scholarship through her guidance councillor, and she decided to apply because the criteria resonated with her having lost her dad when she was in high school. She said going through this loss posed unique challenges for her that other students couldn’t relate to, and this scholarship made her feel like she wasn’t alone.
“Maintaining a high GPA is very important to be a competitive candidate for medicine, which requires many hours of studying. This meant that the scholarship was a valued source of financial support for me during my studies, allowing me to work less hours at my part time job and alleviate stress surrounding paying for tuition and textbooks,” said Edmond. “For any students that have lost a parent, don’t be afraid to reach out for support when you need it. There are so many people that are happy to help you succeed, and this scholarship is a perfect example of that.”
Price said that even if he didn’t realize it at the time, he always had people helping him along the way, and now he wants to pay it forward.
“I see how much time and effort and money my mentors and role models have given back to UM, and so there's a clear path in front of me,” he says. “I see it in our community and so I'm trying to follow in their footsteps.”
So far, the scholarship has been awarded to five recipients, and that number will continue to grow, which Price hopes will have a positive impact on both the recipients and the broader UM community.
For more information about the Laurie Price Memorial Scholarship, please call Jennifer Triggs, Leadership Giving Officer, at 204-299-6641. Donations to the scholarship can also be made online.
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