$1.9 million for student entrepreneurs since 1999

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 22, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - More than 260 guests from the business community gathered tonight to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Pierre Péladeau Bursaries, one of the ways in which Quebecor supports the next generation of Québec entrepreneurs. The event was emceed by Isabelle Maréchal and Pierre Lavoie, both entrepreneurs. In attendance were Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Chairman of the Board of Quebecor, and Pierre Laurin, chairman of the Pierre Péladeau Bursaries jury. The four 2018 bursaries, with a total value of $200,000, were also awarded at the event.

"The Pierre Péladeau Bursaries were named in honour of my father, Quebecor's founder and a visionary builder with unshakeable determination who inspired generations of Québec entrepreneurs," said Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor. "For 20 years, we have proudly continued his work by supporting the next generation of Québec entrepreneurs through the Bursaries, among other things. By backing start-ups, we not only support young businesspeople but also make a concrete contribution to Québec's economic growth."

20 years of ideas, talent and daring
Since the Pierre Péladeau Bursaries were created in 1999, $1.9 million has been distributed to support more than 60 Québec-based start-ups in industries ranging from biotech and biomechanics to aeronautics, the environment and renewable energy. Some have already achieved an international reach. What they all have in common is that they were founded by Québec student entrepreneurs brimming with ideas, talent and daring.

More support for young entrepreneurs!
To mark the Bursaries' 20^th birthday, Quebecor doubled their total value from $100,000 to $200,000 and added a 4^th bursary. The 20^th anniversary enhancements to the program will be maintained in future years.

2018 Pierre Péladeau Bursary recipients: Focus on alternative energy and the environment

C-Sar Energy – $100,000 bursary
Dino Mehanovic, Jean-François Dufault and Maxime Leboeuf from Université de Sherbrooke have developed a competitively priced solar reactor that reduces carbon emissions by synthetizing hydrogen, using the rays of the sun as an energy source.

ChrysaLabs – $50,000 bursary
Gabriel Mangeat and Benjamin De Leener of Polytechnique Montréal have created a system that lets farmers evaluate soil health and fertility themselves in real time, instead of using costly external analyses.

Tero – $35,000 bursary
Élizabeth Coulombe and Valérie Laliberté from Université Laval have developed a small kitchen appliance that facilitates management of organic household wastes by grinding and drying waste food, reducing its volume by 90% in less than 3 hours.

Glacies Technologies – $15 000 bursary
Maxim Bergeron from Université Laval and Mathieu Kirouac from Université de Sherbrooke have developed a technology for industrial-scale storage and utilization of snow and ice that significantly reduces refrigeration costs.

Quebecor thanks the members of the 2018 Pierre Péladeau Bursaries jury for their invaluable work.

• Pierre Laurin, chairman of the jury
• Manon Brouillette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Videotron
• Sylvie Lalande, Vice-Chair of the Board and Lead Director of Quebecor
• Adam Lapointe, CEO, Soccrent
• Claire Léger, Director, St-Hubert Group Inc.
• Marc Leroux, President, Priorat Capital Inc.
• Érik Péladeau, President and CEO, Groupe Lelys
• Jean B. Péladeau, Director, Digital Business Intelligence, Videotron

About Quebecor
Quebecor, a Canadian leader in telecommunications, entertainment, news media and culture, is one of the best-performing integrated communications companies in the industry. Driven by their determination to deliver the best possible customer experience, all of Quebecor's subsidiaries and brands are differentiated by their high-quality, multiplatform, convergent products and services.

Quebecor (TSX: QBR.A, QBR.B) is headquartered in Québec and employs more than 10,000 people in Canada.

A family business founded in 1950, Quebecor is strongly committed to the community. Every year, it actively supports more than 400 organizations working in the vital fields of culture, health, education, the environment and entrepreneurship.

Visit our website: www.quebecor.com 
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SOURCE Quebecor

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