News Releases
On Wednesday, November 16, 2005, the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation (CMSF) announced the first recipients of scholarships provided from one day of BMO Nesbitt Burns trading.
The CMSF received $212,500 from BMO Nesbitt Burns’ Equity Through Education campaign to award to its student members. The winning students were introduced at the organization’s 18th annual Wine and Cheese reception at The Spoke Club in
Last May 11, all of the institutional equity trading commissions earned by BMO Nesbitt Burns across Canada were donated to four organizations whose mission includes enabling access to post-secondary education for deserving students.
CMSF is one of the beneficiaries of BMO Nesbitt Burns’ Equity through Education (ETE) charitable campaign.
“It was a proud moment for our members to be present when we announced and introduced the three deserving young women who have been awarded this significant opportunity through the Equity through Education initiative,” said Franca Gucciardi, Executive Director of CMSF and one of its earliest alumna.
The CMSF Nesbitt Burns scholars include two first-year university students and one who is in her sophomore year. Their scholarships will cover tuition and living expenses for their university education and will provide them with opportunities to expand their leadership capacity so that they may contribute to the betterment of our communities.
“It gives us great satisfaction to witness the results of fundraising initiatives, particularly as they forward the important causes of education and diversity in a tangible way,” said Eric Tripp, Vice Chair, Capital Markets, BMO Nesbitt Burns and Campaign Chair of the ETE trading day. “BMO Nesbitt Burns is honoured to assist CMSF and other agencies in their collective efforts to improve lives, strengthen neighbourhoods and enable individuals to achieve their fullest potential through education,” he added.
The 2005 Equity through Education scholars are:
Alexandra Rouillard (
Sensitizing youth to political engagement and issues affecting international development has always been important to Alexandra. Perhaps her grade 10 exchange year in Italy inspired her to become active in political affairs at Cégep de l'Abitibi-Temiscamingue, where she has created questionnaires asking students how they plan to take action on improving their political situation; shebecame an advisor to students on issues of engagement; and she formed CAFé - a tutoring group whose mission it is to improve written French. From Rouyn-Noranda, Alexandra also buys and sells used books at the local multi-service centre where all profits go to charity. Her long-term goals include becoming a medical biologist with a focus in international development. Alexandra studies biology at Université de Montréal.
Jamie Thomas-Pavanel (
As President of her student council, Jamie organized a successful 25-hour famine; she established a dance team within the multicultural club; and she carried out activities on the school’s Black History Committee. She initiated a mural painting project in the hallways of her school, bringing together students from all grades and artistic backgrounds to beautify the school. Jamie has been committed to swimming since she was young, competing, instructing and working as a lifeguard. Jamie also volunteered at
Jessica Moe (
At Ross Sheppard High School, Jessica co-founded the Youth Coalition for Peace and Social Justice, an organization that seeks to instill hope and passion about local and global issues in young people. Her experience as a participant in the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth fuelled her desire for a career that combines medicine and public policy. A second-year student of biomedical sciences with minors in international development and economics, Jessica is a member of the Debating Society and a volunteer at Santropol Roulant.
Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation (CMSF)
Founded in 1988, CMSF is an independent and privately funded organization that gives out the largest undergraduate awards to the country’s most promising young leaders. Specifically, the proceeds from Equity through Education will be used to fund awards for women.
www.cmsf.ca
BMO Nesbitt Burns Equity Through Education
BMO Nesbitt Burns launched Equity through Education in May 2005. The charitable program is designed to raise money for students who demonstrate academic promise but lack the support and means to pursue opportunities that can only be achieved through education. In addition to CMSF, BMO Nesbitt Burns’ Equity through Education program also supports: the Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth (FAAY); the Pathways to Education Program; and the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS).
BMO Nesbitt Burns is a leading full-service investment bank offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a broad range of products and services including investment and corporate banking, treasury services, market risk management, institutional investing and research. BMO Nesbitt Burns is a member of BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO).
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