TORONTO, ON - December 03, 2015 /CNW/ - Are you committed to making a difference? Tell us your story for a chance to be recognized as a leader in your community. The deadline for this year's Scotiabank Bright Future Awards is December 31.

The Awards showcase young volunteers who are creating positive change in their communities through their volunteer efforts. Initially launched in 2012, the program recognizes 12 winners -- six in Canada and six internationally.

Applicants will be judged by an international panel of jurors including:

• Cassie Campbell-Pascall, three-time Olympic hockey player
• Brian Burke, President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames
• Dr. Allyson Leacock, Executive Director at Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS
• Ms. Jatnna Tavarez, Dominican Republic television personality and National Ambassador for UNICEF

Youth between the ages of 16 and 24 can learn more and apply at Scotiabank Bright Future Awards website for their chance to win a tablet computer and a CDN$2,500 donation to the registered charity of their choice.

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 $55 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 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 approximately 90,000 employees and assets of $856 billion (as at October 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.