Participants expected to raise $1 million in fundraising for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge

MONTREAL, QC, April 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Spring temperatures are upon us and the sunny weather expected over the weekend will shine over thousands of runners set to take part in the Banque Scotia 21K de Montréal Running Festival. The running event, spanning two days for the very first time and featuring two new distances, will also see participants raising well over a million dollars for local charities.

Located in Parc Jean Drapeau on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, the event will welcome nearly 7,000 runners, a 25% increase this year, who will show up at the start line of the new 10k and 500m Kids' Run, in addition to the traditional 5k (Saturday) and 21k (Sunday).

The Banque Scotia 21K is one of the first road races of the running season, but has also become one of the most important fundraising events in Montreal through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, which raises funds for 79 local charitable organizations and provides direct support in the community.

The half-marathon will see Ontarian elite runner Dayna Pidhoresky take on the course for the third time, intent on victory this time, but will be challenged by local runners Bianca Prémont, who won the race two years ago and Arianne Raby, winner of the Rock & Roll Montreal Marathon. On the men's side, the race will be tight but the one to watch will be David LePorho.

Run, walk, pledge or cheer on April 22-23, 2017, for the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal at Parc Jean-Drapeau. It's not too late to help raise money for worthy causes in your community! Share why you race to support your charity, using #runScotia and #Scotia21kmtl.

For more information about the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal, visit:
http://canadarunningseries.com/banque-scotia-de-montreal/

For more information about the Scotiabank Charity Challenge: http://canadarunningseries.com/banque-scotia-de-montreal/defi-caritatif/

For a course map: http://canadarunningseries.com/banque-scotia-de-montreal/renseignements/

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram #SCOTIA21KMTL  #RunScotia #CourseScotia

About Scotiabank
At Scotiabank, we aim to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their full potential. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success. Together with our employees, the Bank supports causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2016, Scotiabank contributed more than $70 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 88,000 employees and assets of $887 billion (as at January 31, 2017), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

About Canada Running Series
Canada Running Series is the nation's premier running circuit with 7 events: 4 in Toronto, 2 in Vancouver and 1 in Montreal.  It annually attracts some 60,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 mostly-local charities.

The Series includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization.

We are passionately committed to staging great experiences for runners of all levels from Canadian Olympians and International stars, to healthy lifestyle people and charity runners; and to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process.  Our mission is "building community through the sport of running." Join us at www.RunCRS.ca

SOURCE Scotiabank