Laval, September 16, 2026 For a third edition, the Le BUT Foundation and the Aléo Foundation are teaming up to support the next generation of Quebec hockey and para hockey athletes. Gathered at the Sports Rousseau store in Laval, 13 young student-athletes identified as "Espoir" experienced a moment entirely their own: a scholarship presentation designed to recognize their potential and provide them with additional resources to continue their journey.
The 13 recipients each received a grant of 1,500 $. In addition to this financial support, they have joined the Aléo family and, with that, gained lifetime access to the support services provided by the Foundation.
Through this program, the two foundations share a common goal: to ensure that financial or material barriers do not hold back the potential of young people who want to progress in the sport they love. Together, they support hockey and parahockey players who demonstrate strong potential and for whom a helping hand can make a real difference in the pursuit of their journey.
From scholar to donor: Pierre Gendron pays it forward
Pierre Gendron's commitment to the next generation also takes on a very personal dimension. A former Aléo Foundation bursary recipient in the 1990s, he has chosen once again this year to personally offer two additional bursaries to student-athletes playing university hockey, as part of the Aléo Foundation's Pay It Forward program.
A full-circle gesture: after having himself benefited from decisive support in his journey, he now wishes to help create that momentum for a new generation.
In their own words:
«When I meet these young people, I see a part of my own journey. I, too, needed people to encourage me, give me a hand, and, above all, believe in what I could achieve. The Aléo Foundation was one of those entities for me. Today, with the Le BUT Foundation, we are taking action in several ways to make hockey more accessible, whether by covering certain costs, providing new equipment, or giving used equipment a second life. Our partnership with Aléo allows us to go even further by also supporting the development of these young people. If our help can remove an obstacle for them and give them a little more confidence to keep going, then we will have accomplished something important.»
– Pierre Gendron, founder and president of the Le BUT Foundation
«This partnership is particularly valuable for the Aléo Foundation because it brings together several dimensions of our mission: recognizing potential, reducing barriers, and supporting young people long after the presentation of a scholarship. And when this commitment comes from a former scholarship recipient like Pierre, the circle is made even more complete. He received support at an important moment in his journey and now chooses to pass it on in turn. That is exactly the spirit of the Circular philanthropy so dear to the Aléo Foundation: a growing community that stays connected and, over time, finds in turn its own way of propelling those who follow.»
– Patricia Demers, Managing Director of the Aléo Foundation
2026 Recipients of the Le BUT Foundation Program
| Name | Team | Age | Amount | City | School |
| Milan Déraspe | Quebec Aces M15 AAA | 13 | 1500 $ | Boischatel | La Seigneurie Secondary School |
| Jake Duclos | Blizzard of the SSF M15 AAA Elite | 13 | 1500 $ | Saint-Raymond | Saint Francis Seminary |
| Mia Favreau | Richelieu M18 AAA Remparts | 16 | 1500 $ | Saint-Césaire | Divine Word High School |
| Émile Forest | Para ice hockey – Montréal Rocket | 14 | 1500 $ | Montreal (Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve) | Ville-Marie College |
| Nathan Galarneau Desjardins | Para ice hockey – Montréal Rocket | 14 | 1500 $ | Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac | Liberté-Jeunesse High School |
| Anthony Gariépy | Harfangs du Triolet M13 AAA Elite | 12 | 1500 $ | Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley | Alexander Galt Regional High School |
| Élie Hamel Patulli | Para ice hockey – Montréal Rocket | 13 | 1500 $ | Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel | Fernand-Lefebvre Secondary School |
| Dariane Lagarde | Lac St. Louis Warriors U18 AAA | 15 | 1500 $ | Montreal (Lachine) | Sainte-Anne College in Lachine |
| Joshua Larivière | Lanaudière Pioneers U17 AAA | 14 | 1500 $ | L'Assomption | Félix-Leclerc Secondary School |
| Zak Melançon | Conquérants des Basses-Laurentides M15 AAA | 13 | 1500 $ | Saint Sophia | Cap-Jeunesse High School |
| Flavie Poulin | Sherbrooke Harfangs U15 AAA | 12 | 1500 $ | Sherbrooke | Triolet Secondary School |
| Alycia Proulx | As de Québec M18 AAA | 16 | 1500 $ | Rivière-du-Loup | La Seigneurie Secondary School |
| Emma Vaillancourt | Laurentides-Lanaudière Stars M15 AAA | 14 | 1500 $ | Mirabel | Saint-Gabriel High School |
| "Pay It Forward" Program – Pierre Gendron | |||||
| Justin Roux | Green and Gold of the University of Sherbrooke | 20 | 2000 $ | Warwick | University of Sherbrooke |
| Laurie Vézina | Universite de Montreal Carabins | 20 | 2000 $ | Saint-Antoine-de-l'Isle-aux-Grues | University of Montreal |
About the Le BUT Foundation
Launched on September 21, 2022, the The BUT Foundation has a mission to make hockey accessible to more young people across Quebec. Since its inception, it has distributed more than 2,985 pairs of skates, supported 725 families, refurbished over 5,950 pieces of equipment and collaborated with more than 50 organizations, schools, and sports associations.
Through the collection and redistribution of equipment as well as the support offered for registration and development fees, the Foundation enables more and more young people to play sports. «We change lives, one pair of skates at a time.»
About the Aléo Foundation
The Aléo Foundation's mission is to maximize the full potential of as many outstanding student-athletes as possible from all backgrounds, in order to generate significant and lasting impact. Created in 1985, it has awarded over $25 million in scholarships to more than 5,000 student-athletes from across Quebec. In addition to these scholarships, there is an essential component of services provided for life to all recipients during and after their athletic and academic careers. To support these mentoring services, the Aléo Research Chairis now a vector for scientific results available to the entire sports community here.
The fundraising campaign Impact for Generations Its goal is to raise six million dollars in three years to move closer to our great vision: that student-athletes of excellence enrich society through their current and future leadership, both through their exceptional contributions and the inspiring examples they embody.
To support Impact for Generations
For more information: fondationaleo.ca
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For your information:
Annie Dubé
Director of Communications and Marketing
Aléo Foundation
438 884-6626
annie.dube@fondationaleo.ca
Éric Hurtubise
Chief Operating Officer
G3 Group
438-405-9848
ehurtubise@groupeg3.com
