The Rhodes Trust Announces the 2026 Canadian Rhodes Scholars-Elect Cohort

Rhodes Class Blends Academic Excellence with Community Impact

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eleven outstanding young Canadians have been selected as 2026 Rhodes Scholars-Elect, one of the world’s most prestigious academic honours. They will begin fully funded postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in October 2026, joining over a hundred Scholars from around the world to pursue graduate studies and become part of a strong community of people determined to make a positive difference in the world. The first Canadian Rhodes Scholars took up residence in Oxford in 1904 and since then, over a thousand Canadians have been awarded this scholarship.

This year’s Canadian Rhodes Scholars epitomize the ideals of the Rhodes Scholarships in their world class academic excellence, notable personal accomplishments and meaningful community impact. Their backgrounds are diverse, interests are broad and leadership is evident. Cutting edge research, award-winning academic accomplishment, representing Canada at the Paralympic Games, founding an ocean-monitoring start-up, and organizing climate justice movements are just a few of the compelling stories that emerge from this year’s Canadian Rhodes Scholars.

The 2026 Canadian Rhodes Scholars-Elect were selected across the country this weekend by six regional committees following a rigorous competition that attracted top candidates studying around the globe. The selection committees, composed of distinguished members of the community, reflect the breadth of Canadian excellence and ensure a rigorous and holistic evaluation process. The eleven scholarships are awarded across six regions: British Columbia (1); the Prairies (3 from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Territories); Ontario (2); Quebec (2); the Maritimes (2 from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI); and Newfoundland and Labrador (1).

Professor Sir Rick Trainor, CEO of the Rhodes Trust, commented: “The Rhodes Trust is delighted to introduce the extraordinary 2026 Class of Rhodes Scholars-Elect who represent cultures and perspectives from every corner of the world. For more than a century, the Rhodes Trust has brought exceptional individuals to Oxford and fostered a vibrant global community. We eagerly anticipate the invaluable contributions these Scholars will make, not just during their studies, but throughout their lives as they join the community of Rhodes Scholar alumni who are creating a more equitable and sustainable future for the world."

Richard Pan, Canadian Secretary for the Rhodes Trust and the Chair for the Rhodes Scholarships in Canada (RSC), said: “Our eleven Rhodes Scholars are truly inspiring. Their energy, intellect and devotion to leadership and duty are remarkable and are deeply rooted in their personal experiences, passions and talents. We need leaders and doers like these in the world.”

Profiles of the 2026 Canadian Rhodes Scholars-Elect
For longer bios for each Scholar-Elect please visit: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholar-community/rhodes-scholar-bios/

Newfoundland and Labrador

Alice Ferguson-O'Brien (Trinity College, University of Toronto)
Alice is finishing her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Cognitive Science and Philosophy, and is active on campus, serving on the board of the University of Toronto Student Union and organizing with Climate Justice U of T, among other activities.

Maritimes

Isaac Bahler (Dalhousie University)
Isaac Bahler is a fourth-year BSc student at Dalhousie University, completing a combined honours in Earth Science and Physics with a certificate in science communication and leadership. Focused on carbon capture, Isaac works with CarbonRun, the world’s first river-focused removal company, and co-founded Equlantic Aquatic Monitoring, a sensor-focused startup.

Adham El Sherbini (University of Toronto & Queen’s University)
Adham is a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto. He is passionate about medical education, having developed a free application that supports trainees in learning surgical steps. With multiple scientific publications, Adham has broad research experience in basic and clinical research, with a focus on digital health tools.

Quebec

Julie Beaulieu (New York University, Abu Dhabi)
Julie Beaulieu holds a B.A. in Social Research & Public Policy and Political Science from New York University Abu Dhabi. Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Québec inspired her academic interests in sustainable food production and food security in conflict zones. She conducted field research in Uzbekistan on drought impacts and international efforts to promote sustainable agricultural production.

Omid Yeganeh (University of Oxford & Harvard University)
Omid Eliott Yeganeh holds a B.A. in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford and he is currently pursuing a Master of Laws at Harvard Law School, specialising in public international law and human rights. He has worked on cases before the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and various regional and international human rights courts.

Ontario

Gabrielle Moreau (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Gabrielle is a Roberston Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in Geography at UNC and Environmental Sciences and Policy at Duke University. She has participated in research projects on sea-level rise, trans-boundary resource allocation, and pipeline density and social vulnerability; has interned with the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance; and is completing an honours thesis on energy governance and Indigenous sovereignty.

Trinity Lowthian (University of Ottawa)
Trinity Lowthian graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2025 with a Honours Bachelor in Nutrition and Food Science and is currently completing a Masters in Human Kinetics with a specialisation in Sport Management at the University of Ottawa. She is an advocate for patient engagement in research and has collaborated with national organizations to advance the integration of lived experience in research.

Prairies

Emma Wintermute (University of Saskatchewan)
Emma is completing a Bachelor of Arts, Double Honours in Gender, Sexuality, and Social Justice Studies, and History at the University of Saskatchewan. Emma is a queer settler and feminist, born and raised on Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon. Throughout her academic journey, she has focused on amplifying the power of community and countering the effects of polarization.

Sydney Whiting (University of Lethbridge)
Sydney Whiting, from Lethbridge, Alberta, is completing her BA (Honours) in Political Science at the University of Lethbridge. She wrote her undergraduate honours thesis on the discursive functionality of sustainable development in corporate settings and has done applied research on rural social and immigration policy, populism, and student retention.

Shafaq Batool (University of Calgary)
Shafaq Batool is a fourth-year honours Psychology (BSc) student at the University of Calgary. She’s part of the Scholars Academy and the Arts and Science Honours Academy (ASHA). She co-founded the Khairiyat Women’s Health Equity Network, which develops accessible and culturally grounded health resources.

British Columbia

Julie Sieg (University of British Columbia)
Julie, a BSc (Hons) in Biology at the University of British Columbia, is dedicated to scientific research and communications that will help support a more sustainable world. She has made important discoveries about the distribution and decline of the Western Monarch butterfly and developed a cutting-edge machine learning model to protect their habitats

About the Rhodes Trust

The Rhodes Trust, based at the University of Oxford, is an educational charity that forges brighter futures for individuals and the world. Established in 1903, it is the world’s pre-eminent graduate fellowship program, bringing exceptional young people of character to Oxford to study. More than 8,000 Rhodes Scholars from over 50 countries have gone on to lead across education, business, science, medicine, the arts, and public service.

Applications for the 2027 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June 2026. More information can be found at www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply.