Retail Council of Canada Announces 2012 Retail as a Career Scholarship Recipients

Top Prize of $5,000 to be awarded at STORE 2012 - Canada's Retail Conference

TORONTO, May 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Twenty-two post-secondary students from across the country will each receive $1,000 as part of Retail Council of Canada's Retail as a Career Scholarship program.  The scholarships will help assist the students pursue their careers in retail.  The top applicant will also receive a $5,000 award from Interac Association.  The scholarships will be announced at STORE 2012 - Canada's Retail Conference (www.storeconference.ca).

"It is remarkable to hear what the students have to say about this vibrant industry and what Canadian companies can do to maintain success and growth in a changing marketplace," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada.  "The submissions we received clearly demonstrate they are very passionate about their jobs and understand retail provides an excellent career path.  The future of our industry is in capable hands."

Over the past nine years, RCC and its sponsors have given more than $400,000 in scholarships and award benefits to students who exemplify excellence in retail and demonstrate a strong commitment to the future of retail through their education. The Retail as a Career Scholarship Program continues to grow each year, both in the number of applicants and in the number of retailers who provide the additional funding needed to increase the number of scholarships available.

Recipients are currently working in the retail industry and pursing post-secondary education in related programs, such as fashion merchandising/marketing, retail management, commerce, advertising, communications and human resources management.

Applicants are judged by retail industry experts in three categories: academic performance, reference letters and a personal essay explaining their experiences in the retail industry and how their education would make an impact on the future of the industry.

In addition to the scholarships, recipients will receive an all-access pass, including travel and accommodation, to attend STORE 2012 - Canada's Retail Conference, where they will have the opportunity to meet with some of Canada's most prominent retail industry professionals.   Recipients will receive their awards at the prestigious Excellence in Retail Awards Dinner, an event that honours the most respected leaders and innovative companies in retail.

The 2012 Retail as a Career Scholarship winners are:

Retail  Sponsor	Recipient	Employer	School	Program of Study
Best Buy Canada Ltd.	Denise Brown	Boathouse	Conestoga College	International Business Management
Canadian Tire Corporation	Kyle Stamm	The Bay	University of the Fraser Valley	Bachelor of Business Administration
Comark Inc	Nicole McGrath	Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation	Memorial University	Master of Business Administration
Costco Wholesale Canada Limited	Mira Murphy-Oosterhoff	RW & Co.	Saint Mary's University	Bachelor of Commerce- Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations
Future Shop	Meghan Hibberd	Winners Merchants International L.P.	George Brown College -	Fashion Management
Golf Town	Nikita Chugh	Armani Exchange	Ryerson University:	Bachelor of Commerce - Retail Management
GSI Canada	Brady Demyon	Aritzia LP	University of Calgary	Bachelor of Commerce
Hudson's Bay Company	Kristen Marriott	Hudsons Group	University of Ottawa	Bachelor of Commerce- International Management-
IKEA Canada	Christopher Snider	Home Outfitters	Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)	Business Administration - Human Resource Management,
Lowe's Canada	Aaron Brittenden	Bluenotes	Fanshawe College	Fashion Merchandising
Staples Canada, Inc	Iulia Mateian	The Bay	HEC Montréal	Maîtrise en science de la gestion-Marketing
The Bargain Shop	Sacha Morettin	Spring Shoes	Ryerson University	Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management
The Home Depot Canada	Laura Thomson	Ricki's	Vancouver Island University	Bachelor of Interior Design
Toys 'R' Us (Canada), Ltd.	Michaela Atkinson	Locale	Ryerson University:	Bachelor of Commerce - Retail Management
Wal-Mart Canada Corp.	Aline Kazazian	Mexx Canada Retail Inc.	Ryerson University:	Bachelor of Commerce - Retail Management
Winners Merchants International L.P.	Natalie Conte	Loblaw Companies Ltd.	Ryerson University	Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management
Canadian Retail Hall of Fame	Laurie Pagé	Starbucks Coffee Canada	Télé-université, Université du Québec	Gestion en Ressources Humaines
Canadian Retail Hall of Fame	Philippe Laverdière-Sawyer	RW & Co.	Université Laval	Administration des affaires
Canadian Retail Hall of Fame	Daniel Aubry	Armstrong & Richardson Ltd.	University of Western Ontario	Management and Organizational Studies

About Retail Council of Canada

Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org) has been the Voice of Retail in Canada since 1963.  RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 43,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants.

For a complete list of speakers and sessions, log on to www.storeconference.ca.

To RSVP: Media are invited to attend STORE 2012. For more information, contact: Corina Profiti, [phone], ext. 223, e-mail: [email protected]

Corina Profiti, [phone], ext. 223, e-mail: [email protected]