Indigenous students enrolling at UNB now have access to a special bursary program, thanks to a $500,000 gift from CIBC to UNB’s It Begins Here campaign.
The new bursaries were announced at a ceremony in Fredericton on Sept. 11. The ceremony included members of the indigenous community, including UNB Elder-in-Residence Imelda Perley.
The CIBC-University of New Brunswick Indigenous Bursaries will be awarded to undergraduates with demonstrated financial need. Preference will be given to students enrolled in bachelor of business administration programs. The bursaries are open to First Nation, Inuit and Métis students across Canada.
Indspire, Canada’s premiere indigenous-led non-profit, will manage, leverage and award the bursaries. CIBC has been a proud supporter of Indspire since 1993.
“Financial resources are the number one barrier that indigenous students cite for their inability to achieve a post-secondary education," says Roberta Jamieson, president and CEO of Indspire. "We are happy to be working with CIBC and UNB to be a catalyst for Indigenous people achieving their potential.”
Alicia Dubois, market vice-president, indigenous markets – commercial banking at CIBC, says that the bank’s partnership with UNB was part of a larger effort to serve the indigenous community. “We’re happy to be working with UNB and Indspire to support indigenous students. CIBC is committed to recognizing excellence and encouraging role models to stimulate further achievement among indigenous people."
UNB President Eddy Campbell adds that, "we are delighted that CIBC has chosen to make this investment at UNB. We take very seriously our commitment to honour the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendation to bridge the Indigenous education gap in a single generation. This initiative is a perfect fit with our fundraising campaign, It Begins Here, which aims to devote 50 per cent of the monies raised to student support.”
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 11-million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients.
