Samuel Stedman was a Brantford businessman who, with his brothers, founded the Stedman chain of variety stores which operated across Canada. Although he always remained active with Stedman Bros. Limited, he continued to live in Brantford and managed Stedman’s Bookstore Ltd.

Before his death, he established a charitable foundation, the Samuel W. Stedman Foundation. Some of the revenue from this Foundation is used to fund a bursary programme, the aim of which is to help and encourage young people to obtain the education and skills necessary to become contributing members of Canadian society.

Since the people of Brantford had supported him as a young man and given him an opportunity to succeed, he wished, in his turn, to help young people from the city of Brantford or the county of Brant with a bursary for those students who would continue their undergraduate studies at a college or university in the province of Ontario.

A limited number of bursaries will be granted to students of merit from the City of Brantford or the County of Brant who wish to further their studies in the Province of Ontario. These bursaries are open to undergraduate students at post-secondary institutions. These bursaries will only be granted to those students who will attend a recognized college or university situated in the province of Ontario. The Foundation funds bursaries for undergraduate degrees and diploma programmes only up to a maximum of four (4) years. Those entering/attending graduate school would not be able to obtain a bursary for these studies.