The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney and Wayne Gretzky star in Horatio Alger Association of Canada's three new PSAs

MONTREAL, Sept. 8, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - To mark the back-to-school season, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada has released two English public service announcements (PSAs) and one French PSA promoting the Association and it's scholarship program.

The PSAs feature former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, both Members of the Horatio Alger Association.

The PSAs will be broadcast on local television stations across Canada and can be viewed on the Horatio Alger Association of Canada's website at http://bit.ly/1OuE73w and http://bit.ly/1EMvWzL.

This year, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada will award a total of 85 need-based scholarships to deserving students in financial need who have overcome significant adversity while demonstrating strength of character, strong academics, a commitment to pursuing higher education, as well as a desire to contribute to society. This includes:

• 80 Horatio Alger Canadian Scholarships, valued at $5,000 each, to high school students in every province and territory, and;
• 5 Horatio Alger National Entrepreneurial Scholarships, worth $10,000 each, targeted at outstanding applicants nation-wide who intend to pursue a business-related degree or have expressed a commitment to following an entrepreneurial career.

Students heading for post-secondary vocational or university studies are encouraged to submit their applications before the October 25, 2015 deadline. The application form can be found on the Horatio Alger Association of Canada's website at http://www.horatioalger.ca.

"Wayne Gretzky and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney are both exemplary models that demonstrate that hard work and determination can overcome any obstacle," said Prem Watsa, the newly-named President of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada. "They exemplify the can-do attitude of our Members and our scholarship winners. We hope this year's applicants will be inspired by their stories to never give up no matter what life throws at them."

About the Horatio Alger Association of Canada

The Horatio Alger Association of Canada, the Canadian affiliate of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a charitable organization dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honours the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity by bestowing to them the Horatio Alger Award and granting them lifetime membership into the Association. Through the generosity of Horatio Alger Members, the Horatio Alger Association of Canada awards scholarships annually to deserving young people in every province and territory. Members of the Association include Dominic D'Alessandro, Murray Edwards, David Foster, Serge Godin, Wayne Gretzky, Rebecca MacDonald, the late G. Wallace F. McCain, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Jim Pattison, Isadore Sharp, Prem Watsa and Rick Waugh. For more information, visit www.horatioalger.ca.

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Canada

Image with caption: "Wayne Gretzky Horatio Alger member (CNW Group/Horatio Alger Association of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150908_C5517_PHOTO_EN_492338.jpg

Adam Daifallah, HATLEY Strategy Advisors, 514.316.7089, [email protected]