October 8, 2008 (Montr̩al, QC) РOn Tuesday, Saputo Inc. awarded 17 athletes with bursaries totalling $65,000 as part of the Saputo Bursary Program, which is managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence.

This initiative is perfectly aligned with Saputo’s objective to promote physical activity and, a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Saputo is already playing an important role to support sports in Québec and because of its sponsorship of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, as well as its partnership with the Canadian Olympic teams of the recent Beijing Games and the upcoming Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games; they are now doing more to support athletes and sports internationally. Through such partnerships Saputo became the official supplier of packaged dairy products, which will be both distributed and sold during the 2010 Games and offered to Team Canada athletes.

Over the past 8 years, 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 and do their best to achieve their personal objectives. The Saputo bursary recipients are an inspiration to fellow athletes and everyone who crosses their path. Their determination, courage and perseverance enable them to be commendable ambassadors of sports and actual role models for the general public.

In 2005, Saputo renewed its partnership with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence announcing their 5-year commitment in the amount of $425,000. Of this amount, $25,000 per year serves to ensure the pursuit of the Foundation’s activities, while $60,000 is used to grant bursaries to athletes in various disciplines. This year, Saputo chose to increase the amount granted to each athlete and therefore awarded larger sums to each recipient.

2008 Saputo Bursary Recipients

Joakim Albert – Cycling and Short and Long Speed skating
– Age 14
– St-Augustin-de-Desmaures
– 2008 Juvenile Canadian Champion in short and long rack speed skating and
– 2008 Champion of Mardis cyclistes de Lachine
– $2,000

Meaghan Benfeito – Diving
– Age 19
РMontr̩al
– 7th place on 10 m synchro at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
– $5,000

St̩phane Cossette РCycling
– Age 19
– Chicoutimi
– Gold in time trial and in the 1km at the 2008 Senior Track Championship
– $2,500

Marilou Dozois-Pr̩vost РWeightlifting
– Age 22
РMontr̩al
– 10th place at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
– $5,000

Chlo̩ Dufour-Lapointe РFreestyle Skiing Рmoguls
– Age 16
РMontr̩al
– 10th place at the Circuit final at the 2008 World Cup
– $5,000

Justine Dufour-Lapointe – Freestyle Skiing – moguls
– Age 14
РMontr̩al
– Gold in singles and doubles at the 2008 Junior Canadian Championship
– $2,500

Maxime Dufour-Lapointe – Freestyle Skiing – moguls
– Age 18
РMontr̩al
– 6th in singles and 10th in doubles at the 2008 World Cup in Are, Sweden
– $5,000

Martine Dugrenier – Wrestling
– Age 29
РMontr̩al
– 5th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
– $5,000

Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud – Cycling
– Age 18
– Repentigny
– 4th the scratch trial on track at the 2008 Junior World Championship
– $2,500

Dasha Gaïazova – Cross-country Skiing
– Age 24
РMontr̩al / Canmore
– Gold in the 5km Classic at the 2008 Europe Cup
– $5,000

Martin Gilbert – Cycling – Track and road
– Age 25
РCh̢teauguay
– 12th place at the Madison track race course at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
– $5,000

Simon Lambert-Lemay – Cycling
– Age 18
– Longueuil
– 9th place in road race at the 2008 Junior World Championship
– $5,000

Val̩rie Maltais РShort track Speed skating
– Age 18
– La Baie
– Gold at the 1,500m and 4th place overall in the 1st national selection in 2008
– $3,500

Vincent Marquis – Freestyle Skiing – moguls
– Age 24
РQu̩bec
– Gold in doubles at the 2008 World Cup in Dear Valley
– $5,000

Mickaël Poulin – Wheelchair basketball
– Age 21
– Ancienne-Lorette
– Silver at the 2008 Senior Canadian Championship
– $3,500

Adrianne Provost – Cycling
– Age 15
– Terrebonne
– Gold in time trial at the 2008 Junior Canadian Championship U-18
– $2,000

Philippe Riopel – Long track Speed skating
– Age 20
– Lachenaie
– Gold in the 500m – 2008 Junior World Championship in China
– $4,000

About Saputo
Together, over the years, we have aspired to grow, exploring new opportunities while staying true to our culture. Our progress is owed to the continued dedication of our 9,200 employees, who, across 5 countries, team up every day to go further. They craft, market and distribute a wide range of high-quality products, including cheese, milk, yogurt, dairy ingredients and snack-cakes. Saputo is the 15th largest dairy processor in the world, the largest in Canada, the third largest in Argentina, among the top three cheese producers in the United States, and the largest snack-cake manufacturer in Canada. Consumers and customers in over 40 countries appreciate our products distributed under our well-known brands such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, Baxter, Dairyland, Danscorella, De Lucia, Dragone, DuVillage 1860, Frigo, Kingsey, La Paulina, Nutrilait, Ricrem, Stella, Treasure Cave, HOP&GO!, Rondeau and Vachon. Saputo Inc. is a public company whose shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SAP.

About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence
The mission of the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence is to support and encourage student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence and to promote athletes as role models in Québec society. By the end of 2008, through its various bursary programs, the Foundation will have handed out over $625,000. <http://www.faeq.com/>www.faeq.com