Twenty years ago, the Loran Scholars Foundation began an enduring collaboration with BMO Capital Markets’ then-new Equity Through Education program. The partnership was built on a mutual commitment to cultivating an inclusive and equitable community, and the shared goal of supporting students to become equity-centered leaders with the capacity to navigate difficult discussions and build bridges across differences.
BMO joined Loran as our first major corporate partner in 1992, providing integral support for Loran Scholars and the Foundation’s in-depth selection process, underpinning Loran’s belief that strength of character, commitment to service, and leadership potential manifest differently in different contexts and circumstances. Since Equity Through Education launched in 2005, the program has underwritten the four-year journeys of more than 52 Loran Scholars, as well as funded 22 Loran Finalists, and 10 Loran Provincial and Territorial Award recipients.
Zelal Kaya, a 2020 BMO Capital Markets Loran Scholar, recently graduated from the University of Ottawa with an honour’s Bachelor of social sciences in conflict studies and human rights. While still on campus, Zelal was involved with the university’s Islamic Relief Organization, organizing the annual Orphan sponsor program, a fundraising initiative that allows students to team up and raise money for youth abroad.
“The bond I have formed with my fellow Loran Scholars is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I have made lifelong connections and friendships that continue to inspire me. This joy in my life is the direct outcome of the support of the Loran Award, and BMO’s invaluable donation.”
This funding contributes to the long-term potential of Loran Scholars, providing them with the financial freedom to study, take meaningful risks, and pursue opportunities to serve their communities. It is also an investment in our collective future— empowering generations of values-driven students and developing a diverse ecosystem of leaders dedicated to building a better future.
When Noubahar Hasnain, was named a BMO Capital Markets Loran Scholar in 2016, her goal was to find a career that aligned her skills and values, while making a meaningful impact.
“I wanted to contribute to my community in a way that balanced professional success with social responsibility. The support from Loran and BMO helped me explore different paths to achieve this.”
Now an account executive at Common Wealth Retirement, a fintech offering digital group retirement plans, Noubahar works on expanding access to these plans, helping Canadians secure their financial futures. Outside of work, she is dedicated to helping racialized women take charge of their career progression by participating in accelerator programs and events focused on leadership development, advancing equity in the workplace.
“The financial support from Loran and BMO combined with the encouragement to step out of my comfort zone, allowed me to focus on both career and personal growth.”
Currently, BMO Capital Markets is supporting eight in-stream Loran Scholars, including two 2024 scholars who just embarked on their Loran journeys earlier this month: Mahrukh Hassan, from Saskatoon, SK, who is studying biomedical sciences, specifically cellular physiology and pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan, and Chloe Nguyễn, from Vancouver, BC, who is studying systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo. You can read more about Chloe in the welcome to Loran Scholars published by Waterloo News here.
Loran is proud to be one of the organizations supported by the Equity Through Education program and incredibly grateful for a 20-year partnership dedicated to equipping and empowering the young people who will lead the way to a brighter future for all of us. Thank you BMO for your generosity, your belief in our mission, and the impact this has had on students nationwide.
About Equity Through Education:
Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workplace by offering support to help bright, deserving people get on a path to success.
Since its inception in 2005, the BMO Equity Through Education annual program has raised almost $32M by donating one day’s worth of institutional equity and trading commissions earned across North America and Europe directly to organizations that provide access to education. This translates into assistance to close to 5,500 students through scholarships, bursaries, stipends, mentoring programs, and job search strategy forums.
This year, BMO InvestorLine is partnering with BMO Capital Markets for its 20th Anniversary, and BMO InvestorLine clients will be invited to trade with BMO on Sept. 25. Support Equity Through Education and invest in a brighter tomorrow!