For Immediate Release:
[Richmond, BC] – Paper Excellence announced today that it has donated a total of $10,000 towards two separate bursary funds that support Indigenous students at the College of the Rockies (COTR). Paper Excellence has provided $5,000 towards the Agnes McCoy Memorial Bursary, and $5,000 to the Engineers Canada Indigenous Access to Engineering Bursary.
“On behalf of Paper Excellence, it’s a real privilege to support these two bursary programs at College of the Rockies and the students that will benefit as a result,” said Graham Kissack, Vice President EHS & Corporate Communications for Paper Excellence.
The Agnes McCoy Memorial Bursary was created in honour of the late Agnes McCoy, an elected Ktunaxa Chief and respected elder from ?aqam. The bursary is awarded to an Indigenous student at COTR who has shown dedication to their studies and has demonstrated the preservation of their First Nations culture and values.
The Engineers Canada Indigenous Access to Engineering Bursary was created by Russ Kinghorn, a past-president of Engineers Canada, and was established to support Indigenous people in engineering where they are currently underrepresented.
“College of the Rockies supports and respects the Indigenous communities upon whose lands we learn, work, and reside and we are constantly seeking new ways to support the development of our community,” said Deborah Carty, Vice President External Relations. “This includes supporting our Indigenous learners. We’re grateful to Paper Excellence for their generous contribution which will help to make post-secondary education more accessible for Indigenous students.”
Paper Excellence has recently supported several scholarship funds and bursaries at postsecondary institutions, including partnerships with Vancouver Island University, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies.
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Paper Excellence, headquartered in British Columbia, is a diversified manufacturer of pulp and specialty, printing, writing, and packaging papers. The company operates seven mills and a large-scale cargo distribution centre in Canada producing and shipping over 2.8 million tonnes annually with a workforce of more than 2,800. Paper Excellence is poised to continue to grow with its strategy of operational excellence and high-quality, cost-effective products.
For more than 45 years, College of the Rockies has provided post-secondary education that meets the needs and aspirations of the people, industry, and businesses of our region. Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 full-time and part-time students into a full range of programs, including: skilled trades, university studies, adult upgrading, early childhood education, health and human services, business, office administration, tourism, hospitality, recreation, fire services, continuing education, and contract training. Through smaller class sizes, highly personalized instruction and dedicated support services, our students are primed to succeed in the job market, or in the next stage of their academic journey.
Media Contact:
Graham Kissack, VP, EHS and Corporate Communications
Mobile: (250) 732-7991
Heather Jackson
Manager, Communications and Marketing
College of the Rockies
250-489-8258
jackson@cotr.bc.ca