October 12, 2006 — Today, Saputo Inc. (known in cycling for its support of the Mardis de Lachine) awarded $60,000 in bursaries to 17 elite athletes under the Saputo Bursary Program managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence.

Saputo assigns tremendous importance to developing the area of sports and is pleased to support up and coming athletes in their efforts to reach new heights. Saputo’s commitment is based on the conviction that a healthy diet, combined with physical activity, is synonymous with the balanced development of future generations.

The Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence is particularly delighted by Saputo’s commitment, since the company not only provides support to athletes who are making great strides on the international stage, but also to very promising young athletes.

This year, Saputo renewed its financial support to eight athletes, including two athletes from outside Quebec. These athletes are diver Meaghan Benfeito, Olympic wrestler Martine Dugrenier, cross country skier Dasha Gaïazova, Kerry Kaukinen in water polo (British Columbia), Bryan Milonja in trampoline, judoka Frazer Will (Saskatchewan) and cyclists Martin Gilbert and Audrey Lemieux.

In addition, nine new athletes have joined the ranks of Saputo bursary recipients. Six of these athletes are from Quebec and three athletes are from Ontario and Saskatchewan. These athletes are freestyle skiers Chloé and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, Alexandre Dupont in track and field (wheelchair), Whitney Genoway in water polo (Saskatchewan), gymnast Bryson Hunt (Ontario), Kimberley Hyacinthe in track and field, short track speed skater Valérie Maltais, Mickaël Poulin in basketball (wheelchair) and synchronized swimmer Isabelle Rampling (Ontario).

Last year, Saputo renewed its partnership with the Foundation by announcing a commitment of $425,000 over a period of five years. From this amount, $25,000 per year will go toward ensuring the continuity of the Foundation, and $60,000 will be awarded annually in the form of bursaries to athletes from different disciplines. This partnership is also designed to enable athletes who are from outside Quebec and train at a national training centre in Quebec to receive bursaries.

RECIPIENTS UNDER SAPUTO’S BURSARY PROGRAM FOR 2006

Recipiant Sport Bursary Residence

Meaghan Benfeito Diving $4,000 Montréal
Chloé Dufour-Lapointe Freestyle skiing $2,000 Montréal
Maxime Dufour-Lapointe Freestyle skiing $3,000 Montréal
Martine Dugrenier Wrestling $5,000 Montréal
Alexandre Dupont Athletics $3,000 Lasalle
Dasha Gaïazova Cross country skiing $5,000 Montréal
Whitney Genoway Water polo $3,000 Montréal
Martin Gilbert Track cylcing $5,000 Châteauguay
Bryson Hunt Gymnastics $2,000 Montréal
Kimberly Hyacinthe Athletics $3,000 Lachenaie
Kerry Kaukinen Water polo $3,000 Montréal
Audrey Lemieux Road cycling $5,000 Granby
Valérie Maltais Short track $2,000 La Baie
Bryan Milonja Trampoline $5,000 Saint-Bruno
Mickaël Poulin Basketball $3,000 Québec
Isabelle Rampling Synchronized Swimming $3,000 Montréal
Frazer Will Judo $4,000 Montréal