Announcement of the winners of the 18th Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec - Bank of America Merrill Lynch Economic and Financial Journalism Awards of Excellence

First prize: Maxime Bergeron from La Presse
Second prize: Jonathan Trudel from L'actualité
Third prize: Stéphanie Grammond from La Presse

MONTRÉAL, Jan. 20, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Association des économistes québécois announced the names of the winners of the 18^th Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec – Bank of America Merrill Lynch Economic and Financial Journalism Awards of Excellence during an official ceremony held yesterday evening at the Centre CDP Capital. This prestigious competition aims to publicly recognize journalists who cover business and financial news for their role in providing information and analysis and making it understandable. Three grants totaling $17,500 were handed out during the award ceremony. 

The first prize, along with a $10,000 grant, went to Maxime Bergeron from La Presse for his story La Chine fantôme published on the La Presse + platform. The winner of the second prize, earning a $5,000 grant, was Jonathan Trudel from L'actualité for his story Mal pris, les jeunes?. Finally, the third prize and $2,500 was presented to Stéphanie Grammond from La Presse for her stories En Cadillac avec des lunettes roses, Déficit fantôme de 57 milliards and Liberté 46 : autopsie du régime de retraite des pompiers.

Close to 50 applications from more than 15 media outlets were submitted for this 18^th instalment of the awards competition. The jury was chaired by Sylvie Dillard, former President of both the Association des économistes québécois (2010) and the Conseil de la science et de la technologie, and comprised Claude Beauchamp, journalist and former host of Capital Action (broadcast on RDI), Alain Guilbert, journalist and former President of Transcontinental Publications Inc., and Marie-Agnès Thellier, former President and CEO of the Cercle des présidents du Québec and former Business Editor of Le Journal de Montréal.

"We are proud to celebrate again this year the excellence in economic and financial journalism in Quebec," said Deep Khosla, Managing Director and Head of Quebec operations at Merrill Lynch Canada. "Market transparency is essential to the health of an economy, and these journalists fulfil an important role in conveying financial information that helps the marketplace make well-informed decisions. "

"I would like to thank all the winners and candidates this evening for the curiosity, knowledge and talent they have invested throughout the year to provide excellent business and financial journalism," said Michael Sabia, President and Chief Executive Officer of la Caisse. "Their reporting broadens our perspectives and allows organizations and citizens alike to better understand the challenges and choices available to us."

"We are always delighted, year after year, of the quality of the reports submitted to us, which reflects the strength and depth of economic and financial journalism in Quebec. Our jury had the difficult task of selecting the finalists and winners, and I commend them for their work as well as all those who participated and submitted a report for these Awards," concludes Denis Durand, President of the Association des économistes québécois.

Awards partners

La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2014, it held $214.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, La Caisse invests in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure and real estate, globally. For more information: www.lacaisse.com.

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 48 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 4,900 retail banking offices and approximately 15,700 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 31 million active users and more than 16 million mobile users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("Investment Banking Affiliates"), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, which is a registered broker-dealer and member of SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, a locally registered entity. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank Guaranteed.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has had a major presence in Québec for over 50 years. Visit the Bank of America newsroom for more Bank of America news.

The Association des économistes québécois is the main organization linking economists in Québec and is dedicated to the professional advancement of its 700 members. Its primary objective is to foster the development and dissemination of economic knowledge, to enlighten public debate and to provide support for the role of economists. In keeping with its slogan, "Pour des choix éclairés" (For enlightened choices), the Association is recognized as a credible and impartial opinion leader in economic debates. Founded in 1975, it is a dynamic association open not only to economists but to anyone interested in economic and financial issues. www.economistesquebecois.com

SOURCE Association des économistes québécois (ASDEQ)

For further information: Valérie Gonzalo, 514 626.6976, [e-mail]