Kolanko Family Scholarship
in memory of Blanche Chisholm
Blanche Dorothy Chisholm, a former resident of Westmount, Ben Eoin, and East Bay passed away on December 30, 2020.
The story goes that she was named Bronislawa by her parents but her name was changed to Blanche by the Catholic nuns when she reached school. Blanche was born on Feb 6, 1930 in Whitney Pier, Nova Scotia to Franciszka (Nikiel) and Micheł Kolanko, who immigrated from Poland separately and met in Sydney. Her first language was Polish but she quickly learned English in the multicultural environment that existed in Whitney Pier.
She was the second youngest in a large family which included siblings Michael, Nellie, Joe, Tony, Walter, Annie, Mary, and Frances. She enjoyed school and was especially proficient in math winning the Sydney Academy math prize. Blanche was one of the first graduates of the St. Martha’s Radiology Technology Program and she was forever grateful to her brother Tony for his support as she enjoyed a long career in X-ray, working in x-ray departments at Sydney City Hospital and St. Rita’s Hospital before retiring from the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
As she was the last surviving member of her immediate family, we would like to honour her and her siblings with a scholarship in her immigrant parent’s name at Riverview Rural High School. The members of this family used perseverance and hard work to overcome obstacles to ensure a legacy for their future generations. Not only did all of Blanche’s seven children graduate from Riverview Rural High School, but all of her sister Mary’s five children also graduated from Riverview. Moreover, it is also important to mention that two additional generations of Kolanko descendants have become or will become Riverview grads.
The legacy that Franciszka and Michael Kolanko started in the Pier has now become part of the Riverview story. It is our hope that this scholarship will provide opportunities and motivation to Riverview graduates in the same way Blanche’s family provided support for her to strive for post-secondary success. This scholarship will be awarded to deserving candidates that exemplify the characteristics of hard work and perseverance.
How to Contribute
If you would like to contribute to this scholarship you can contact:
Scott Murchison,
Guidance Counsellor at Riverview Rural High School
email [email protected]
phone: 902-564-5411
E-transfers to [email protected] will be accepted.
Kindly use the password “Kolanko”.
Cheques can be made out to: “Riverview Scholarship Fund”
Mail to:
Scott Murchison
Riverview Rural High School
57 Coxheath Road
Sydney, NS, B1R 1R4
Please include your mailing address to receive a tax receipt.
Thank you for your consideration.