Montréal, Quebec
Mr. Powell founded The Vimy Foundation in 2006 with the objective of teaching youth about Canada's role in the First World War, its stunning victory at Vimy Ridge in 1917 and its subsequent emergence on the world stage. He personally funded the first Vimy Youth Prize Scholarships for four Canadian and one British youth in 2006. He continues to give to this program and also actively fundraises, personally securing support from, among others, the MacDonald Stewart Foundation, the Weston Foundation, the Zellers Family Foundation and most recently, the Beaverbrook Foundation, which committed $100,000 for both 2010 and 2011. As a result, the scholarship is now known as the Vimy Beaverbrook Prize. It is awarded annually to 12 youth from Canada, and two each from selected regions of England and France who show leadership and a sincere interest in the history of Canada. Mr. Powell encourages youth to challenge themselves intellectually and to strive for excellence. Winners spend two weeks in England, Belgium and France visiting museums, historic sites and attending academic lectures and seminars. In 2010, The Vimy Foundation launched a new program by annually sponsoring a week in Ottawa at Encounters with Canada to give youth from across the country the opportunity to study the First World War as well as Canada's "coming of age" during this pivotal period in our history. This year's program had 135 participants.