Onex CEO Gerald W. Schwartz and five outstanding students to be honoured by Horatio Alger Association of Canada

– The 69^th Horatio Alger Awards take place March 31-April 2 in Washington, D.C. –

MONTREAL, QC, March 22, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Horatio Alger Association of Canada, a charitable organization dedicated to education and the belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles, will induct Gerald W. Schwartz as a lifelong Member at the annual Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies, taking place March 31-April 2 in Washington, D.C.

Each year, the Association inducts individuals who have achieved great success despite facing significant hardship and adversity. Mr. Schwartz was born in post-war Winnipeg, where he was marked by his father's hard work and determination. From those beginnings, Mr. Schwartz has emerged as one of Canada's leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists: first, as the co-founder of CanWest Capital Corporation and later as the founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Onex Corporation, the private equity firm over which he still presides.

Concurrently, five hardworking Canadian students will join Mr. Schwartz at the Washington, D.C., ceremony to receive the first-ever Horatio Alger National Entrepreneurial Scholarships. The five recipients are:

Nazrin Azeez, Mississauga, Ontario
Brandon Greenall, South Hazelton, British Columbia
Jaclyn Kan, Calgary, Alberta
Justin Michaud, Sudbury, Ontario
Ze Ran (Vicky) Xu, Toronto, Ontario

The Horatio Alger Association of Canada was founded in 2009 and was named after the renowned author Horatio Alger, Jr., who wrote about the merits of honesty, courage and perseverance as the means to success. The Association annually awards 85 scholarships to deserving high school students in financial need who have overcome significant adversity while demonstrating strength of character, strong academics, a commitment to pursuing higher education as well as a desire to contribute to society. Funds can be used for both post-secondary vocational or university studies. The five National Entrepreneurial Scholarships, awarded to students who demonstrate a desire and ability to be entrepreneurial in a chosen field, are worth $10,000 each.

"On behalf of everyone at the Association, it is a privilege to welcome Mr. Schwartz as a fellow lifetime Member," said Prem Watsa, President of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada. "Gerry is a shining example of what is possible in Canada when you work hard and keep a can-do attitude. There is no question that he will be an ideal mentor for our new Scholars and alumni."

"It is an honour to accept the International Horatio Alger Award and join this successful group of esteemed individuals," said Mr. Schwartz. "I would also like to congratulate this year's Horatio Alger scholarship winners on their great accomplishments, including the five Entrepreneurial Scholarship recipients that will be joining me at the Horatio Alger Awards in Washington D.C. I look forward to collaborating with them and everyone at the Association."

In the lead up to the Horatio Alger Awards, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada has launched three new social media accounts this month. Users can follow these accounts as of today at the following links:

Twitter: @HoratioAlgerCA  
Facebook: Horatio Alger Association of Canada  
Instagram: @HoratioAlgerAssociation

To view the complete list of 2016 Horatio Alger Scholarship recipients, please click here.

To learn more about the Horatio Alger Association of Canada's Members, please click here.

About the Horatio Alger Association of Canada

The Horatio Alger Association of Canada, the Canadian affiliate of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a charitable organization dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honours the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity by bestowing to them the Horatio Alger Award and granting them lifetime membership into the Association. Through the generosity of Horatio Alger Members, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada awards scholarships annually to deserving young people in every province and territory. Members of the Association include Dominic D'Alessandro, Murray Edwards, David Foster, Serge Godin, Wayne Gretzky, Rebecca MacDonald, the late G. Wallace F. McCain, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Jim Pattison, David E. Ritchie, Isadore Sharp, Prem Watsa and Rick Waugh. For more information, visit www.horatioalger.ca.

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Canada

Adam Daifallah, HATLEY Strategy Advisors, 514.316.7089, [email protected]