Retail's future leaders awarded 2016 Retail as a Career Scholarships

Retail Council of Canada to present 16 scholarships at STORE 2016 Conference

TORONTO, May 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Sixteen post-secondary students from across the country will each receive $1,000 as part of Retail Council of Canada's (RCC) 2016 Retail as a Career Scholarship program. The scholarships are awarded to students working in retail who are entering or currently enrolled in a retail-related program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.

The top scholarship applicant will get a $5,000 award sponsored by Interac Association. An additional $3,000 scholarship will be awarded by RCC to an applicant in honour of retailers who have, over the years, been inducted into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame.

"Now in its 13th year, the Retail as a Career Scholarship program is an integral part of an ongoing commitment to recognize the importance of the retail industry as both a vibrant and professional career choice, and as the largest private sector employer supporting the Canadian economy," said Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO of Retail Council of Canada. 

"We congratulate these scholarship winners for their passion, dedication and commitment to an industry that presents so many opportunities for advancement in a wide variety of job roles and options. Each of the recipients has demonstrated a keen desire to pursue a career in retail, and has carefully considered how they are going to make a positive impact on their industry going forward."

Ms. Brisebois added: "Retail Council of Canada is proud to partner with industry sponsors to nurture and support this next generation of retail leaders and also thanks Interac Association for its commitment to retail."

The 2016 sponsors to the Retail as a Career Scholarship fund are: Best Buy Canada Ltd., Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd., Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Home Hardware Stores Ltd., IKEA Canada Ltd., Interac Association, JRoss Retail Recruiters, Lowe's Canada, MySTORE, PetSmart Canada Inc., Pier 1 Imports, Inc., Sears Canada Inc., Staples Canada Inc., The Home Depot Canada, TJX Canada, Toys 'R' Us (Canada) Ltd. and Walmart Canada.

To date, the Retail as a Career Scholarship program has awarded about $750,000.00 in scholarships and award benefits. Applicants are judged by retail industry experts in three categories: academic performance, professional references and a personal essay highlighting their experiences and educational pursuits in the retail industry.

In addition to monetary prizes, this year's recipients receive an all-access pass, travel and accommodation to RCC's STORE 2016 Conference, Canada's largest retail industry event. They will be honoured on May 31st at the 2016 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala, presented as part of STORE 2016.

2016 Retail as a Career Scholarship recipients:

Recipient	Employer	School	Program
Alana (Jessica) MacIntyre	Cineplex Entertainment LP	Cape Breton University	Bachelor of Business Administration
Anne St-Pierre	Metro Richelieu Inc.	HEC Montréal	Maîtrise en gestion des ressources humaines
Benoit Blanchette	Staples Canada, Inc.	Université du Québec à Montréal	Certificat de perfectionnement en gestion
Chloe Tully	Sears Canada Inc.	Wilfrid Laurier University	Bachelor of Business Administration
Christopher Rinaldi Ross	National Sports	University of Windsor	Bachelor of Commerce
Emily Meloche	Cineplex Entertainment LP	University of Windsor	Bachelor of Business Administration
Grace Joseph	Cineplex Entertainment LP	University of Waterloo	Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
Jessica Privé	Toys 'R' Us (Canada), Ltd.	HEC Montréal	Bachelor of Business Administration
Katelin Mowder	Hudson's Bay Company	McMaster University	Bachelor of Commerce
Lydia Fenton	The Bargain! Shop	University of Guelph	Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing Management
Mikayla Haynes	Starbucks Coffee Canada	Trinity Western University	Bachelor of Business Administration
Nathan Comartin	Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.	University of Windsor	Bachelor of Business Administration  - Honors Co-op
Scott Hookings	Sport Chek	Brock University	Bachelors of Business Administration
Tanisha Kotowich	Frank + Oak	University of Alberta	Bachelor of Commerce
Teri Simone	Minor Bros. Country Living	Western University	Bachelor of Social Science

For more information on STORE 2016 and the 2016 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala and to purchase tickets, visit STOREconference.ca.

About Retail Council of Canada

Retail is Canada's largest employer with 2.2 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates payroll of $60 billion and approximately $350 billion in sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline). As of 2015 Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members' represent more than two thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit industry-funded association and represents small, medium and large retail business in every community across the country. As the Voice of Canadian retailers we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants.

RetailCouncil.org    @RetailCouncil  @RCCMySTORE

SOURCE Retail Council of Canada

For further information: Colin Asuncion, Retail Council of Canada, [e-mail]