The Shah Family Foundation is proud to partner with the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP) to expand the A Seat at the Table (SATT) initiative and create lasting educational opportunities for students with disabilities across Canada.
In 2025, the Foundation committed $1.3 million to establish a network of endowment funds at post-secondary institutions nationwide. Designed to provide permanent financial support to students with disabilities, these pan-Canadian endowments will help remove barriers to higher education and ensure opportunities continue for generations to come.
The initiative also honours the legacy of The Honourable Vim Kochhar, Chair of CFPDP, whose decades of leadership and advocacy have helped advance accessibility, inclusion, and opportunity for persons with disabilities across Canada.
Through this partnership, 13 endowment funds are being established at universities and colleges across the country. To date, funds have been created at Dalhousie University, Nipissing University, the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, and the University of New Brunswick, with additional institutions, including at the University of Manitoba, currently underway.
By creating permanent sources of financial support, these endowments will help more students with disabilities pursuing post-secondary education, realize their potential, and become future leaders in their communities and professions.
"Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not," said Hon. Vim Kochhar. "Every student with a disability deserves the chance to pursue higher education, develop their potential, become a leader in their chosen field, and contribute to our country."
Through this partnership, the Shah Family Foundation and CFPDP are investing in more than education. They are investing in a future where talent is not limited by barriers, where opportunity is more accessible and where students with disabilities can thrive, and lead. Together, they are helping build a more inclusive Canada for generations to come.
From left to right: Scott Russell, Chancellor, Nipissing University; The Honourable Vim Kochhar, Chair of the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP); and Kris Shah, President of the Shah Family Foundation.
