Montreal, June 3, 2020 – On the occasion of the 11th edition of the La Capitale Scholarship Program within the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence (FAEQ), Mr. Jean St-Gelais, Chairman and CEO of La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services, confirmed that the company is continuing its support for student-athletes in Quebec by awarding 80 000 $ in individual grants to 21 of them.
Given the very particular social distancing situation that has led to the closure of several training centers, our young student-athletes need financial support, encouragement, and guidance more than ever to remain committed and motivated for the upcoming season. It is therefore during a virtual scholarship award ceremony streamed live on Facebook that the FAEQ, in conjunction with La Capitale, announced the 2020 recipients.
Since its inception in 2010, the program has been a true success. Several of its scholarship recipients have distinguished themselves, such as Samuel Girard and Kim Boutin in short track speed skating, Laurence Vincent-Lapointe in sprint canoeing, Cindy Ouellet In Paralympic basketball and cross-country skiing, Olympians Andreanne Langlois in sprint canoeing, Joseph Polossifakis in fencing, Katherine Savard in swimming, Elise Marcotte in artistic swimming and Julie Labonté in athletics (shot put), not forgetting the cyclist David Veilleux, the first Quebecer to complete the Tour de France. A multitude of other scholarship recipients have managed to distinguish themselves in their post-athletic careers, including doctors Marie-Eve Beauchemin-Nadeau weightlifting, Rémi Pelletier-Roy (track and road cycling) and Marie-Claude Surprenant (mountain bike).
What they said:
«The career of a student-athlete is full of challenges and obstacles to overcome. The resilience that each student-athlete must develop to succeed in both their sport and their studies will serve them throughout their lives. We know how crucial financial support, like that La Capitale has been providing for over 10 years, is for our student-athletes, allowing them to focus their energy on their academic and athletic success. In this challenging year for everyone, we are particularly proud to contribute to their success!»
– Jean St-Gelais, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of La Capitale
«The La Capitale Scholarship Program has allowed the FAEQ to support and guide, through our mentorship services, young, lesser-known student-athletes who have become leaders in their sport, their professional careers, and their communities. We are privileged to have had such a generous, loyal, and reliable partner for the past decade. In this time of uncertainty and disruption in the journeys of student-athletes, we can continue to fulfill our mission and make a difference, united and in solidarity. Thank you, La Capitale!»
– Claude Chagnon, President of the Foundation for Athletic Excellence
In 2020, individual scholarships of $2,000 $ or $4,000 $ were awarded in three categories: eight for academic excellence highlighting brilliant academic results, ten for support of academic and athletic success promoting the balance of sports and studies, and three for perseverance acknowledging particular determination in the face of a difficult situation.
