Press Releases
The Foundation for Athletic Excellence Awards $126,000 to 33 Student-Athletes through the National Bank Bursary Program

The Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) has awarded 33 student-athletes for their academic and athletic achievements during the 27th edition of the National Bank Bursary Program. In total, it has distributed $126,000 in the form of individual $2,000 and $4,000 bursaries during a ceremony which took place today at National Bank’s headquarters.
The National Bank Bursary Program recognizes student-athletes in the Hopeful, Elite, and Excellence categories between the ages of 13 and 26, from all over Quebec. Last year, National Bank announced a one million dollar contribution over five years to support this program.
“Each year, it’s a pleasure for us to pursue our collaboration with the Foundation for Athletic Excellence. Our partnership, which dates back over a quarter-century, helps us foster academic and athletic excellence in Quebec’s top student-athletes. We commend the talent, discipline and determination of all the recipients,” stated Louis Vachon, National Bank President and Chief Executive Officer.
This sentiment is echoed by Claude Chagnon, FAEQ President. “For us, each of the 27 editions of the National Bank Bursary Program has been a highly valued moment of collaboration with a prestigious institution. As a steadfast partner of the Foundation for Athletic Excellence, National Bank is committed to the academic and athletic success of some of the province's most inspiring athletes.”
For this 27th edition, 19 Academic Excellence bursaries were awarded to student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic results, 12 Academic and Athletic Support bursaries were distributed to encourage the reconciliation of sport and study, and two Perseverance bursaries were awarded to highlight the determination of an athlete in the face of difficult circumstances.
Over the years, National Bank has had the privilege of supporting hundreds of student-athletes such as tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime, freestyle skier and 2018 Olympic champion Mikaël Kingsbury, cross-country skier and five-time international medallist Alex Harvey, weightlifter and two-time Olympic medallist Christine Girard, multiple international diving medallists Jennifer Abel and Roseline Filion, and hockey players Mélodie Daoust, Charline Labonté, and Caroline Ouellette, who have been awarded on the Olympic podium on several occasions.
Recipients of the 2019 National Bank Bursary Program
Name | Discipline | Age | Amount | * | City | School |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alicia Arcand | Swimming | 18 | $2,000 | EX | Prévost | Cégep de Saint-Jérôme |
Taha Baadi | Tennis | 17 | $4,000 | EX | Laval | James Madison High School |
David Baillargeon | Squash | 23 | $4,000 | S | Lévis (Saint-Nicolas) | TÉLUQ |
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard | Judo (63 kg) | 24 | $4,000 | EX | Longueuil | Université du Québec à Montréal |
Jason Bégin | Baseball | 16 | $4,000 | EX | Sherbrooke | École secondaire De Mortagne |
Alex Bellemarre | Weightlifting (81 kg) | 20 | $4,000 | S | Macamic | Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
Léandre Bouchard | Mountain biking | 26 | $4,000 | EX | Alma | Université du Québec à Chicoutimi |
Emilia Cabrera Mallette | Table tennis | 15 | $4,000 | EX | Laval | École secondaire Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry |
François Cauchon | Fencing (sabre) | 18 | $4,000 | EX | Montreal (Outremont) | Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf |
Olivia Chamandy | Diving | 18 | $4,000 | P | Westmount | Collège André-Grasset |
Maude Charron | Weightlifting (63 kg) | 25 | $4,000 | S | Rimouski | Université du Québec à Rimouski |
Mélodie Collard | Tennis | 15 | $4,000 | EX | Gatineau | Académie les Estacades |
Antoine Cyr | Cross-country skiing | 20 | $4,000 | S | Gatineau | Cégep à distance |
Florence Delsame | Freestyle skiing (moguls) | 18 | $4,000 | S | Prévost | Cégep de Saint-Jérôme |
Erica Di Battista | Tennis | 16 | $4,000 | EX | Mont-Royal | Académie les Estacades |
Noémie Dubreuil | Artistic swimming | 18 | $2,000 | EX | Laval | Collège Ahuntsic |
Noémie Fiset | Long track speed skating | 23 | $4,000 | EX | Quebec City | Université Laval |
Sarah-Maude Fortin | Tennis | 16 | $4,000 | EX | Montreal (Verdun) | Académie les Estacades |
Pauline Grandbois | Biathlon | 17 | $4,000 | EX | Sherbrooke (Lennoxville) | École secondaire du Triolet |
Rébéka Groulx | Artistic gymnastics | 13 | $4,000 | EX | Longueuil (Saint-Hubert) | École secondaire Gérard-Filion |
Anton Jacobs-Webb | Para hockey | 18 | $4,000 | S | Gatineau | Heritage College |
Sophia Jensen | Canoe-kayak sprint | 17 | $4,000 | S | Chelsea | Heritage College |
Vincent Jourdenais | Canoe-kayak sprint | 21 | $4,000 | EX | Trois-Rivières | Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières |
Emy Legault | Triathlon | 22 | $4,000 | S | Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot | TÉLUQ |
Gaby Malenfant | BMX | 21 | $4,000 | S | Drummondville | Cégep de Drummondville |
Alexis Marceau | Short track speed skating | 20 | $4,000 | EX | Rivière-du-Loup | McGill University |
Audrey McManiman | Snowboarding (snowboard cross) | 24 | $4,000 | S | Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare | Université Laval |
Léa Morin | Karate (kata) | 16 | $2,000 | EX | Sherbrooke | École secondaire Le Salésien |
Aurélie Rivard | Para swimming | 22 | $4,000 | S | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Université de Montréal |
Sierra Smith | Alpine skiing | 18 | $4,000 | P | La Pêche | Virtual High School (Ontario) |
Josie-Anne Synnott | Judo (78 kg) | 17 | $4,000 | EX | Sept-Îles | École secondaire Manikoutai |
Annabelle Xu | Tennis | 15 | $4,000 | EX | Montreal (Saint-Laurent) | Collège de Montréal |
Tommy Xu | Table tennis | 18 | $4,000 | S | Brossard | Cégep à distance |
* EX: Academic Excellence / S: Academic and Athletic Support / P: Perseverance
About the National Bank of Canada
With $263 billion in assets as at January 31, 2019, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 23,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank’s activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ)
The FAEQ (faeq.com) is recognized for its personalized approach, rigorous management style, and influence in sport and education circles. In 2019, it will award $1,500,000 in individual bursaries to 525 student-athletes from all over Quebec, to whom it will also provide academic guidance and sport/study conciliation services. Two public events benefitting the FAEQ will take place in 2019: URBAN SUGAR SCHACK with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif on April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Windsor Station (visit faeq.com for details) and the third edition of the BONNEVILLE 808 CHALLENGE, a festive cycling and corporate event, on September 13 and 14 (defi808bonneville.com).
Information: | |
Annie Pelletier | Stéphanie Rousseau |
Communications Director | Senior Advisor – Public Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility |
Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence | National Bank of Canada |
Tél. : 514-252-3171, extension 3538 | Tél. : 514-394-5684 |