MONTREAL, QC - April 26, 2015 /CNW/ - It's a year of record-breaking fundraising for the 2015 Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k with over one million dollars raised for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge in support of 66 local charities. Canadian Olympian Eric Gillis crossed the finish line first.

A four-time champion, Gillis led the race from the 11^th kilometer and finished first by a comfortable distance. Terrence Attena came second, surging back after trailing behind. Montreal's own David Le Porho took third place and achieved a personal best with a time of 1:06:55. He was the first runner from Quebec to cross the finish line and one of several Quebecers who placed in the competitive race today.

Montréal's Bianca Prémond was the first woman to reach the finish line in 1:20:40, followed by Pia Nehme from Montréal in second and Manon Létourneau from Quebec City in third.

"This is a very special year for Scotiabank as we surpassed our fundraising goal and have raised over one million dollars for the very first time. We want to congratulate all the runners in the 2015 Banque Scotia 21K de Montreal et 5K for your personal performances on the race course today," said Carole Chapdelaine, Scotiabank's Senior Vice President, Quebec and Eastern Ontario Region. "We especially want to thank all those who took part in this year's Scotiabank Charity Challenge and who made their run even more meaningful by giving back to the charities that do so much for our community."

"Today's race surpassed our expectations, once again, with talented elite athletes and recreational runners coming together to both strive for personal bests and raise money for worthy causes in the community," said François Lecot, Race Director, Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k. "I would like to extend our congratulations to all the athletes and their supporters for their efforts today."

At press time, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge had raised more than $1,018,000 for 66 charities, including this year's featured charities -- Giant Steps Foundation, Fondation de l'Hôpital Sainte-Justine and Fondation les petits trésors.

Last year, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k raised $902,755 for 51 charities.

Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal Results:

Half-Marathon Male

1. Eric Gillis -- Guelph, Canada -- 1:05:31
2. Terrence Attema -- Smithville, Canada -- 1:06:39
3. David Le Porho -- Montréal, Canada -- 1:06:55

Half-Marathon Female

1. Bianca Prémont -- Ste-Julie, Canada -- 1:20:40.
2. Pia Nehmé -- Toronto, Canada -- 1:21:39
3. Manon Létourneau -- Québec, Canada -- 1:21:48

5k Results

5K Male

1. Maxime Lapierre -- Montréal, Canada -- 15:08
2. Anthony Laroche -- Montréal, Canada -- 15:10
3. Thomas Fafard -- Repentigny Canada -- 16:03

5K Female

1. Francesca Bernatchez -- Quebec City , Canada -- 18:01
2. Isabelle Morin -- Quebec City, Canada -- 18:09
3. Béatrice Ouellet -- Quebec City, Canada -- 18:42

The Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k is a world-class sporting event that brings together recreational and elite runners from across Canada and beyond for a race in Parc-Jean Drapeau, one of Montréal's most beautiful locations.

To see a list of charities involved in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, please visithttp://www.canadarunningseries.com/monthalf/montCHARITY.htm

For more highlights and complete race results, please visit: http://www.canadarunningseries.com/monthalf/index.htm 

Twitter Hashtag: #SCOTIA21KMTL

About Scotiabank:
Through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes 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 parts of Asia. We are dedicated to helping our 21 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. With a team of more than 86,000 employees and assets of $852 billion (as at January 31, 2015) Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank's media releases using CNW. For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankNews.

About Canada Running Series:

Canada Running Series [CRS] is the nation's premier running circuit with 8 events: 4 in Toronto, 3 in Vancouver and 1 in Montreal. It annually attracts some 60,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 250 mostly-local charities. The Series includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. The marathon alone has been estimated to generate $33 million-worth of economic activity, take up over 15,000 hotel room-nights, and create the equivalent of 100 full-time, year-round jobs. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization. We are strongly 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 running".