Retail Council of Canada Announces the 2008 Retail as a Career Scholarship Recipients

Toronto, May 16, 2008 – The future of retail is in good hands, as 26 high school and post-secondary students from across the country will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to assist in their pursuit of retail as a career. Retail Council of Canada (RCC), in partnership with sponsoring retail organizations, will award the scholarships at the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame Luncheon June 3 at STORE 2008 — Canada's Retail Conference.

"It is remarkable to hear what our future retailers have to say about this vibrant industry," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada. "This year's scholarship recipients speak about customer loyalty, technology and the environment, proving to us they are very in tune with current trends in retail and already possess what it takes to succeed."

Over the past five years, RCC and its sponsors have given more than $100,000 in scholarships to students who exemplify excellence in retail and demonstrate a strong commitment to the future of retail through their education. The Retail as a Career Scholarship Program continues to grow each year, both in the number of applicants and in the number of retailers who provide the additional funding needed to increase the number of scholarships available.

Recipients are currently working in the retail industry and pursuing post-secondary education in related programs, such as fashion merchandising/marketing, retail management, commerce, advertising, communications, and human resources management.

Applicants are judged by retail industry experts in three categories: academic performance, reference letters and a personal essay explaining their experiences in the retail industry and how their education would make an impact on the future of the industry.

In addition to the scholarships, recipients will receive an all-access pass, including travel and accommodation, to attend STORE 2008 — Canada's Retail Conference, where they will have the opportunity to meet with some of Canada's most prominent retail industry professionals.

The 2008 Retail as a Career Scholarship winners are (in alphabetical order):

Name	Hometown	Employed at	School
Nikolina Babic	North Vancouver, BC	Smart Set	Simon Fraser University
Stephanie Becerra	Toronto, ON	Laura Secord	Ryerson University
Shannon Bourne	Toronto, ON	The Home Depot Canada	Seneca College
Samantha Crossman	Prescott, ON	Echo Clothing Company	George Brown College
Bret Collett	Portage la Prairie, MB	Ricki's	University of Manitoba
Jessica DiRito	Markham, ON	Buon Appetite Fine Foods	York University
Paula Drummond	Paradise, NL	The Home Depot Canada	Keyin College
Marie-Eve Gélinas	Trois-Rivières, QC	Le Groupe Aldo Inc.	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Leah Green	Saskatoon, SK	Zellers	University of Saskatchewan
Amy Herring	York, PEI	Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.	University of Prince Edward Island
Krystal Huebl	Lacombe, AB	Rexall Drug Stores Ltd.	University of Calgary
Cheryl Jackson	Mississauga, ON	Wowy Zowy Toys	University of Ottawa
Hayley Morgan	Ancaster, ON	Stoneridge	Ryerson University
Ashwani Nandrajog	Cambridge, ON	Future Shop	Wilfrid Laurier University
Alyssa Newell	Georgetown, ON	Reitmans Canada	George Brown College
Shannon Nielsen	Minesing, ON	Roots Canada Ltd.	Ryerson University
Julia Ounphongxay	Toronto, ON	Sears Canada	Ryerson University
Irena Petrovik	Pickering, ON	Starbucks Coffee Canada	Centennial College
Chantel Popoff	Kelowna, BC	Paragon Pharmacies Ltd.	University of Regina
Adam Pospisil	Burnaby, BC	Sport Chek	BCIT
Joshua Robinson	Burlington, ON	American Eagle Outfitters	University of Western Ontario
Lisa Smart	St. John's, NL	Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation	Memorial University
Katie Stortz	Waterloo, ON	Eyeview Optical	Conestoga College
Marina Thompson	Toronto, ON	Hudson's Bay Company	Ryerson University
Rachel Velsher	Thornhill, ON	Starbucks Coffee Canada	Seneca College
Randal Westhaver	Hubbards, NS	Pharmasave Drugs Ltd.	Dalhousie University

Leading Canadian retailers — including The Home Depot Canada, Home Hardware Stores Ltd., easyhome Ltd., Winners/HomeSense, Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Sony of Canada Ltd., Talbots Inc., Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd., Aritzia LP, Directions East/Vivah Jewellery, Future Shop, IKEA Canada, STAPLES Business Depot, Toys 'R' Us (Canada) Ltd., Comark Inc., Wal-Mart Canada Corporation, Starbucks Coffee Canada, Sears Canada, Urban Barn Ltd., Hudson's Bay Company, and Best Buy Canada — have sponsored 21 of the scholarships, while RCC sponsored five in honour of past Canadian Retail Hall of Fame inductees.

The scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame Luncheon, held during STORE 2008. Stephen Bebis, President & CEO of Golf Town, will also be honoured as the latest inductee into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame for his demonstrated leadership in advancing retailing as a career.

About the Canadian Retail Institute
Canadian Retail Institute (CRI), the education arm of RCC, is dedicated to promoting retail as a rewarding career by developing professional designation programs, establishing scholarships, and creating partnerships with educational institutions that provide retail programs across Canada.

About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org) is the Voice of Retail. It is a not-for-profit association representing more than 40,000 stores of all retail formats, including independent merchants, regional and national mass and specialty chains, and online merchants.

Media are invited to attend STORE 2008.

For further information: and to RSVP, contact Meredith Roberts, Account Manager, Pipeline Communications, (416) 694-2777, ext. 223, e-mail: meredith@pipelinecommunications.ca.