Canadian Retailer - Store 2016 - 48

STORE 2016 RETAIL AS A CAREER

TOMORROW'S RETAIL
LEADERS HONOURED

Interac Association and Retail Council of Canada (RCC) award
student scholarships, advancing the retail agenda
BY SEAN C. TARRY
BEING the "Voice of Retail" in Canada
means many things to RCC. It means advocating on behalf of members on issues
that affect their business. It means providing thought leadership and guidance in
areas where challenge or opportunity exists
to grow the retail operation. And it also
means protecting and nurturing the overall
growth of the industry. As part of the latter,
the association has worked with a number
of members and partners over the years,
spending a great deal of effort to ensure a
steady flow of bright and talented individuals choose retail as their career path.
A big part of this initiative has been the
association's Retail as a Career Scholarship
program-an initiative that honours stu- Teri Simone received this year's $5,000 Interac scholarship presented by Interac's Kevin Rieschi
dents working in retail who are entering or
enrolled in a retail-related program at a Canadian post-secondMark O'Connell, President & CEO of Interac
ary institution.
Association, says that he and the association
This year, 16 post-secondary students from across the coun- are proud to continue supporting RCC's Retail
try received scholarships of $1,000 each. The scholarships were as a Career Scolarship program, adding, "We
presented at the Excellence in Retailing Awards gala, as part of congratulate Teri Simone on her achievement,
RCC's STORE 2016 conference. The program has been running as well as all the other scholarship recipients,
for 13 years now and has awarded approximately $750,000 in and wish them continued success in their eduscholarships and award benefits. Applicants are judged by re- cation and future careers in retail."
tail industry experts in three categories: academic performance,
Diane J. Brisebois, RCC's President and CEO,
professional references, and a personal essay highlighting their and staunch advocate for Retail as a Career
experiences and educational pursuits in the retail industry.
thanked Interac Association for their generous
In addition to awarding students each year with scholarships, support, and for "recognizing the importance
one of them is also selected as the recipient of the Interac $5,000 of the retail industry as a vibrant and professcholarship-an award on top of the $1,000 Retail as a Career sional career choice, and as Canada's largest
scholarship. This year's recipient was Teri Simone, a Bachelor of private sector employer. I also want to thank all
Social Science student at Western University who has plans to the other program sponsors who have stepped
attend the Ivey Business School.
up to the plate to help nurture and support our
"I'm thrilled to have won these scholarships," she said. "It's been next generation of retail leaders."
an amazing experience. To have the opportunity to attend a conference like STORE, to listen to industry leaders speak, and to have For more information about RCC's Retail as a
the opportunity to network with some of them is remarkable and Career Scholarship program, visit www.retailsomething that I'll never forget as I move forward in my career."
council.org/memberservices/retail-education/
retail-as-a-career-scholarship-program.

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CANADIAN RETAILER | STORE 2016

http://www.retailcouncil.org/memberservices/retail-education/retail-as-acareer-scholarship-program http://www.retailcouncil.org/memberservices/retail-education/retail-as-acareer-scholarship-program

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