Montreal, Thursday, May 11, 2023 – The Aléo Foundation and Beneva will award 82,000 $ this year to 23 student-athletes for the 14the edition of the Beneva Scholarship Program. The country’s largest mutual insurance company has also committed to continuing its partnership with Aléo in 2024 and 2025, with a contribution of 200,000 $.
The Beneva Scholarship Program has existed since 2010 and was first known as the La Capitale Scholarship Program. It was renamed following the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, which became Beneva, in 2020.
Many program recipients have distinguished themselves on the international stage. Notably, we can highlight the inspiring journeys of the freestyle skier Olivia Asselin, of the short-track speed skater Kim Boutin, the freestyle skier Émile Nadeau and the female founder Katherine Stewart-Jones who demonstrated their expertise at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
Seven scholarship holders from the program also participated in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2021, namely the kayaker Andréanne Langlois, the polo player Élyse Lemay-Lavoie, the wheelchair basketball player Cindy Ouellet, the swimmer Katherine Savard, the foil fencer Maximilien Van Haaster, the canoeist Laurence Vincent-Lapointe just like the diver Nathan Zsombor-Murray.
In 2023, Beneva is renewing its financial support for 23 recipients, including 5 new female scholarship recipients and 3 new male scholarship recipients, who will receive scholarships ranging from 2,000 $ to 4,000 $.
In their own words:
«Our collaboration with the Aléo Foundation allows us, year after year, to reiterate the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle habits, which are essential to the physical and psychological health of individuals and the well-being of communities. Our scholarship recipients are remarkable examples in this regard. It is therefore always with pride that we support them, particularly for the inspiration they offer to the public.»
– Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO of Beneva
«Student-athletes truly represent wonderful role models for their peers and the people of Quebec. Balancing academics and sports, made easier through the support of major partners like Beneva, is of paramount importance to the Aléo Foundation. Achieving this balance allows recipients to reach new heights, both in their athletic pursuits and academically.»
– Martin Lavigne, President of the Aléo Foundation
New name, new image, same mission!
The Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) has adopted a new name and visual identity: ALÉO – Propelling the athlete beyond sport. This change aims to further highlight its personalized approach where overall well-being and Well-being in performance its scholarship holders are at the center of its actions.
Recipients of the 2023 Beneva Scholarship Program
| Name | Sports | Age | Amount | City | Educational institution |
| Mohamed Auda | handball | 22 | 4000 $ | Montreal (Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension) | University of Montreal |
| Victor Baudrand | escalade | 20 | 4000 $ | Quebec (Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge) | Bishop's University |
| Tristan Bell | snowboard (snowboard cross) | 20 | 4000 $ | Gatineau (Aylmer) | Cégep at a distance |
| Jeanne Boilard | artistic swimming | 18 | 4000 $ | Quebec City (La Cité-Limoilou) | Cégep at a distance |
| Alexandre Bourque | cross-country skiing | 19 | 4000 $ | Saint-Basile-le-Grand | Cégep du Vieux Montréal |
| Isabelle Caza | biathlon | 18 | 2000 $ | Chelsea | Cégep de l'Outaouais |
| Victoriane Charron | artistic gymnastics | 15 | 4000 $ | Mont-Saint-Hilaire | De Mortagne High School |
| Samuel Darveau | short track speed skating | 19 | 2000 $ | Sainte-Julie | Cégep Édouard-Montpetit |
| Laurie Denommée | artistic gymnastics | 22 | 4000 $ | Laval | University of Montreal |
| Joey Dubuc | freestyle skiing (moguls) | 19 | 4000 $ | Saint-Urbain-Premier | Cégep Édouard-Montpetit |
| Thierry Ferland | figure skating (pairs) | 25 | 4000 $ | Lévis (Saint-Jean-Chrysostome) | Laval University |
| Leo Grandbois | cross-country skiing | 23 | 4000 $ | Sherbrooke (Lennoxville) | Cégep at a distance |
| Émilie Greenfield | speed skating | 18 | 2000 $ | Quebec (Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge) | Cégep at a distance |
| Florence Hamel | sprint canoe-kayak | 17 | 2000 $ | Kirkland | College Sainte-Anne |
| Simone Huang | badminton | 16 | 4000 $ | Laval | Regina Assumpta College |
| Amélie-Laura Jasmin | dive | 19 | 4000 $ | Montréal (Saint-Laurent) | Collège André-Grasset |
| Edward Ly | table tennis | 20 | 4000 $ | Montreal (Lachine) | Cégep André-Laurendeau |
| Hubert Marcotte | speed skating | 22 | 4000 $ | Quebec (Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge) | Laval University |
| Lori-Ann Matte | figure skating (pairs) | 23 | 4000 $ | Lévis (Saint-Rédempteur) | TÉLUQ University |
| Émile Nadeau | freestyle skiing (aerials) | 19 | 4000 $ | Prévost | Limoilou College |
| Marie-Grace Talle Makoudoum | basketball | 16 | 2000 $ | Terrebonne | Félix-Leclerc Secondary School |
| Nathan Yvars | artistic gymnastics | 21 | 4000 $ | Sainte-Julie | University of Montreal |
| Nathan Zsombor-Murray | dive | 20 | 4000 $ | Pointe-Claire | Vanier College |
About Beneva
Born from the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, Beneva is the largest insurance mutual in Canada with more than 3.5 million members and clients. It relies on over 5,000 dedicated employees: people protecting people. Its human approach is rooted in the mutualist values shared by its employees. With $25.1 billion in assets, Beneva is a key player among the leaders of the Canadian insurance and financial services industry. Its head office is in Quebec City. For more information, visit beneva.ca.
Policyholders of Beneva Group insurers Inc. are members of SSQ Mutual and of La Mutual capital of public administration.
About the Aléo Foundation
Established in 1985, the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence (FAEQ) has awarded over $20 million in scholarships to nearly 4,000 outstanding student-athletes from across Quebec. With the goal of clarifying the organization's mission to propel athletes beyond sports, in 2022 the FAEQ rebranded and changed its name to Fondation Aléo. In addition to continuing its provision of scholarships and support services to tomorrow's leaders, it confirms its personalized approach, focusing on the overall well-being and development of its scholarship recipients in their performance.
For more information: fondationaleo.ca as well as the official Aléo Foundation pages on our platforms:
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For interview requests or other information, please contact Josée Robitaille at josee.robitaille@fondationaleo.ca.
For more information:
Patricia Demers
Chief Executive Officer
Aléo Foundation
514-252-3171, extension 3728
patricia.demers@fondationaleo.ca
Media relations
Beneva
1-866-332-3806
media@beneva.ca
