A Record Breaking $1.5 million Raised Through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal 2019

Québec's Anne-Marie Comeau and Ontario's Tristan Woodfine take top placing in Montréal

MONTRÉAL, April 28, 2019 /CNW/ - Taking advantage of dry, brisk conditions, Québec's Anne-Marie Comeau (1:14:06)  in the women's class, and Ontario's Tristan Woodfine (1:05:27) in the men's category, had strong victories on Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montréal, for the 17^th edition of the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal.

At press time, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge had raised over $1.5 million – a record for Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal – in support of 80 charities in Québec and the number is expected to continue to grow as fundraising remains open for 30 days after the event.

Scotiabank’s Jean Pierre Sanchez and Guylaine Duplessis from Scotiabank and François Lecot, Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal Race Director unveil the new Scotiabank Charity Challenge fundraising total, a new record – $1.5 million in support of 80 local charities. Credit: Todd Fraser (CNW Group/Scotiabank)

Québec’s Anne-Marie Comeau crosses the finish line first in the women’s event at the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal race. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)

Tristan Woodfine from Cobden, Ontario wins the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal race for the second year in a row. Credit: Inge Johnson (CNW Group/Scotiabank)

The 17th annual Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal was a big success with over 7,000 people taking part and raising a record breaking $1.5 million raised for 80 local charities as part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Credit: Inge Johnson (CNW Group/Scotiabank)

"At Scotiabank, investing in our communities has been a focus for over 185 years," says Geneviève Brouillard, Regional Senior Vice President, Québec and Eastern Ontario, at Scotiabank. "Through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge we aim to inspire individuals to fundraise in support of their favourite charities. We are thrilled that over 1.5million has been raised for charity this year. It's great to see that the Scotiabank Charity Challenge continues to be an important part of the weekend events, year after year. We know that the funds raised will have a huge impact in the communities where we live, work, and run."

A two-day event, the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal featured fun times for all, with various distances to choose from, including, 1k Kids Run, 5k, 10k and 21k. Over 7,000 participants crossed the start lines for yet another sold out event this year!

"We are quite excited with the combined effort from the runners and charities associated with the event, it resulted with another record-breaking weekend in terms of funds raised for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge," says Francois Lecot, Race Director, Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal. "Our event has become a weekend long celebration offering a distance for everyone with a 21k, 10k, 5k & Kids Run. Over 7000 runners showed up at one of our start lines, mixing up challenge, fun and performance. We are also proud of the turnout and performances from Canadian runners Anne-Marie Comeau and Tristan Woodfine."

The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a turnkey fundraising program that provides a simple way for runners in these races to support local causes that make a significant impact on Canadian communities. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees. Scotiabank offers the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at six sponsored marathon events across Canada including Montréal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.  

Scotiabank believes in helping young people reach their infinite potential, and many organizations who take part in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge have a direct impact on our local youth. Young people are our future leaders and it's crucial to provide them with the skills and resources they need to succeed.

Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal Results :

Half marathon, Men

1. Tristan Woodfine, Cobden, 1:05:27
2. Réjean Chiasson, Toronto, 1:07:59
3. Pierre-Lou Billerot, Montréal, 1:08:10
   

Half marathon, Women

1. Anne-Marie Comeau, St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, 1:14:06
2. Rachel Hannah, Guelph, 1:15:14
3. Sasha Gollish, Toronto, 1:17:43
   
   

10k, Men

1. Nicholas Grudev, South Burlington, 32:23
2. Arnaud Francioni, Montréal, 33:06
3. Maurice Bélanger, Montréal, 35:55
   
   

10k, Women

1. Arianne Raby, Montréal, 36:53
2. Annie Laperle, Candiac, 37:32
3. Céline Best, Shannon, 39:28

5k, Men

1. Phil Parrot-Migas, London, 15:36
2. Graydon Snider, Montréal, 16:28
3. Dimitri Nivole, Montréal, 16:40

5k, Women

1. Céline Marks, Montréal, 18:18
2. Joelle White, Montréal, 18:52
3. Laurence Gauthier, Montréal, 19:14
   
   

The Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal race weekend is a world-class sporting event that brings together runners from across the country, and beyond, on both recreational and elite levels. The event takes place in one of Montréal's most beautiful locations; Parc-Jean Drapeau.

For a complete list of 2019 charities participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, please visit the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal's website.

For more highlights and complete race results, please visit the results page.

Twitter and Instagram Hashtag: #Scotia21kMTL, #InfinitePotential and #CourseScotia

About Scotiabank
At Scotiabank, we aim to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success. Together with our employees, the Bank supports causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2018, Scotiabank contributed more than $80 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in the Americas. We are dedicated to helping our more than 25 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 98,000 employees and assets of over $1 trillion (as at January 31, 2019), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

About Canada Running Series
Canada Running Series is the nation's premier running circuit with eight events: four in Toronto, two in Vancouver, one in Edmonton and one in Montréal. It annually attracts some 60,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 mostly local charities.

The Series includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization.

We are passionately committed to staging great experiences for runners of all levels from Canadian Olympians and International stars, to healthy lifestyle people and charity runners; and to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process. Our mission is "building community through the sport of running".

Join us : http://www.canadarunningseries.com   Instagram –  Twitter –  Facebook - @RunCRS

SOURCE Scotiabank

For media enquiries only: Valérie LeBlanc, Canada Running Series, 581-307-3973, [email protected]; Erin Truax, Scotiabank, 416-578-9659, [email protected]