Canada Company Awards Scholarships to Eight Children of Canadian Forces
Members who have Perished

Recipients honoured aboard HMCS Fredericton

TORONTO, Sept. 3 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence; Blake Goldring, Chairman of Canada Company and Chairman and CEO, AGF Management Limited; along with Rear Admiral Andrew Smith, Canadian Forces Chief of Military Personnel; today presented scholarships to eight surviving offspring of fallen Canadian Forces personnel.

The scholarships are provided as a tribute to fallen Canadian Forces personnel by a charitable business group called Canada Company. Each recipient will receive up to $16,000 each - up to $4,000 per year for up to four years - to help defray the costs of their post secondary education.

The third annual awards ceremony was conducted aboard the HMCS Frederiction. The Halifax-based frigate is currently on a five-week Canadian tour, including seven port visits along the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. 

"The HMCS Fredericton is a fitting backdrop to honour these fine students," said Blake Goldring. "Their parents made a commitment to serve our country and today our commitment is to help them pursue their education. Canada Company provides the means for both businesses and individuals to support our military and their families to ensure they are taken care of with ongoing initiatives like these scholarships." 

"The Government of Canada recognizes and deeply appreciates the ultimate sacrifice these families have paid for their country," said Minister MacKay. "The Canada Company Scholarship helps the deserving children of our fallen to pursue post-secondary education and start on the road to their future careers."

"The families of our fallen remain an important part of the Canadian Forces family who need our support," said Rear Admiral Andrew Smith. "The Canadian Forces greatly appreciate the support that Canada Company and Canadians from coast to coast to coast have shown to the families of our fallen soldiers."

The 2010/11 recipients of Canada Company's educational scholarship fund awards are:

• Robert Girouard of Orillia, Ontario is studying Law and Justice at Laurentian University.
• Kirsten Hess-von Kruedener of Burlington, Ontario is studying at the RCC Institute of Technology Interior Design.
• Sheralynn Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba is attending the University of Winnipeg working towards a doctorate in Psychology.
• Matthew Mellish of French Lake, New Brunswick is attending the University of New Brunswick.
• Myriam Mercier of Quebec City, Quebec is studying Nursing at Cegep de Sainte-Foy.
• Adam Naismith of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is studying Arts and Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. 
• Jocelyn Ranger of Pembroke, Ontario is studying business at Algonquin College. 
• Natasha Roberge of Hamner, Ontario is studying English and Music at Laurentian University.

About The Canada Company Scholarship Fund

The Canada Company Scholarship Fund provides $4,000 per year, for up to four years, to support the post-secondary education for children who qualify.  Children of Canadian Forces members who have died on duty while serving in an active role in a military mission of the Canadian Forces or reserves since January 2002 are eligible to apply. The Canada Company Scholarship Fund will provide scholarship grants to children dating back to January 1, 2002.

Canada Company scholarships have received leadership funding in the amount of $1 million from CIBC. Additional financial support was secured from Power Corporation; Peter Munk, Founder and Chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation; Jim Balsillie, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Research In Motion (RIM); RBH Inc.; The W. Garfield Weston Foundation; The TD Bank Financial Group, BMO Financial Group; Scotiabank; Standard Life; Laurentian Bank of Canada / B2B Trust and AGF Management Limited. Canada Company is calling on other members of the corporate community to contribute to this important initiative.

Canada Company oversees the fund through an independent committee, along with members of the Canadian Forces, to ensure that bereaved children have the opportunity to receive this scholarship.

About Canada Company

Canada Company is a federally registered charity created in 2006 which brings community leaders from across Canada together to support Canadian soldiers in the work that they do at home and abroad. The organization is apolitical and is an advocate for Canadians who serve, or wish to serve, in the Canadian Forces - regular and reserve - and their families, ensuring that they receive the widest possible support, recognition and care. Canada Company's motto is Many Ways To Serve.  Visit www.canadacompany.ca

About HMCS Fredericton

Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Fredericton is the eighth of twelve Canadian Patrol Frigates delivered to the Canadian Navy.  Boasting a complex Command and Control System (CCS) combined with an impressive array of modern weaponry and sensors, this ship is considered to be one of the most advanced general-purpose frigates in the world.

On 26 June 1993 Fredericton was launched and officially named for the capital city of the Province of New Brunswick.  Fredericton recently returned from a seven month counter-piracy and counter-terrorism mission in the North Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the waters around the Horn of Africa as part of Operation SAIPH. 

To learn more go to: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/fredericton/

For further information:

Amanda Marchment
Manager, Public Relations & Public Affairs
Tel: [phone] Ext. 2140
Email: [email protected]

Colonel Carl Turenne
Director Land Personnel Management
National Defence
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]