RBC announces Black History Month Student Essay Competition scholarship winners

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Tonight, at a special event at the Toronto Board of Trade, RBC announced the three winners of the 2014 RBC Black History Month competition:

$5,000 and a Me to We trip to Ghana: Kate Paisley, Weston Collegiate Institute, who wrote about a pair of activists who have made an indelible mark on society and inspired her to be the best she can be.

$2,500: Oyindasola Lagunju, Bur Oak Secondary School, who highlighted two female symbols of defiance whose acts of sacrifice left a positive mark in history.

$1,500: Asha Gordon, Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School, who wrote about the contributions of two remarkable women who made their voices heard and gave voice to others.

The event featured a stirring keynote address from Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, Executive Director of the Centre of Excellence in Financial Services Education.

"We need to ensure that today our youth are active participants in the 'innovation' agenda of our province", said Chandler-Crichlow. "RBC, through its support for youth, continues to demonstrate it's commitment to an innovation agenda across Canada." 

The top twelve essays were all on display, and many of the top twelve essayists and their families were in attendance along with essay panel judges: Gerry McNeilly, Director of Ontario's Office of Independent Police Review; Tanya Walker, 2013 Harry Jerome Award recipient; Kay McConney, former Consul General for Barbados in Toronto; and Ainsworth Morgan, founding Director of Pathways to Education and Vice Principal at Nelson Mandela Public School.

"The history of African Canadians is so essential to the Canadian narrative and an integral part of the broader Canadian story," said Jennifer Tory, RBC regional president for Greater Toronto. "These students have done a wonderful job of honouring our rich national heritage."

Students from across the GTA entered their essays on how black Canadians have helped to define Canada's diverse heritage and identity through their achievements and contributions to the broader society.

Each Monday in February, you can read 3 of the top essays at rbc.com/essay, including the three scholarship winning essays on February 24.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) is Canada's largest bank and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 44 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.

SOURCE: RBC Royal Bank - Public Affairs & Community Relations

Mark Hamill
Director, Communications, RBC
416.974.3900
[email protected]