VANCOUVER, June 22 /CNW/ - The University of British Columbia received a
$1 million donation from TD Bank Financial Group today to create an endowment
that will provide a lasting legacy in business education for Aboriginal
students.
    The gift will improve access and support for Aboriginal learners pursuing
a business education. Today's donation is the largest gift received in support
of Aboriginal education at UBC.
    "We are grateful to TD Bank Financial Group for its strong support of
Aboriginal students," says UBC President Stephen J. Toope. "This generous
donation will help UBC further its goal of creating learning environments and
support mechanisms that reflect the specific needs of Aboriginal students."

    The gift will be divided equally between two programs:

    -   The TD Bank Aboriginal Student Award will establish an endowment to
        create financial awards for Aboriginal students across UBC Vancouver
        and UBC Okanagan who are enrolled in business education or majoring
        in economics.

    -   The Ch'nook Business Education Initiative will provide funding for
        Aboriginal students who are enrolled in the Ch'nook Scholars and
        Advanced Management programs. It will also provide mentorship
        opportunities for TD employees as a means of supporting these
        students in their pursuit of business education.

    "With our annual endowment, we'll be able to assist hundreds of students
over the years by removing barriers to Aboriginal education," says Raymond
Chun, senior vice president TD Canada Trust. "We support UBC's vision to help
develop tomorrow's Aboriginal business leaders and hope our contribution will
inspire future generations to realize their hopes and dreams."
    The gift will help further the goals set out in UBC's Aboriginal
Strategic Plan. The plan has identified the university's commitment to
Aboriginal education, respect for Aboriginal knowledge and cultures, and a
resolve to build upon the strengths of the university to more fully address
the needs of Aboriginal and Indigenous communities.
    Established by the UBC First Nations House of Learning and the Sauder
School of Business, the Ch'nook Aboriginal Business Education program works
with a circle of advocates and supporters to raise Aboriginal awareness and
interest in post-secondary business education.

    TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together

    Children's health, literacy and education, and the environment are the
three main areas of focus for TD's community giving. Flagship programs within
these areas include: TD Children's Hospital Fund; TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation; TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; TD Canadian
Children's Book Week; TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership;
and the TD Summer Reading Club. With support from customers and employees, TD
is involved with a host of national, regional and local causes benefiting
diversity, arts and culture and other community programs. In 2008, TD donated
$35 million to more than 2,100 organizations across Canada.

For further information: UBC Public Affairs, 310 - 6251 Cecil Green Park
Rd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T 1Z1, www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca, Tel: (604)
822-3131, Fax: (604) 822-2684, E-mail: public.affairs@ubc.ca; UBC News Line:
(604) UBC-NEWS (822-6397); Sean Sullivan, UBC Public Affairs, Tel: (604)
822-3213, Cell: (604) 828-3867, sean.sullivan@ubc.ca; Gregory Harrison, TD
Bank Financial Group, Tel: (416) 308-8597, gregory.harrison@td.com