Beneva is investing in student-athletes in Quebec for the 17th year
Quebec City, May 22, 2026 – At Beneva’s offices in Quebec City yesterday, 21 recipients from the 2026 cohort of the Aléo Foundation’s Beneva program were presented with a total of $100,000 in grants and services by President and CEO Jean-François Chalifoux.
Of the 21 scholarship recipients, six are joining the group of athletes Beneva has been supporting since 2009. This prestigious group includes Olympians Kim Boutin, in short track peed skating, Katherine Savard, in swimming and diver Nathan Zsombor-Murray! It’s a team that grows stronger every year.
A few months after the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, those gathered for the ceremony were also treated to an Olympic exhibition featuring Florence Brunelle, a silver and bronze medalist at those Games, Émile Nadeau, who placed 9th in the ski jumping grand final, and Béatrice Lamarche, who placed 5th in the 1,000m and 7th in the 500m in long-track speed skating, shared their unique experiences.
The presentation of the Beneva scholarships is part of a partnership with the Aléo Foundation that encompasses several initiatives. These include the “Aux Jeux pour les athlètes” event, held last March, for which Beneva served as a co-presenting partner. It also includes the Beneva Montreal Marathon, where the Aléo Foundation is, for the third consecutive year, one of the causes associated with the “Du cœur à la course” initiative in the fall of 2026.
In their own words:
“For over 17 years, Beneva has been proud to partner with the Aléo Foundation in supporting student athletes throughout their journey. True to our mutualist roots, we believe in the importance of taking care of people and supporting them in their life projects. By supporting these young individuals beyond financial assistance, we help foster their development and long term success. This is a commitment that holds deep meaning for us.”
- Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO of Beneva
“The Aléo Foundation’s mission is made possible thanks to our partners and donors. Beneva is one of our prestigious partners and has been a loyal supporter for nearly two decades. The bond that has developed over the years is invaluable both to the Foundation and to the dozens of student-athletes who have earned Beneva’s trust. This invaluable support allows them to combine elite-level sports and academics in a single plan, enabling them to realize their dreams and embark on a unique journey. Beneva helps provide them with the means to achieve their ambitions.”
- Patricia Demers, Executive Director of the Aléo Foundation
Recipients of the 2026 Beneva Scholarship Program
| Name | Sport | Age | Amount | City | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Boudreau | Cross-country skiing | 20 | $4000 | Boucherville | Collège de Maisonneuve |
| Amélie Bourgeois | Alpine skiing | 21 | $4000 | Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville | Université de Montréal |
| Charlie Breault | Artistic swimming | 16 | $4000 | Saint-Hyacinthe | Académie les Estacades |
| Florence Brunelle | Short-track speed skating | 22 | $4000 | Trois-Rivières | Université McGill |
| Victoriane Charron | Artistic gymnastics | 18 | $4000 | Mont-Saint-Hilaire | Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe |
| Matt Cullen | Diving | 20 | $4000 | Rosemère | Collège Lionel-Groulx |
| Ion Diacenco | Waterpolo | 20 | $4000 | Côte Saint-Luc | Polytechnique Montréal |
| Florence Hamel | Canoe/kayak sprint | 19 | $4000 | Kirkland | Collégial international Sainte-Anne |
| Félix Hamel | Cycling | 22 | $2000 | Sainte-Julie | Université de Sherbrooke |
| Simone Huang | Badminton | 19 | $4000 | Laval | Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne |
| Amélie-Laura Jasmin | Diving | 22 | $4000 | Montréal (Saint-Laurent) | HEC Montréal |
| Jacob Lebel | Snowboarding (snowboard cross) | 19 | $4000 | Sainte-Marie | Cégep Champlain - St. Lawrence |
| Grégoire Mercier-Noël | Volleyball | 23 | $4000 | Boucherville | Université de Sherbrooke |
| Émile Nadeau | Freestyle skiing (aerials) | 22 | $4000 | Prévost | Cégep Limoilou |
| Samuel Picard | Cross-country skiing | 20 | $4000 | Tête-à-la-Baleine | Cégep Garneau |
| Alexis Rhéaume | BMX | 19 | $4000 | Québec (La Haute-Saint-Charles) | Cégep de Sainte-Foy |
| Sarina Shrestha | Freestyle skiing (aerials) | 18 | $4000 | Montréal (Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie) | Cégep de Sainte-Foy |
| Benjamin Tessier | Diving | 21 | $4000 | Blainville | Collège de Maisonneuve |
| Jacob Townsend | Sailing | 21 | $4000 | Hudson | Université Concordia |
| Nathan Viau | Trampoline | 19 | $4000 | Beloeil | École nationale d'aérotechnique |
| Aby-Léonie Ward | Long-track speed skating | 16 | $2000 | Lévis (Charny) | École secondaire Pointe-Lévy |
About Beneva
Beneva is the country's largest mutual insurance company, with 3.8 million members and over 6,500 employees dedicated to protecting people. Its caring approach founded on human values and shared by its employees is anchored in its mutualist roots. Created by the coming together of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance in 2020, the company consolidated its pan-Canadian presence through its merger with Gore Mutual in 2026. With $30.3 billion in combined assets, it stands out for its diverse offerings in Group Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance as well as Individual Insurance and Financial Services. Its head office is located in Quebec City.
About the Aléo Foundation
The Aléo Foundation's mission is to maximize the full potential of the greatest number of excellent student-athletes from all walks of life, in order to generate a significant and lasting impact. Founded in 1985, the organization has awarded over $25 million in scholarships to more than 5,000 student-athletes across Quebec. In addition to these bursaries, the Foundation also provides lifelong services to all recipients during and after their athletic and academic careers. To support these services, the Aléo Research Chair is now a vector of scientific results available to the entire sports community.
The Generations of Impact fundraising campaign aims to raise six million dollars over three years to bring us closer to our grand vision: that excellent student-athletes enrich society through their current and future leadership, both through their exceptional contributions and the inspiring examples they embody.
To support Generations of impact
For more information: fondationaleo.ca (Cet hyperlien s'ouvrira dans un nouvel ongle
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For interview requests or other information:
Annie Dubé
Director of Communications and Marketing
Fondation Aléo
438 884-6626, poste 3728
annie.dube@fondationaleo.ca
Media Relations
Beneva
1 866 332-3806
media@beneva.ca