Attend our AGM on June 18th and cast your vote for our new board! More info here (PDF)
Bursary PROGRAM
A recent graduate of the University of Waterloo's Science and Business program, Ravicha Ravinthiran launched her product management career through co-op and now excels as a Product Manager at RATESDOTCA, Canada’s largest digital marketplace for insurance and financial services.
With the bursary, Ravicha will enroll in Shreyas Doshi’s Product Sense course, where she’ll refine her skills to build successful products, features, and teams. She’s excited about the course’s practical focus and grateful to the TPMA for supporting her journey.
Our bursary honours the TPMA’s founder, Alan Armstrong.
Alan was an instrumental founder and vibrant member of the Toronto Product Management Association. Lee Garrison hired Alan back in 1999 at KL Group/Sitraka and it was Alan's enthusiasm and initiative that gave birth to the TPMA in 2001 (along with Prasing Ga and Paul Chen).
Over 15 years ago you would have found him as well as a few other “very green” PMs sitting in Sitraka's basement discussing PM issues. Keith Fraser, one of the original members of the TPMA remarked: "There were only around 6 of us who decided to meet monthly to talk about the role (and challenges) of being a PM in the Toronto area. It was the start of something that has now grown into what the TMPA is today."
Alan did a great amount for the organization that he helped found. He had the vision, even back then, to see the need for such an organization, and worked to make the TPMA one of the leading product management organizations in North America today. Alan is survived by his three children (Siena, Thea, and Liam) and by their mother and his friend Marlys Neufeldt, by his parents Rosemary and Bill Armstrong, brothers of Rob (Becky) and Scott (Jennifer), and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was a frequent participant and speaker of the TPMA and we miss him greatly.
We started this bursary to honour Alan, the enduring example that he set, and to invest in the next generation of product management leaders in our community.
The Alan Armstrong Bursary is open to all TPMA members who are pursuing an educational opportunity to refine their skills, level up into a new role, or break into product management. In 2024, the total value of the bursary award was CA$1,000.
Applicants must have a specific course or program in mind, meet strict eligibility criteria (listed below), and be willing to share their story with us!
Note: TPMA board members, active volunteers and mentors are not eligible to apply for this bursary.
To remain eligible for this award, applicants are advised to:
Applicants should feel empowered to make a case for a course or program not included below, in their application.
Applications are now closed
Toronto Product Management Association (TPMA) is a community focused on development, growth and networking of Product professionals in the Greater Toronto Area.
