Scholarships are awarded at the end of the second year to graduating students, based on financial needs and percentage of course merit and are granted by the college at which the student attends. Each course must have an enrollment of no less than 20 returning second year students.

The award is for the first and second student total amounts that the IDRC funds coupled with the specific college overall accumulated funds generated as earned percentage and the matching in-perpetuity amounts from either the government grant or the college’s fund.

-If the amount generated is under $500 then the award shall be kept at the actual amount, as such 1 (one) student Only will qualify from the Interior Decorating course.

-If the amount earned is over $500 two students may qualify with a first prize of $500 to the Interior Decorating course student and the runner up will receive the surplus up to $1000 from Design & Visual Arts course.

-Each college shall have the option of splitting double award on a 75% & 25% basis.

-Any amount generated over $1000 in any scholarship year shall be carried over as a base for the succeeding year

To qualify for IDRC Scholarships, colleges are required to offer a minimum 2 year diploma course to Decorating, Design & Visual Arts Students and to promote IDRC Scholarship Program with IDRC LOGO to all registered students in their communications with IDRC membership offers. Scholarship will be given to Colleges with a supporting Government subsidy and/or college/ IDRC funding as explained above.

IDRC is a not-for-profit Corporation formed in the early nineties to promote awareness of Professional Interior Decorators and Quality Interior Décor products from reliable suppliers consisting of many facets of the Interior Decorating Industry.

Each student awarded with a scholarship will be awarded with a complimentary IDRC membership for 2 years. category of Decorating, Design & Visual Arts programs, from the date of graduation diploma that shall be advised to IDRC by each Course coordinator.

First Working in the UK as a representative in Building Industry Distribution, Dennis graduated in Industry Studies at The London School of Economics. Since immigrating to Canada in 1953 he was attracted into the Building and Decorating Industry and followed his calling into Sales as a Manager for a paint manufacturer and spearheaded the marketing of hugely successful wallpaper brands.

For several years Dennis also served as a director of the WDA – Wallcovering Distributors Association, USA. And as an adjunct to his commercial activities, back in the early 70s Dennis started CWDA – Canadian Wallcoverings Distributors Association.

Dennis has always been a forward-looking Industry leader, involved with many Trade shows and educational seminars across Canada and over a twenty-year span as Sales and Marketing for Mayfair Wallpaper UK, headed up its Canadian Distribution in the 90s.

Dennis expanded association activities to involve Fabric Suppliers, and WWFA – Walls Windows Fashion Association was born as a not-for-profit corporation. The WWFA membership has always mirrored the evolution of the industry and Fashion became Furnishings, to reflect closer ties between a wider range of Interior Décor Companies.

For 7 years after retiring from a successful career as President of Forbo Wallcoverings Canada, Dennis was responsible for staging the popular INTERIOR DÉCOR SHOWCASE a 500+ Exhibitors Annual Event incorporating the whole Décor Industry.

In 2010, with the Board of Directors approval, the association’s focus shifted to the cyber world. WWFA became IDRC – Interior Décor Resources Canada and it has become an active internet source for advertising, information and education for ALL INTERIOR DÉCOR PRODUCTS and the Association continued to gain subscriptions of new suppliers and trade associates.
It reaches out to the future to ensure students enter a vibrant industry. The Interior Décor Scholarships for Graduating Interior Decorating students at Humber College, Sheridan College, Georgian College and Conestoga College matched by funds from the Ontario Government continue in perpetuity to support and guide young people interested in Interior Décor.

A scholarship has been set up in Dennis’s name to reflect his passion for a vibrant future and reward outstanding achievements. Dennis’s hope is to expand these Scholarships to other qualified colleges across Canada.

When asked his secret to his enduring career, Dennis says, A long active life depends upon staying open to new things. I am interested in offering support and my knowledge to young people and of course coming up with new initiatives, guiding IDRC to the benefit of a growing membership. We must always stay relevant.