A Deninu Kųę́ First Nation member born and raised in Barrie has become the first Indigenous recipient from Canada of a British High Commission scholarship to a UK university.
The Chevening Scholarship is awarded globally each year to a range of students, giving them fully funded scholarships to British institutions, including flights, accommodation and course fees.
Victoria McMahon, who identifies as Dene from the Fort Resolution-based Deninu Kųę́ First Nation on her mother’s side and French, Scottish and Irish on her father’s side, is one of three Canadians selected this year.
As a result, she will begin a master’s degree in creative health at University College London next month.
Her scholarship is sponsored by the energy company Atco.
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In a news release, the British High Commission in Ottawa said McMahon is hoping to become a family physician.
“Victoria is passionate about creating culturally safe and trauma-informed spaces in medicine for Indigenous patients. She advocates for Indigenous rights and strives to support Indigenous communities through medicine,” the commission stated.
Applications for one of the 2025-26 Chevening Scholarships close on November 5.
