Continuing their studies to earn a university degree in the discipline of their choice is the goal of many young Quebecers, as evidenced by the 13,237 new graduates of the Université de Montréal in 2017.
The leaders of tomorrow
From all backgrounds, these students have the potential to bring dynamism and progress to their profession and to society. Thirsty for knowledge and wishing to advance their field, they spend considerable energy acquiring expertise and skills. At the end of their studies, these cohorts of graduates will leverage their know-how in the service of our communities and actively participate in their development, for our greater benefit.
But they need the financial resources to allow them to fully dedicate themselves to their career. It is with this in mind that the Financial became involved with the Université de Montréal, to foster and support new talent among our professionals.
Support and guidance
Since 2007, the Financial has actively and continuously participated in the Université de Montréal’s scholarship program. Close to 85 scholarships have been awarded during this period to students in five faculties (medicine, notarial law, environmental design, dentistry and pharmacy), which are the fields of our professional association shareholders. The recipients of the different scholarships are chosen by the faculty concerned, based on various criteria, including the consistent efforts and motivation shown by the candidates.
We are firmly committed to these programs, because we believe that as a corporate citizen, we must be actively engaged in our community. The involvement of our five shareholders in our governance prompts us to support their future members, who will play a key role in our common development. Encouraging excellence in the professionals of tomorrow testifies to our belief in the future and in our ability to advance and to transform ourselves, both individually and collectively.
Concrete benefits
What tangible repercussions have these scholarships had on the young people who received them? Some recipients shared their experience.
Recipients in medicine
I obtained the Professionals’ Financial scholarship when I was completing my training in pediatric intensive care at Hôpital Sainte-Justine and beginning my Master’s in biomedical science at the Université de Montréal. This scholarship gave me confidence and encouraged me to continue my research by getting a Doctorate in clinical epidemiology at the University of Toronto. I wish to thank the Université de Montréal and the Financial for their support in my research career.
The Professionals’ Financial scholarship was very helpful to me by enabling me to finance my projects and my research, which focused primarily on the patient as partner. One of my projects was to change the welcome day for new residents so that they would be greeted by patient-partners, which proved a great success. Thank you again for the opportunity that this scholarship created.
Thanks to this scholarship, I was able to do a Master’s in public health at Harvard University, a highly stimulating experience which provided me with many answers, but which also gave rise to many questions. I then chose to do a Doctorate in epidemiology at McGill University on elder fragility and how this knowledge can be used to improve clinical decision making and the treatment pathway. The Financial’s scholarship enabled me to go further geographically, but especially intellectually!
Recipients in notarial law
More than a decade later, I am very grateful to Professionals’ Financial and to the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal for having helped me to find fulfilment as a notary, a profession I remain passionate about because of our proximity to our clients and the importance of the advisory role we play in the major legal events of their life.
Since I went back to school when I was in my thirties, the financial challenges of this decision were a source of worry. The Professionals’ Financial scholarship enabled me to become the notary that I am today by freeing the student that I was at the time from harmful financial worries so that I could concentrate on my studies. I am very grateful to have been able to benefit from this scholarship. I sincerely hope it will continue to help future generations of jurists.
As a new immigrant, I decided to study law in order to better integrate into the society that had welcomed me. Despite linguistic and cultural challenges, I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in law and did post-graduate studies that led me to the notarial profession. I am very grateful for this scholarship, which gave me the courage and the determination to persevere and to achieve my academic and professional goals.
Recipients in environmental design
Throughout my Bachelor’s degree, I worked with many students determined to enrich the faculty environment. I’m very pleased that these efforts are recognized by scholarships like the Financial’s, which shows an appreciation for student life in general. Personally, this scholarship helped me to achieve an architecture research project in summer 2018 and to begin my Master’s more serenely.
A long-time commitment
The Université de Montréal offers high-calibre programs of study, and we join with this institution of higher learning in encouraging the pursuit of excellence in its students. By doing so, we can promote the emergence of new generations of professionals who are not only inspired by their work, but who also want to play an active role in society and to help build the world of tomorrow.
Professionals’ Financial – Mutual Funds Inc. and Professionals’ Financial – Private Management Inc. are wholly owned by Professionals’ Financial Inc. Professionals’ Financial – Mutual Funds Inc. is a portfolio manager and a mutual fund dealer which manages the funds of its family of funds and which offers financial planning advisory services. Professionals’ Financial – Private Management Inc. is an investment dealer member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (CIRO) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) which offers portfolio management services.
