Attention all VSB students! Do you have a ‘Big Idea’ that could help support your community? Want to turn it into a big reality? The Big O Tires 'Big Idea' grant opportunity might be for you!

What is it? 

B.C. Big O Tires stores have created a grant program for students within the Vancouver School Board, called the ‘Big Idea.’ This grant program is intended to help students implement a new, creative initiative that will help service a need in their community. The need can be big or small, but it must focus on strengthening your community by tackling an existing challenge. 

Through the generosity of Big O Tires, one group of students within VSB will be awarded $20,000 to help bring their ‘Big Idea’ to life! The winning group will also win $1,000 to share and use for however they like. 

What’s the criteria? 

NEED – The initiative must address an identified need within the community. The need may be localized to one community or be scalable to multiple communities. 

AFFORDABLE – The initiative must be affordable to implement and launch without exceeding the funding of the $20,000 award. Some initiatives may require additional funding sources as the initiative continues. These additional potential funding sources, together with how they will be secured, should be identified in the application. 

PRACTICAL – The initiative must be one that can be launched directly through the school submitting the successful application. While the B.C. Big O Tires group will fund the initiative, the successful group will ‘own’ the idea and be responsible for developing and implementing the initiative. 

TIMEBOUND – Though it may be ongoing, the initiative must be one that can be developed and launched before the close of the 2024/2025 school year. 

Each submission must: 

• Be submitted through a VSB school. 
• Be submitted by a Big Idea ‘Team’ which must include: 
  • A minimum of three (3) student ambassadors who currently attend the VSB school indicated on the submission; 
  • At least one VSB staff member who currently works at the indicated school. The staff member must be the one who submits the application on behalf of the team. 

When can I apply? 

Grant applications will be accepted from October 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024. A shortlist of applicants will be selected on or before December 10, 2024. These applicants will be contacted and asked, if necessary, to submit more information about their project. Shortlisted applicants may also be asked to present their ‘Big Idea’ in front of a judging panel before the final winner is selected. 

The winning initiative will be selected and announced by Jan. 30, 2025. 

How do I apply?

Each staff member from a Big Idea team will submit an application through the Big O Tires website. Only the staff member representative will have access to the submission page and can apply. For full grant rules, guidelines, application information and eligibility, visit the Big O Tires website. 

Good luck!