Canadian foundation sends language students to Malta with scholarship

Canada-based iA Financial Group Foundation awarded CA$110,000 in new scholarships to 53 students from Cégeps Limoilou, Garneau and de Sainte-Foy, who will travel to Malta, Hawaii, San Diego, Mexico and other destinations to learn a second language by immersing in the local culture, according to a press statement issued by the company.

“Today, speaking a second language is an undeniable asset, even a necessity in many professions. It is also a very personal way to open up to new cultures and iA Financial Group is very pleased to help young people, who impress with their earnestness, openness and hunger to learn, for the tenth year in a row,” said Denis Ricard, President and Chief Executive Officer of iA Financial Group, upon awarding the scholarships at the company’s head office in Quebec City.

In the current scheme, 22 students received CA$2,000 each for English immersion experiences around the world, including in San Diego, Honolulu and Malta. Two students from Cégep Sainte-Foy each received a CA$4,000 scholarship allowing them to complete a session at Humber College in Toronto. Fourteen students from Cégep Garneau will share CA$28,000 to finance an immersion trip to Summer Campus, in Mexico, to learn Spanish. Additionally, CA$30,000 was shared among 15 students from Cégep Limoilou to finance an English immersion trip to the Global Village Hawaii, in Honolulu.

With these scholarships, the foundation has awarded more than $800,000 since its establishment in 2010, with a total of 365 students from Cégeps de Sainte-Foy, Limoilou and Garneau having received financial support from iA Financial Group.