In June of 1983, the Quebec University Athletics Association decided to create the Advisory Board of Quebec University Athletics to study the varsity sports programs offered by Quebec universities. This board, composed of experts in the business world, took the first steps towards developing a program of university bursaries, with a primary objective of keeping the best Quebec student-athletes in our Quebec universities. Over the first few years (1983-85), between $20,000 and $28,000 was distributed by this bursary program.

As the need to assure more stability in this university bursary program increased, the Advisory Board recommended the creation of the Foundation for Quebec University Athletics, which became a reality in 1985. The Foundation set as an objective, the creation of a permanent trust fund of one million dollars, which would generate annual interest revenues to be used for the bursary program.

A Board of Governors was created in the fall of 1986 and a capital campaign was launched in January 1987. Between 1987 and 1991, the campaign was remarkably successful, generating more than $1.5 million, including some $1.2 million in capital.

Between 1992 and 1995, the Foundation increased its capital to $1.5 million and through the university bursary program, distributed approximately $100,000.

In April of 1995, the program was expanded to provide funding for Olympic-calibre athletes who compete on the international scene. And thus, the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence was born.

In the fall of 1995, an ambitious fundraising project was launched increasing the fund of $5.5 million, of which $4.5 million was capitalized. The resulting interest revenues created some $350,000 in annual bursaries. The campaign was officially launched on December 17, 1996 with a concert by Céline Dion at the Molson Centre and a TVA television special entitled “The Making of a Dream”.

By March 31st, 2004, more that $6.4 million had been raised in donations and sponsorships and the capital fund reach an impressive $6 million. In addition, our media and communications partners have contributed around $5 million in free publicity and miscellaneous services.

An impressive fact is that the Foundation has increased its annual bursary output, from $96,875 in 1995-96 to more than $400,000 in 2003-04. As of March 31, 2004, the Foundation had distributed 891 bursaries totalling $1,638,750 to our university student-athletes. In addition, a further $1,999,625 from the Athletic Excellence Fund was distributed through 373 bursaries, to athletes competing on the international stage or in the process of reaching this level.