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All Yamaha NewsWe are thrilled to announce the 2025 Yamaha Scholarship winners! This year has some amazing applicants from across the country, and we are extremely proud of the winners this year.
Introducing Chloe O’Brien, Recipient of the 2025 Tim Kryski Scholarship
Chloe O’Brien is from Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador and the recipient of the 2025 Tim Kryski Scholarship ($5,000).
Pictured from left to right: Miles O’Brien, Lorraine O’Brien, Chloe O’Brien, Todd Winsor (ADM Atlantic Canada) and Curtis Mitchell (District Sales Manager)
Yamaha has been a part of Chloe’s life for as long as she can remember. The O’Brien family started with Yamaha Powersports in 1978 when her grandparents Reginald & Ruby O’Brien became Yamaha Dealers as part of their already established business, O’Brien’s Sales and Service in Lanse Au Loup, Southern Labrador. Chloe’s father, Glenn O’Brien, and six siblings were the first generation of O’Brien “Yamaha’s” who grew up in the business. Chloe has also grown up around this business, learning what she could about Yamaha products and making lifelong memories while out on riding/boating adventures.
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Chloe was introduced to Yamaha Powersports for the first time when her father restored and gifted her with a 1988 Yamaha Snoscoot. He then taught Chloe how to drive when she was an adventurous 3-year-old! As Chloe said in her application presentation: “You don’t usually remember much from when you were that young but learning how to push the throttle and use the brake for the first time is one of my core memories, and that was when my love for snowmobiles, ATVs and high-performance vehicles began.”
Chloe is now in her third year of studies pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree, Major in Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Introducing Ava Stewart, Recipient of the 2025 Chris Anderson Memorial Scholarship
Ava Stewart (from Brierly Brook, Nova Scotia) not only graduated from Dr. John Hugh Gilles Regional High School earlier this year, but she is also the 2025 Chris Anderson Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) recipient!
Pictured above is Ava with her parents Dale & Heather Stewart (Dale is the owner of Redline Sport and Cycle)
“I’ve been a Yamaha girl since the beginning.”
Ava has lots of memories of riding Yamaha snowmobiles, four wheelers and side-by-sides, and has even tested out a few dirt bikes as well—but four wheeling has always been her favourite. In recent years, Ava has started to explore all the fun things with WaveRunners and the power of outboard motors!
Ava has been involved in Challenger Baseball since 2018 when the program started in Antigonish. Ava is a buddy for an athlete with special needs. Each buddy helps their athlete have fun and rewarding practices and games. Ava was also a co-head of the Outreach & Social Awareness Committee at her high school. During this time they ran a successful food drive for local Food Bank, and a fundraiser (Relay for St. Martha’s) to fund the pediatric room at the local hospital. In addition she volunteered at a Senior Citizens home.
Ava is attending the University of Prince Edward Island where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. Ava has always been interested in the medical and health care fields and hopes to continue in that direction so that she can continue to support those who are in need.
Special shout out to Pat Hicks, District Sales Manager for sharing the good news with Ava at her “new home” at the University of Prince Edward Island
Introducing Mathury Sanjeevkumar, Recipient of the 2025 Yamaha Scholarship
Mathury Sanjeevkumar is from Scarborough, Ontario. In June, Mathury completed her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto with a Major in Psychology Major and a Double Minor in Sociology and Biomedical Ethics. And now, Mathury is also a recipient of a $2,500 Yamaha Scholarship.
Mathury’s interest in law revolves around the effect of law and policies on marginalized populations in Canada, specifically the Indigenous populations. By the end of her undergraduate she had grown a passion to pursue a career in law, specifically Indigenous related, driven by her experiences in her sociology courses. The overall focus of her undergraduate career centered on learning more about the injustices that Indigenous nations have and continue to face.
Mathury’s new “home” is at Lakehead University where she is pursuing the Juris Doctor program, Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.
The reason for Mathury choosing to attend Lakehead’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is because they offer the only Juris Doctor program with one of the mandated areas being Aboriginal and Indigenous Law. Pursuing a career in law that specializes on this subject is how Mathury would like to address her position as a settler in the Indigenous-settler relationship and in respect to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. As the Calls to Action address changes that Canada and the various institutions in our society should make in response to the historical injustices Indigenous nations have faced, all non-Indigenous individuals who have settled on this land and continue to benefit from settler colonialism must also be held accountable.
Mathury’s father, Sanjeev Kamalachandran, helped members of Yamaha’s Scholarship Advisory panel surprise her with the news of being a recipient. In attendance were Ramona Balaci, Christine Cassar, Sanjeev, Mathury, Sebabrata Das, Samantha Hanson and Caroline Lyons
Introducing Calista Bulger, Recipient of the 2025 Yamaha Scholarship
Calista Bulger is from the small community of Foxley River which is located on Prince Edward Island. Earlier this year, Calista completed her third year at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she is pursuing a degree in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Technology. And now, she is a 2025 Yamaha Scholarship ($2,500) recipient!
