• Alzheimer Society of B.C.
• Battered Women's Support Services
• Elektra Women's Choir

The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a fundraising program that provides a simple way for race participants to support local causes that have a significant impact on Canadian communities. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised.

Scotiabank proudly hosts a Scotiabank Charity Challenge at each of six sponsored marathon events across Canada including Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

"Participants in this Vancouver event share Scotiabank's commitment to giving back to their communities and we want to thank everyone for their fundraising efforts this year," said Winnie Leong, Senior Vice President, BC & Yukon Region at Scotiabank. "Since 2003, our runners have raised over $46 million for community charities nationally and in 2016, together, we will surpass $50 million in fundraising across Canada…a significant milestone."

"It's very inspiring to see the dedication that these runners have for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge," said Clifton Cunningham, Vancouver Race Director. "I'd like to encourage everyone to sponsor a fundraising runner going the extra distance to support our community partners."

For a complete list of 2016 charities participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, please visit www.vancouverhalf.com.

The Scotiabank Charity Challenge features a friendly competition between the participating charities for a total of $24,750 in cash prizes consisting of $4,250 for 1^st place, $2,500 for 2^nd, and $1,500 for 3^rd in the following categories:

• The Official Charity that has the most fundraising runners
• The Official Charity that raises the most fundraising dollars
• The Official Charity that raises the largest amount of pledge dollars per fundraising runner

How to get involved:

• