December 14, 2004

Contacts:

Dave Stephen
University College
of the Fraser Valley
604-864-4611
dave.stephen@ucfv.ca
 

Ernest Yee
HSBC Bank Canada
604-641-2973

HSBC Bank Canada donates $50,000 to UCFV for scholarships

A generous donation from HSBC Bank Canada will help the University College of the Fraser Valley (UCFV) with its ongoing commitment to furthering knowledge in the field of Indo-Canadian studies. Representatives from HSBC visited the UCFV Abbotsford campus recently to present the donation to the university college.

From left: President of UCFV, Skip Bassford; from HSBC Bank Canada, Bruna Giacomazzi, Satvir Gill, and John Smith.

HSBC Bank Canada's donation of $50,000 will fund scholarships for students taking courses related to Indo-Canadian studies at UCFV.

Current UCFV courses with an Indo-Canadian theme are offered by the English, History, and Modern Languages departments. Some of the courses currently running include: Immigration and Social Integration; History of India from Akbar to Independence; India, the Punjab, and Diaspora: A Study of Migration; Immigration and Social Integration: The Indo-Canadian Experience; Indian Literature in English; and Punjabi language courses.

"Building a strong curriculum of courses with Indo-Canadian content is an important part of our wider strategy of creating a Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies and Research at UCFV," said UCFV President Skip Bassford. "It's very comforting to know that generous donors such as HSBC support us in this quest by helping the students who take these courses."

Bill Crawford, Senior Vice President, BC Region of HSBC Bank Canada, said, "At HSBC, we believe that support for higher education and the promotion of cross-cultural understanding are crucial for the future prosperity of Canada. This gift is our way to say thank you to the community for supporting HSBC Bank Canada."

HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, has more than 160 offices and is the leading international financial institution in Canada. With about 10,000 offices in 76 countries and territories and assets of US$1,154 billion at 30 June 2004, the HSBC Group is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations.

The UCFV Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies and Research will become a hub of information for people who want to do business with India and who want to understand the relationships and opportunities between our two countries. It will enhance the economic contribution of the Indo-Canadian community in B.C. It will be a place for a wide range of learning activities and resource materials. The Centre will become a national information repository, and a site for valuable social, cultural, and economic research.

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