Bill Comrie Scholarship
Dr. William (Bill) H. Comrie, O.C., LL.D.
Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist and Devoted Sports Fan
Dr. William (Bill) H. Comrie is known as one of the most successful retailers in Canadian business history. Among his many accolades and awards, he is an inductee in the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame; has an honorary doctorate in laws degree from the University of Alberta; has a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Retail Council of Canada; is an Officer of the Order of Canada, which is the highest civilian honor bestowed on a Canadian Citizen.
Dr. Comrie was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and moved to Edmonton when he was two-years-old. At the age of 16, he signed a contract with the Chicago Black Hawks and played for its junior farm team, the Moose Jaw Canucks.
He had grown up in modest circumstances in north Edmonton while his father, Herb, ran a small furniture store called Alberta Factory Sales. When he was 19, his father passed away. Young Comrie made a critical decision to end his promising hockey career so he could look after his mother, his two younger brothers and the furniture store. Alberta Factory Sales struggled until he came up with one of the greatest retailing ideas in Canadian business history, “The Midnight Madness Sale.” The store sold $144,000 worth of furniture in one night, more than his father sold in the entire previous year. Sales skyrocketed after that.
Dr. Comrie offered same day delivery and was the first to offer no-interest financing, a strategy that has become a world retailing staple. After becoming Edmonton’s top furniture retailer in 1975, he formed The Brick Warehouse Corporation, which expanded throughout Alberta, dominating every market it entered.
The next move was a quantum leap into the Ontario market. The Brick’s two Toronto locations racked up $24 million in business during the first month of operation.
This scholarship is available to Maple Leaf Alumni players who played a minimum of 2 years with the Maple Leaf athletic Club. Players applying for scholarships must be enrolled on enrolling in a post-secondary institution to further their education, or be upgrading their marks for future education.
Scholarship is of a $1,000 value
●Criteria for scholarships
● Application forms must be fully completed and submitted by the deadline of June 07 2017.
● A course enrollment must be submitted with the application to validate application. Include last year’s marks with application. Cheques will be made payable to the Institutions where applicant is enrolled
● Applications may be submitted by email or mailed or dropped off at:
M.L.A.C. Scholarships
c/o Ed Croken
128 Mayliewan Close
Edmonton, Alberta
T5Z 2X7
Successful candidates will be announced at the 2017 Maple Leaf Athletic AGM June 12 2017
Bill Comrie Scholarship RULES
● All applicants must conform to the rules of the Maple Leaf Athletic Club process
● Successful recipients must use the Scholarship within a (1) year calendar period from the year the scholarship was awarded. For example, if awarded in August 2015, it must be used by June 2016 or it reverts back to the Maple Leaf Athletic Club.
● The applicant must provide a list of all scholarships applied for and amounts received. Total scholarship funds received is not to exceed tuition fees.
● Scholarship funds are for tuition fees at a secondary institution it may be also applied to course books, parking fees etc.
● The applicant must have player two years with the Maple Leaf Athletic Club.
● It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit the application with proof of enrollment. This is a one-time award.
● Players should include within their information package, where applicable, letters of recommendation from schools, current marks and identify other extra curricular, volunteer work etc.
Maple Leaf Athletic Club Scholarship Committee decisions are final.
Ed Croken
MAPLE LEAF ATHLETIC CLUB ASSOCIATION
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Surname: ______Given Name: ______
Address: ______City: ______Postal Code: ______
Date of Birth: ______Telephone: ______
EDUCATION:
High School: ______Grade 12 Average (all courses) ______
Post-Secondary Education Institution name: ______
Programs current enrolled in ______
Marks from previous year ______
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HOCKEY HISTORY:
Year: ______Team: ______Coach: ______
Year: ______Team: ______Coach: ______
OTHER ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF HOCKEY:
FUTURE AMBITIONS:
SIGNED:
______
Applicant signature Print name