November 5, 2009 (Montreal, QC) – Yesterday, Saputo Inc. awarded bursaries totalling $79, 000 to 25 athletes as part of the Saputo Bursary Program, which is managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence. Six of the recipients were cyclists: Martin Gilbert, Adriane Provost, Lino A. Saputo Jr, Stéphane Cossette, Joëlle Numainville et Simon Lambert-Lemay.

This initiative is perfectly aligned with Saputo’s objective to promote physical activity and a balanced lifestyle. Saputo already plays an important role in supporting sports in Québec and is now ensuring a presence internationally through its sponsorship of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, which will be held in exactly 100 days. Furthermore, Saputo is partners with the Canadian Olympic teams of the last summer Beijing Games and the upcoming Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games. Saputo is the Official Supplier of Packaged Dairy Products for the 2010 Games as well as for the Canadian Olympic Team.

For 9 years now, Saputo has proudly supported talented athletes, who work hard on a daily basis to be the best in their respective discipline. Saputo shares their passion and desire to surpass themselves to achieve their personal objectives. The Saputo bursary recipients are a source of inspiration. Their determination, courage and perseverance enable them to be commendable ambassadors of sports and role models.

Among the bursary recipients this year, some excelled on the international scene last September. Firstly, Olympic wrestler Martine Dugrenier, who won her second consecutive World Championship title is supported by Saputo for a 5th year. Cyclist Martin Gilbert, winner of Stage 7 of 2009 Tour of Missouri, will receive a 7th Saputo bursary, while short track speed skater Valérie Maltais, a Saputo bursary recipient since 2006, qualified for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. Other notable mentions include athletes in final preparations to qualify for the next Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010. They include cross country skier, Dasha Gaiazova, who has been sponsored by Saputo for 7 years, freestyle skiers (moguls) Vincent Marquis, second-time bursary recipient, and sisters Maxime and Chloé Dufour-Lapointe who began receiving support from Saputo 4 years ago. This year, Saputo also encouraged 9 of the best female soccer players between the ages of 15 and 18, identified as Hopeful or Elite. This selection was made in collaboration with the Québec Soccer Federation.

2009 SAPUTO BURSARY RECIPIENTS

Joakim Albert – 15 yrs old / $2,500 – St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
– Cycling, short track and long track speed skating
– 2008 short track juvenile National Champion and silver medalist at the 2009 junior National Championships in cycling (sprint).

Meaghan Benfeito – 20 yrs old / $2,500 – Montreal, QC
– Diving
– 4th on 10 meters individual and 10 meters synchro at the 2009 World Championships.

Julie Casselman – 17 yrs old / $2,000 – Gatineau, QC
– Soccer
– Silver medalist and first team all-star at the 2009 Canada Games.

Catherine Charron-Delage – 17 yrs old / $2,000 – Longueuil, QC
– Soccer
– Played with with the Laval Comètes in the Women’s League in 2009.

Laura Chénard – 18 yrs old / $2,000 – Sainte-Luce, QC
– Soccer
– Received the golden ball trophy (most valuable player) in the Quebec Elite Soccer League in 2008.

Stéphane Cossette – 20 yrs old / $2,500 – Saguenay, QC
– Cycling
– Silver medalist in sprint and 7th at the kilo and keirin events at the 2009 Pan-American Championships.

Marilou Dozois-Prévost – 23 yrs old / $5,000 – Montreal, QC
– Weightlifting
– 2008 and 2009 senior National Champion and 10th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Chloé Dufour-Lapointe – 17 yrs old / $5,000 – Montreal, QC
– Freestyle skiing — moguls
– Bronze medalist in dual at the 2009 World Cup and silver medalist in dual at the 2009 senior National Championships.

Justine Dufour-Lapointe – 15 yrs old / $2,500 – Montreal, QC
– Freestyle skiing — moguls
– 4th in dual at the 2009 Nor-Am in Calgary and 10th in single at the 2009 Nor-Am in Colorado.

Maxime Dufour-Lapointe – 20 yrs old / $5,000 – Montreal, QC
– Freestyle skiing — moguls
– 4th in dual at the 2009 World Cup and bronze medalist in dual at the 2009 senior National Championships.

Martine Dugrenier – 30 yrs old / $7,500 – Montreal, QC
– Olympic wrestling
-2009 World Champion for a second consecutive year and 5th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Dasha Gaiazova – 25 yrs old / $5,000 – Montreal, QC / Canmore, AB
– Cross country skiing
– 29th at the 1.3 km sprint and 47th at the 10 km pursuit at the 2009 World Championships.

Martin Gilbert – 27 yrs old / $5,000 – Châteauguay, QC
– Cycling
– Winner of Stage 7 of the 2009 Tour of Missouri and 12th in the madison race at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Amanda Goulet – 15 yrs old / $1,000 – Québec, QC
– Soccer
– Participated in the U-17 2009 National Team training camp and was selected for a second camp in January 2010.

Sabrina Hémond – 16 yrs old / $1,000 – Sherbrooke, QC
– Soccer
– Co-captain and gold medalist a the U16 national all-stars Championship in 2008 and 2009.

Simon Lambert-Lemay – 19 yrs old / $2,500 – St-Ours, QC
– Cycling
– 9th on road race at the 2008 junior World Championships.

Cynthia Leblanc – 18 yrs old / $2,000 – Granby, QC
– Soccer
– 8th at the U-17 2008 World Cup in New Zealand.

Valérie Maltais – 19 yrs old / $5,000 – Saguenay, QC
– Short track speed skating
– Bronze medalist at the 3 000 m relay and 11th at the 1 500 m at the 2009 World Championships.

Vincent Marquis – 24 yrs old / $5,000 – Québec, QC
– Freestyle skiing — moguls
– 5th in dual at the 2009 World Cup and bronze medalist in single and 4th in dual at the 2009 World Championships.

Joëlle Numainville – 21 yrs old / $5,000 – Laval, QC
– Cycling
– Gold medalist on road race at the 2009 Pan-American Championships and 16th at the 2009 Montreal World Cup.

Amelia Pietrangelo – 16 yrs old / $1,000 – Laval, QC
– Soccer
– Gold medalist at the U16 2009 national all-stars Championships.

Mickaël Poulin – 21 yrs old / $3,500 – Ancienne-Lorette, QC
– Wheel chair basketball
– Now a member of the senior National Team and silver medalist at the 2009 Rollers Cup.

Adriane Provost – 15 yrs old / $2,500 – Terrebonne, QC
– Cycling
– Silver medalist at the 2009 junior National Championships individual time trial and 22nd at the 2009 World Championships.

Annie Renaud – 16 yrs old / $1,000 – Saint-Eustache, QC
– Soccer
– Participated in the U-17 2009 National Team training camp.

Sophie Thérien – 16 yrs old / $1,000 – Kirkland, QC
– Soccer
– Gold medalist at the U16 2009 national all-stars Championships.