National Bank Financial Group awards over $ 80,000 in bursaries to 26 athletes as part of its partnership with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence

Mr. Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank Financial Group, and Ms. Sylvie Roy, Vice-President – Corporate Marketing and Communications, revealed the names of the 26 athletes who received $80,500 in financial support under the 19th edition of the National Bank Bursary Program.

"To be a partner of the Foundation for close to 20 years and have the pleasure to award bursaries to promising athletes is for National Bank Financial Group a real privilege," stated Mr. Vachon. “For us, this is a way to help young people achieve their full potential. Indeed, it often has been said that sports and the business world have much in common."

The Foundation’s President Claude Chagnon is very pleased about the Financial Group's unfailing support since almost twenty years. “Since 1993 National Bank Financial Group has been setting an example in the private sector with its support of Quebec athletes. It has long understood the importance of supporting not only athletes who have made a mark on the international scene, but more importantly, lesser known athletes who do not yet have access to the funding they need," explained Mr. Chagnon.

Of this year's 26 National Bank bursary recipients, 20 will receive a $3,500 Excellence or Elite bursary, while six will receive a $1,750 Hopeful bursary. Among them are six athletes who competed in either the 2008 Beijing or 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games: Mathieu Giroux, Gold medallist in the pursuit in long track speed skating; Marianne St-Gelais, double Silver medalist in the 500m and 3000m relay in short track speed skating;; Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon, 4th in team and 6th in duet synchronized swimming; Roseline Filion, 7th in the 10m synchro event; Philippe Beaudry, 30th in fencing (saber) and finally, Sébastien Michaud, in taekwondo. 

2011 National Bank Bursaries Program
Recipients

Ten bursaries of $3,500 (Excellence), ten bursaries of $3,500 (Elite), and six bursaries of $1,750 (Hopeful)

One of the objectives of the National Bank Bursary Program, established in 1993, is to support highly promising but unknown young athletes who do not yet have access to the funding needed to help them progress on the international scene. With this in mind, ten athletes aged 16 to 20 will receive a $3,500 Elite bursary, while six others aged 14 to 20 will receive a $1,750 Hopeful bursary.

About National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. National Bank has over $152 billion in assets and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 18,407 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (NA:TSX). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca. To access National Bank Financial Group’s financial education portal, visit www.clearfacts.ca.

About the QuebecFoundation for Athletic Excellence
The mission of the Foundation is to financially support and encourage student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence and to promote athletes as role models in Quebec society. Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded more than 3 million dollars in bursaries to student-athletes, and endeavours to increase its yearly amount in bursaries to $1 million as part of its plan for 2010-2015.

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