Retail Council of Canada announces 2014 Retail as a Career Scholarship Recipients

$5,000 Top Prize to be awarded at STORE 2014 - Canada's Retail Conference

TORONTO, May 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Twenty-five 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 are awarded to students working in retail who are entering or currently enrolled in a retail-related program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.  The top applicant will also receive a $5,000 award sponsored by Interac Association. And for the first time, an additional $3000 scholarship will be awarded by Retail Council of Canada to a Retail as a Career Scholarship applicant in honour of all those who have been inducted into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame.

"It is encouraging to see so many students pursuing careers in retail and showing such passion for our vibrant industry," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada.  "The submissions we received from students this year showed an excellent knowledge of the current trends around brand loyalty and consumer engagement."

Now in its eleventh year, the Retail as a Career Scholarship program has awarded more than $650,000 in scholarships and award benefits to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to the future of retail. Applicants are judged by retail industry experts in three categories: academic performance, reference letters and a personal essay highlighting their experiences and educational pursuits in the retail industry. "This scholarship program helps students across the country realize their career goals and pursue exciting opportunities in retail," adds Brisebois. "RCC is very proud to work with industry sponsors to support the next generation of retail leaders."

In addition to the scholarships, recipients will receive an all-access pass, including travel and accommodation, to attend STORE 2014 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 Retailing Awards Dinner, an event honouring the most respected leaders and innovative companies in retail. For more information on STORE 2014 visit: www.storeconference.ca.

The 2014 Retail as a Career Scholarship winners are:

Scholarship Recipient	School	Program	Employer
Adam Walek	University of Toronto	Bachelor of Commerce	Shoppers Drug Mart
Emma Sirry	George Brown College	Fashion Business Industry	Shop NYLA
Kathy  MacDonald	Wilfred Laurier University	Master of Business Administration	Home Hardware Stores Limited
Philippe Verreault	Université du Québec A Chimoutimi	Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées en gestion de projet	Home Hardware Stores Limited
Ekaterina Kryvdyk	University of Alberta:	Bachelor of Commerce	YMCA
Shelby MacLennan	St Francis Xavier University	Bachelor of Business Administration	Sobeys Inc.
Félix Cusson	Université du Québec à Montréal	Baccalauréat en administration, concentration marketing.	Bureau En Gros
Amy Morgan	Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning	Business Management	Shoppers Drug Mart
Andrew Conway	Mount Royal University	Bachelor of Business Administration	Sport Chek
Petra Woods	York University	Bachelor of Administrative Studies - Accounting	Foodland
Brett Hahan	Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology	Business - Marketing	Pro Hockey Life
Cara Gresser	Wilfred Laurier University	Master of Business Administration	Holt Renfrew & Company Ltd.
Elizabeth Alexandra Burke	Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology	Fashion Business Management	Hoi Bo Inc
Jennifer Fraser	Royal Roads University	Bachelor of Business Administration -Sustainability and International Business	Toys 'R' Us (Canada) Ltd.
Harleen Virk	British Columbia Institute of Technology	Marketing Management - Communications	Town Shoes Limited
Jennifer Ngo	British Columbia Institute of Technology	Business Operations Management	Le Groupe Aldo Inc.
Pauline Cripps	Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning	Business Administration - Marketing	Staples Canada Inc.
Kaitlyn Taschuk	University of Alberta	Bachelor of Commerce	Lululemon Athletica Inc
Katernia Yannakidis	Ryerson University	Bachelor of Commerce - Retail Management	Lisa Cosmetics / Fragrances Inc.
Simone Tissenbaum	Ryerson University	Bachelor of Commerce - Retail Management	Adidas
Winnie Cho	University of Toronto	Bachelor of Business Administration - Management-Economics Specialist	Aéropostale, Inc.
Julie Anderson	University of Lethbridge	Bachelor of Management - Human Resources	Atmosphere
Genevieve Ketchum	Mount Royal University	Bachelor of Business Administration	Meez
Rudolph Urich San Juan III	British Columbia Institute of Technology	Marketing Management Program (Marketing Communications Option)	The Men's Club Fashions
Matthew Bara	MacEwan University	Bachelor of Commerce - Management	The Home Depot Canada

Retail Council of Canada would like to thank you the following retail sponsors for their generous support of the Retail as a Career Scholarship program:
Best Buy Canada Ltd.,  Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd., Comark Inc., Costco Wholesale Canada Limited, Future Shop, Golf Town, GS1 Canada, Home Hardware Stores Ltd., IKEA Canada Limited Partnership, Indigo Books & Music Inc., JRoss Retail Recruiters, Lowe's Canada, MySTORE, PetSmart Canada, Inc., Pier 1 Imports, Inc., Red Apple Stores Inc., Sears Canada Inc., Shoppers Drug Mart, Staples Canada, Inc., Starbucks Coffee Canada, Target Canada, The Home Depot Canada, TJX Canada, Toys 'R' Us (Canada) Ltd., Walmart Canada

About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada is the Voice of Retail in Canada. Founded in 1963, RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 45,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent stores, and online merchants. We speak for an industry that touches the daily lives of Canadians in every corner of the country — by providing jobs, career opportunities, and by investing in communities.

Media are invited to attend STORE 2014.

SOURCE: Retail Council of Canada

Devon Pool
Retail Council of Canada
416 467-3759