Major Expansion Makes Canada Company Scholarship Fund Largest in The Country and Includes Children of Suicide Attributed to Military Service
TORONTO, June 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Children whose parents gave their lives in the service of our country were honoured at an event in Toronto today with senior military and business leaders in attendance. The group of 13 young men and women from across the country each received a Canada Company Scholarship to support their post-secondary education.
On the occasion of Canada Company's 10th Anniversary, the charity also announced a significant expansion to the scholarship program along with an additional $500,000 in funding that will allow for the inclusion of children who have faced the death of a parent by military related suicide.
The expansion was made possible in part by $100,000 in personal contributions from Canada Company's Board of Directors, matched by generous donations from BMO, RBC, Scotiabank and TD Bank Group. These donations will increase the total funding for the Canada Company Scholarship Fund to over $3 Million, providing financial support and opportunity to families of our men and women in uniform.
The Canada Company Scholarship Fund was established at the height of the Afghanistan conflict in 2006 to support children of those who lost their lives in that conflict. Since the first Scholarships were awarded in 2008, the program has evolved to include children who lost parents serving elsewhere. The expansion announced today will allow for an additional 125 Scholarships to be awarded.
"This Scholarship is an opportunity to honour and support the families of our heroes, those children whose lives were changed forever in defence of democracy for us, and for others. They are often the forgotten ones and they too are owed a great debt." said HCol Blake C. Goldring, Founder and Chair of Canada Company and Chairman and CEO of AGF Management Limited.
"Today the battlefield has changed and as our country tries to come to terms with the broader impact of war, we recognize there is another group of children who need our support – the children who have lost a parent from suicide attributed to military service. Today we are proud to expand our Scholarship fund with the support of many patriotic Canadians to include those children as well. At Canada Company, we believe there are 'many ways to serve' and this is an important way we can help." he added.
"Every day, the remarkable men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces go above and beyond to maintain the safety and security of Canadians and individuals around the world," said the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence. "This program demonstrates Canada Company's recognition that we, as Canadians, have both a duty and an obligation to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To this year's Scholarship recipients, I would like to thank you personally for the sacrifices your families have made for this country, and wish you well in your post-secondary endeavours."
"I know the tremendous impact that programs like the Canada Company Scholarship Fund have on our military members and their families," said General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces. "The Scholarship recipients reflect the highest ideals of service and sacrifice, and we are honoured to be working with Canada Company and its members to help support them as they pursue post-secondary education."
"Through the generosity of the Canada Company Scholarship Fund, all three of my children have been able to realize the dream of receiving a post-secondary education," said Belinda Naismith, mother of three CCSF recipients Adam, Arina and Halsey. "The ongoing commitment and support from Canada Company and The Canadian Armed Forces have made a very difficult period in our lives a little easier."
"Wounded Warriors Canada recognizes the importance of supporting military families and the need to do more. Often overlooked are the children who have lost a parent as a result of their service to Canada. It is why we were proud to recently announce our Veterans Post-Secondary Child Scholarship program and we applaud Canada Company for enhancing their Children of the Fallen Scholarship to include families affected by suicide deaths, attributable to military service," added Scott Maxwell, Executive Director, Wounded Warriors Canada.
About The Canada Company Scholarship Fund:
Established in 2006, and first awarded in 2008, the Canada Company Scholarship Fund (CCSF) was created to honour the legacy of our fallen soldiers by providing their families with opportunity in the form of post-secondary Scholarships. To date, CCSF has awarded 107 Scholarships.
Anyone interested in donating to the Canada Company Scholarship Fund can do so at: https://torontofoundation.ca/canada_company_scholarship
A tax receipt for the full donation will be issued by The Toronto Foundation
(Charitable Registration Number 13649 1875 RR0001).
About Canada Company:
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Canada Company is a federally registered charity founded by Canadian businessman and Honorary Colonel, Blake C. Goldring M.S.M., LL.D., CFA. Canada Company takes pride in serving our country in many ways, celebrating our Military heroes, and their families, and fostering a mutually beneficial exchange between Canada's remarkable military and our innovative Canadian business community to create a Better Canada.
A trusted Program Builder, Canada Company offers the Military Employment Transition - MET Program; hosts the National Transition Symposium and Strategic Knowledge Exchange; and funds Scholarships for children of military members who gave their lives in service to our country. To learn more visit: CanadaCompany.ca
Backgrounder on the 2016 recipients of the Canada Company Scholarships:
Katherine Arnold, Pembroke, ON, daughter of Corporal Glen Arnold, 2 Field Ambulance [D: Afghanistan, September 18, 2006]
Kristopher Beerenfenger, Fredericton, NB, son of Corporal Robbie Beerenfenger, The Royal Canadian Regiment, 1st Battalion Group [D: Afghanistan, October 2, 2003]
Connor and Elizabeth Bobbitt, Wolfville, NS, children of LCol Daniel Bobbitt [D: Wainwright, AB, May 21, 2014]
Brettanea and Chelsey Hendrickson, Fredericton, NB, daughters of Warrant Officer Robert Wilson, Royal Canadian Regiment [D: Afghanistan, December 5, 2008]
Kari Anne Kruse, Fredericton, NB, daughter of Sgt Gregory John Kruse, Combat Engineer, 2CER [D: Afghanistan, December 27, 2008]
Maude Mercier, Quebec City, QC, daughter of Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier, 1er Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment [D: Afghanistan, August 22, 2007]
Kiera Mitchell, Edmonton, AB, daughter of Capt Bryan Mitchell, Royal Canadian Airforce, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron [D: Moose Jaw, SK, October 9, 2008]
Halsey Naismith, Moose Jaw, SK, daughter of Capt Kevin Naismith, Royal Canadian Airforce, 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron [D: Cold Lake, AB, May 26, 2003]
Charles Parker, Courtice, ON, son of Colonel Geoffrey Stephen Parker [D: Afghanistan, May 18, 2010]
Sarah Stewart, Petawawa, ON, daughter of MCpl. Allan Stewart, Royal Canadian Dragoons [D: Afghanistan, April 11, 2007]
Jasmine Vialette, Winnipeg, MB, daughter of Cpl Robert Vialette, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery [D: Croatia, July 21, 1997]
SOURCE Canada Company
Image with caption: "Brigadier-General Lowell Thomas, Commander Robert Johnston, HCol Blake Goldring, Founder and Chair of Canada Company, Lieutenant General Marquis Hainse and Brigadier-General Sean Friday with the 2016 Canada Company Scholarship Fund Recipients. (CNW Group/Canada Company)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160624_C7229_PHOTO_EN_721679.jpg
Image with caption: "Canada Company (CNW Group/Canada Company)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160624_C7229_PHOTO_EN_721532.jpg
Bryan Feheley, REPUBLIC, 416-451-4150, [email protected]
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