CPISTF providing $59,000 in scholarships this year

In keeping with the primary objective of the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund (CPISTF), its Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that a total of $59,000 in Scholarship funding has been awarded to students for the current school year. A total of $27,500 was awarded to 16 new students enrolled in the first year of an approved course of study. A further $31,500 was provided to 21 continuing students already enrolled in the scholarship program. The graphic communications industry is experiencing dynamic change and media transition and repopulating the industry with new, innovative and well-trained leaders is a prerequisite for future success. The primary objective of the fund is to attract the most talented young people available to the printing industries by providing financial assistance to them while they’re enrolled in an approved graphic arts management or technical program.

“Every year the Board of Trustees is challenged to select the best and brightest as recipients of our scholarships and this year was no exception. We’re pleased to be able to support 37 students in their pursuit of a career in the graphic communications industry,’’ said Jeff Ekstein, Chairman of the Fund. While the value of each annual scholarship is $1,500, the Board of Trustees, at its August 24, 2016 meeting, agreed that students exhibiting a high level of talent are eligible for a Warren Wilkins Prestige Scholarship with a value of $5,000. The Trustees were pleased to award just such a scholarship to Rebecca Bourgeois who is attending Ryerson University.
The CPISTF was initiated in 1971 through the efforts of a group of visionary printing executives. Since then, over a million dollars has been donated to the fund as a result of the generosity of firms and individuals associated with the printing industries in Canada. All scholarship applicants must be enrolled in, or plan to be enrolled in, a full-time two, three or four-year approved program and exhibit a commitment to pursue a career in the printing industries. Part-time students or those enrolled in design or art courses are not eligible for scholarships. The Fund exists exclusively for the benefit of the printing industries in Canada. The Trustees are comprised of a group of recognized leaders in the industry in Canada. Current members of the Board of Trustees are:

• Tom Blockberger, Vancouver, BC
• Bruce Bond, Toronto, ON
• Bob Cockerill, Toronto, ON
• Mike Collinge (Vice-Chairman), Webcom, Toronto, ON
• Jeff Ekstein (Chairman), Willow Printing Group Ltd., Vaughan, ON
• Harold Hoff, Heidelberg Canada, Mississauga, ON
• Mike Mcinnes, Transcontinental Printing, Brampton, ON
• Sean Murray (Treasurer), Advocate Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., Pictou, NS
• Rob Young, Pollard Banknote Limited, Winnipeg, MB
• Ron Schroder, Canadian Flexographic Training Committee, ON
• Cory Turner, Spicers, Vaughan, ON
• Willy Wilkins, Richmond Hill, ON

Ex-officio

• Ian Bates, Ryerson University
• Wayne Collins, British Columbia Institute of Technology

To contribute
Only the generous support provided by firms and individuals involved in the Canadian printing industries will enable the fund to continue to provide financial assistance to students in their courses of study in the graphic arts. As stated by its Board of Trustees: “We’re committed to the premise of attracting the brightest and best students to our industry and helping them achieve their scholastic goals.” All contributions are tax deductible and should be directed to: Bob Kirk, Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund, 11 Alderbrook Place, Bolton, Ontario L7E 1V3. For more information please call (416) 524-1954 or e-mail billkidd2016@gmail.com.