/R E P E A T -- IG Wealth Management Announces New Multi-Year Community Partnerships in Winnipeg to Support High School and Post-Secondary Students/

WINNIPEG, MB, Jan. 22, 2024

WINNIPEG, MB, Jan. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - IG Wealth Management (IG) today announced new education partnerships with Pathways to Education Winnipeg (Pathways Winnipeg) and Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) that will provide Indigenous and Newcomer youth in Winnipeg with a variety of educational supports, including mentorship, internship, and scholarship opportunities. The initiatives are part of IG's ongoing commitment, through its IG Empower Your Tomorrow community platform, to help underserved groups in the city build their financial well-being.

"These programs are significant in scope and commitment and represent a refocussing of our approach to community investment in Winnipeg," said Damon Murchison, President and CEO, IG Wealth Management. "We want to concentrate our resources on supporting education and career path development to build financial well-being, particularly for historically underserved groups in the city. I'm excited about the impact our work with Pathways Winnipeg and RRC Polytech will have on high school graduation rates for Indigenous and Newcomer students and the doors it will open as they pursue post-secondary studies and careers with the support they deserve."

The renowned national Pathways to Education Program is delivered in Winnipeg through the Community Education Development Association (CEDA), a Winnipeg-based organization that promotes education to create opportunities for growth, knowledge, and freedom for the city's youth.  IG and CEDA will work together to support approximately 750 high school students enrolled in the Pathways Program—the majority being Indigenous or Newcomers to Canada—over three years with career and employability skills, tailored academic, financial and social supports, mentoring, and post-secondary education guidance. Programming will be focussed in Lord Selkirk Park, William Whyte, Dufferin, and North Point Douglas.  

"We know that having the right financial and social supports in place are critical to increasing high school graduation rates," said Jordan Bighorn, Executive Director of CEDA. "That's why this partnership with IG is so critical. We want to make sure students across Winnipeg can access all the opportunities that come with earning a high school diploma, including having the option of pursuing their studies at a college or university."

IG also announced that it has partnered with RRC Polytech, Manitoba's largest institute of applied learning and research, to establish a comprehensive support program for Indigenous students each year within the School of Business, Information Technology and Creative Arts, and the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. The IG Empower Program is part of an ongoing, long-term partnership that will provide not only financial support as students continue their studies, but also a collaborative environment for students to benefit from career mentorship opportunities.

It includes the creation of a new IG Empower Navigation Coach position to support up to 300 Indigenous students throughout their academic journey and promote their overall well-being – each year. It also establishes a Scholarship and Career Development Program to help remove financial barriers (through tuition support) and create new career opportunities for up to 12 eligible students annually. This program serves as a bridge and fosters academic achievement and leadership development as Indigenous students progress from the Pathway Program and continue their studies into RRC Polytech certificate and diploma programs.