Canada Company announces $500,000 expansion to its Scholarship

Canada Company has announced a significant expansion to its Scholarship that will allow for the inclusion of children who have been impacted by the death of a parent by military related suicide. The expansion amounts to an additional $500,000.

“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.

The expansion will allow for an additional 125 Scholarships to be awarded.

“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,” added Goldring.

Expansion of the Scholarship was made possible, in part, by the $100,000 in personal contributions made by Canada Company’s Board of Directors and matched by BMO, RBC, Scotiabank and TD Bank Group. The donations will increase the total funding for the Canada Company Scholarship Fund to more than $3 million.

“I know the tremendous impact that programs like the Canada Company Scholarship Fund have on our military members and their families.

“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,” said General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces.

Established at the height of the Afghanistan conflict in 2006, the Canada Company Scholarship Fund was established to support those children whose parents lives were lost in the conflict. In 2008, the Scholarship was expanded to include children whose parents lost their lives elsewhere during their service. To-date, the Scholarship has been awarded to 107 children.

“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.

“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,” said Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence.

Canada Company and its members to help support them as they pursue post-secondary education.”

The announcement came at the occasion of Canada Company’s tenth anniversary on June 24. At this event, senior military and business leadership honoured children of those who gave their life for Canada. A group of 13 young men and women were officially presented with the 2016 Canada Company Scholarship to pursue Post Secondary education.

The 2016 recipients of the Canada Company Scholarship are:

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]

To apply for the Canada Company Scholarship visit the Canada Company website.

Anyone interested in donating to the Canada Company Scholarship fund can do so here.