News Release
Opportunity Fund – Donors
Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg, gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following donors to the Opportunity Fund:
Government of Canada:
The Government of Canada's contribution of $746,000 over three years will allow The University of Winnipeg to continue to work in the inner city, and with Aboriginal and new Canadian communities to promote post-secondary education, the Government of Canada's Education Savings Grant program and Canada Learning Bond, the University's Opportunity Fund and financial literacy.
The Government of Canada's contribution will also fund valuable research to enable policy makers to better identify the most appropriate strategies for improving access to post-secondary education.
The Education Saving Grant program provides low-income Canadians with $500 to open an Registered Education Savings Plan, and $100 every year thereafter.
Province of Manitoba:
The Government of Manitoba government is pleased to invest $500,000 to help establish The University of Winnipeg's Opportunity Fund which will support the fund's bursary and tuition credit account initiatives. The Province is committed to making post-secondary education affordable and accessible for Manitobans, and this new fund will provide a range of opportunities for promising students who may not have pursued a university degree.
BMO Financial Group:
BMO Financial Group has committed $150,000 to The University of Winnipeg Opportunity Fund, an innovative new fund paralleling one of BMO’s corporate goals – making education accessible to everyone.
One of BMO’s passionate commitments is to make continuous learning a reality for its surrounding communities. Supporting the Opportunity Fund is a unique approach to help attain this vision.
“Learning is the foundation of personal fulfillment and a prosperous and enlightened society,” says John MacAulay, District Vice-President for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. “Scholarships and bursaries are the helping hands that create opportunities for students at all levels and in every stage of life. BMO Financial Group is pleased to be able to support such an important initiative at The University of Winnipeg.”
The BMO Financial Group donation will provide much needed support for both full- and part-time students who show academic promise and financial need.
TD Bank Financial Group:
Long-time supporters of higher education at The University of Winnipeg, TD recently announced their gift of $150,000 to establish the TD Bank Financial Group Tuition Credit Bursary within The Opportunity Fund.
“TD Bank Financial Group is committed to helping students complete their post-secondary education and achieve their academic goals,” said Christopher Dyrda, Senior Vice-President Business Banking, TD Bank Financial Group. “With these bursaries, we are lending our support to The University of Winnipeg in its pursuit to make advanced education more accessible for Winnipeg’s underprivileged and under-represented populations and believe this will make a difference to the lives of many students.”
TD has a dedication to helping children learn and thrive, as demonstrated by their significant investment in The Opportunity Fund. TD’s Tuition Credit Bursary will be awarded to students, as early as the fourth grade, and provide a financial incentive to stay in school and ‘earn’ their way toward a post-secondary education at The University of Winnipeg.
Scotiabank:
To help make higher education accessible for all, Scotiabank recently announced its commitment of $150,000 to The University of Winnipeg Opportunity Fund. This innovative fund will help make post-secondary education a viable option for students who might not otherwise consider themselves university candidates.
“We concentrate our educational donations as much as possible on direct student support that will improve student access to learning,” says Scotiabank District Vice-President Terry Bjornson. “Scotiabank hopes to give students the skills, tools and experiences to develop their potential, ultimately enriching themselves and the broader community around them. We are pleased to demonstrate our commitment to The University of Winnipeg through the creation of the Scotiabank Opportunity Bursary.”
Scotiabank Opportunity Bursaries will be available to both part-time and full-time students, and will augment traditional student awards by covering critical needs such as emergency childcare, food, and shelter. This support can potentially mean the difference between a student leaving university or graduating with a degree.
McLean Budden:
McLean Budden Limited is an investment management firm. Their first-ever gift to The University of Winnipeg adds a new level of commitment to their long-standing association with The University of Winnipeg and its Foundation.
"We consider the Opportunity Fund to be an investment in the community. By investing in greater access to higher education, we will see a tremendous return as students accomplish their goals, and take their learning back into the community", said Doug Andrews, Executive Vice President of McLean Budden Limited. "We are very pleased to support such an outstanding project and we know that it will help students to meet with all the success they so rightfully deserve."
A portion of McLean Budden's gift of $100,000 to the Opportunity Fund will be put into effect immediately to help students in need; while the balance will be invested to support the future students of The University of Winnipeg.