Two Manitoba students receive 2007 RBC Aboriginal Scholarships

Two students from Manitoba are among a total of eight from across Canada to be awarded Aboriginal student awards from RBC this year.

Gary McIvor, a Treaty Indian from Wabowden, and Tara Williamson from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation are both winners of the 13th annual RBC Aboriginal Student Awards program. Each will receive $4,000 annually for education expenses for a maximum of four years at university or two years at college.

“Investing in the bright future of these individuals is an investment in the future of their communities,” said Katherine Morrisseau-Sinclair, manager, Aboriginal Markets. “Both Gary and Tara have demonstrated a capacity for leadership, community involvement and creativity that RBC is proud to recognize.”

Mr. McIvor is a father of two and a first year nursing student at University College of the North, where he is currently the student association council president and a member of the Ininiwi Kiskinwamakewin Centre student advisory committee. In addition to a full course load, he works as an emergency on-call worker at Wabowden Community Health Centre and as an emergency medical responder with Wabowden Fire and Ambulance.

Ms. Williamson has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba and is currently enrolled in the concurrent Law - Master’s of Arts program at the University of Victoria. She is actively involved in supporting and serving the Aboriginal community and volunteers at a number of organizations, including the Aboriginal Student Centre, the Native Women’s Transition Centre, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and the University of Victoria Faculty of Law’s Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Camp.

The RBC Aboriginal Student Awards Program is offered to students currently enrolled in post-secondary studies. Recipients who are interested in pursuing careers in the financial services industry are also considered for summer and post-graduate employment opportunities with RBC. Selections are made by an independent committee of academics from the aboriginal community, and are based on personal and academic achievements as well as individual financial need. To date, RBC has awarded 69 scholarships totalling $834,000 to Aboriginal students in Canada.

RBC has a long-standing relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples and in 2006 donated over $950,000 to support Aboriginal causes. In addition to the Aboriginal Student Awards Program, RBC also supports the Historica Foundation’s heritage programs for Aboriginal students and donated funds to the Dominion Institute to support its Aboriginal Youth Writing Challenge.