Ardeth Wood was mid-way through a four-year doctoral program at Waterloo University.
Three weeks after Ardeth Wood's body was discovered on the banks of Green's Creek, officials at Carleton University and the University of Waterloo are working to set up scholarship funds in her name.
Ms. Wood, 27, was midway through the four-year doctoral program at Waterloo when she disappeared during an afternoon bicycle ride in Ottawa on Aug. 6.
Her body was found five days later. An autopsy determined she died of drowning, but police say foul play was involved.
Officials at Carleton, where Ms. Wood completed her undergraduate and master's degrees, have been working closely with her family over the past two weeks to come up with a suitable Ardeth Wood Memorial Fund.
It still hasn't been determined whether the award will be in the form of a bursary, scholarship or another significant activity.
"The fund is being created in perpetuity, meaning that all donations made to the fund will stay in an account for Carleton to be able to establish an annual award in support of student life at Carleton," said Serge Arpin, assistant vice-president for development and alumni.
"It will be forever in her memory."
"We do want to convey to the family our full support," he said.
An anonymous donor has already donated $5,000 to help establish the fund.
Richard Holmes, chairman of Waterloo's philosophy department, said yesterday the fund will likely be formally launched there during the next week.
Called the Ardeth Wood Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Philosophy, it is hoped it will provide between $3,000 and $5,000 annually to a worthy student. Only female graduate students in philosophy will be eligible.
Mr. Holmes said the school would like to create a sizeable endowment that would fund the scholarship on a permanent basis from interest income. Failing that, fundraising would be on-going and the proceeds doled out according to a schedule.
He said a memorial service is being planned on campus, likely in late September.
So far, no arrests have been made and police continue their search for her killer.
After her disappearance, several people came forward with reports that a man had been approaching women on the paths in the area. There are also witnesses who report that a woman matching Ms. Wood's description had been seen walking with a man -- depicted in a composite sketch released by police -- about the time she disappeared.
No arrests have been made.
The sketch and an accompanying description is now prominently displayed at many public venues in the city, including the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland said Ottawa police have received about 2,500 telephone tips about the case, including the names of 387 men thought to resemble the figure in the sketch. Of those, more than 265 have been ruled out.
"The investigative team is hoping to provide an update late this week," she said. "The investigation has not slowed down. We're not letting this die."
Those wanting more information about the University of Waterloo scholarship are asked to call Debbie Dietrich, in the philosophy department, at 519-888-4567, ext. 2245.
Anyone wanting to donate money to Carleton's memorial fund can do so beginning later this week at one of more than 70 participating Scotia Bank branches across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.