The Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management (MPM) is delighted to announce a new First Lake Solutions Award in Political Management.
This scholarship of up to $2,000 per year will be awarded to one or more outstanding graduate students starting or continuing in the MPM program as of the Fall 2024 term
This entrance award has been created thanks to a generous donation from Rob LeForte, founder of, First Lake Solutions, a successful government relations consulting firm in Ottawa, and himself a graduate of the MPM program (class of 2014).
“The Clayton H. Riddell program gave me more than tools to succeed in public affairs and politics,” says Rob, “it has fueled every aspect of my career through connections with a valuable network of mentors, experts, and friends across Canada who know how to make things happen in government.” He added, “supporting the same for others through this scholarship is a dream come true for me.”
The MPM program offers a one year intensive full-time (or two year part-time) graduate degree that is unique in Canada. Founded in 2011, the program provides advanced professional training in ethics, public policy, political institutions, and more, to emerging leaders who go on to work in and around politics at every order of government, in every mainstream party, in political offices, public service and the private sector. Twelve years on, the program’s graduates include chiefs of staff to Cabinet ministers and leading government relations consultants, like Rob and his team at First Lake.
“The program has become an important pipeline for skilled talent,” said Jennifer Robson, the program’s director, “for a wide range of employers, including the businesses, NGOs, and consulting practices that play important roles in policy discussions in our country.”
“What’s exciting as Director,” Dr. Robson noted, “is to see how engaged alumni like Rob are, and how keen they are to pay it forward. This scholarship is going to be so important for future cohorts of students, helping to keep this program accessible to promising leaders of tomorrow.” She added, “the program is so grateful to First Lake Solutions and to Rob for his vision and generous expression of support.”
Eligible applicants for the 2024-25 academic year will automatically be considered for this prestigious award. The deadline to apply for a full-time position in the MPM program is February 1, 2024.