Established in 2007 to honour the creative legacy and spirit of the late James Lee, the JLF Scholarship is open to emerging non-professional creative talent from across Canada looking to enter the advertising industry.

Knowing that Lee inspired people to push the boundaries in creativity, the annual scholarship is intended to recognize and help a promising, aspiring talent do his/her best work, says Dean Lee, the former creative partner of James Lee at DDB Canada. Ultimately, the award will be given to an up-and-coming ‘creative rebel’ – someone who’s driven to do things differently and has a passion for his/her craft.

A scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded on the basis of the portfolio that demonstrates the most original thinking and craftsmanship, according to a judging panel made up of a representative from each of the JLF’s five founding member agencies (DDB Canada, Grip Limited, Lowe Roche, Rethink, and TBWA Vancouver), as well as Lee's family.

Fittingly, entrants in all fields relating to the advertising industry will be considered for the award including writers, art directors, filmmakers, recording artists, illustrators, photographers and digital artists.

Portfolio submissions will be accepted online from Aug. 15 through Sept. 15/08. The portfolio judging will be completed by Oct. 15/08, with the winner notified in writing and announced publicly in November at the 2008 Lotus Awards in Vancouver.

Information on the James Lee Foundation Scholarship and how to enter can be found at http://jamesleefoundation.com/.

The JLF is a registered charity and its scholarship is financed by generous donations received from across the advertising industry and creative community. It was created by a partnership of DDB, Grip, Lowe Roche, Rethink, and TBWA Vancouver, The Advertising Agency Association of British Columbia and friends and family of Lee. Contributions to the JLF to help support Canada’s next creative rebel can also be made online via the jamesleefoundation.com Web site.

James Lee, associate creative director at DDB Canada’s Vancouver office, tragically passed away May 6/07 from heart failure. Lee, 37, was one of the country’s top creative talents. He was ranked in Strategy’s 2007 Creative Report Card as Canada’s most awarded copywriter. Lee joined DDB Canada in 1997 and his work won numerous national and international honours, including an incredible seven Lions at Cannes. Originally from Ontario, Lee began his career in 1996 at Roche Macaulay & Partners.