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Calista’s connection to Yamaha dates to her childhood and involves many cherished memories. Growing up, her family was drawn to the great outdoors and many of her summers were spent sailing across the river. Yamaha played a key role in these experiences—whether it was her dad teaching her how to control their Yamaha outboard-powered dory, the exhilarating rides on their Yamaha four-wheeler to the shoreline with their beloved dog, Cooter, or going on family snowmobiling trips across PEI in the winter.
“These moments represent far more than just leisure and enjoyment; they embody the values that I hold dear, including family, freedom, and a deep connection to nature—values that Yamaha has long supported!”
Yamaha has also played a role in connecting Calista to her wider community. Over the past few years, she has been fortunate to participate in various customer appreciation events hosted by Dennis Motors as well as walk alongside their team during the vibrant Tyne Valley Oyster Festival Parade. These experiences have enriched her understanding of the strong community ties that Yamaha fosters, reinforcing the importance of giving back and staying connected with those around us.
Calista is now in her 4th year of studies at Dalhousie.
Introducing Alexander Falloon, Recipient of the 2025 Technician Scholarship
Alexander Falloon, who resides in Quesnel, British Columbia, is a recipient of the $2,500 Yamaha Technician Scholarship. This is Alexander’s second time being a recipient of this scholarship!
Special shout out to Wendy & Kevin Falloon at Eldorado Recreation Ltd (pictured with Alexander) for sharing the news with Alexander!
Quesnel is nestled amidst mountains, lakes and extensive trail networks promoting a variety of outdoor activities for their residents. Alexander and his family have taken advantage of their surroundings to create lifelong memories through unique Canadian outdoor experiences in and around Quesnel!
Alexander was raised in a family passionate about motorsports and his passion for Yamaha products—whether motorbikes, snowmobiles or watersports has been a lifelong one starting from the age of 3 when he rode his first motorbike, a PW50!
Alexander represents the 4th generation in his family owned and operated Yamaha Dealership (Eldorado Recreation) in Quesnel. He has found working in the family business to be deeply fulfilling whether it be assisting his father in the shop or working in the parts department with his mother.
“An education in trades allows for a perfect balance between academic learning and practical, hands-on work experience. For 11 months each year, I work and learn alongside my father, a skilled mechanic, and spend one month at BCIT in Burnaby. Participating in the Motorcycle Technician Apprentice Levels 1 and 2 at BCIT has been incredibly enriching, fostering lifelong friendships with both classmates and instructors. The opportunity to apply the knowledge I gain in school to my work has been deeply fulfilling, and conversely, using my practical experience to inform my studies has greatly enhanced my learning.”
In November 2025, Alexander will return to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to undertake his Level 3 of the program and has secured a place in Level 4 which will allow him to complete his training as a Red Seal Motorcycle Technician by September 2026!
Introducing Preston Quipp, Recipient of the 2025 Technician Scholarship
Preston Quipp hails from Cobb’s Arm, a small coastal community in Newfoundland, and is a 2025 Technician Scholarship ($2,500) recipient!
Special shout out to Todd Winsor (ADM Atlantic Canada, Justin Holloway (Merle’s Parts and Recreation Ltd.) and Curtis Mitchell (District Sales Manager) for surprising Preston with the news at the College of the North Atlantic!
Preston’s passion is to learn as much about the Powersports and Marine industry as he can so that he is able to repair, maintain, and fabricate needed parts for any kind of Powersports or Marine models that are on the market. Preston believes that it is vital to understand how the engine works, breathes, and bleeds as knowing all the systems within a Powersports/Marine model is vital to keeping these machines alive, ensuring that they last for a lifetime more of memories with family and friends.
Preston’s passion for the automotive industry started at a young age. He currently has a 1999 Yamaha Big Bear 350 (pictured above), a Kawasaki Prairie, and a 2004 Honda VTX 1300C motorcycle that he loves to work on.
Preston is an avid learner and has taken it upon himself to learn how to work on Powersports/Marine machines while using the knowledge that he already has, gathering information from credible online sources, as well as the information he is able to learn from experienced people in his community, especially the person who introduced me to what Yamaha has to offer.
As of September, Preston is attending the College of The North Atlantic where he has been accepted into the Power Sports Technician program. Preston is excited to be travelling 480 km across the island to be in a new town and meet new people that can help him achieve his goal by starting on the pathway of becoming a Journeyman Powersports and Marine Technician.
Congratulations to the 2025 Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. Scholarship recipients!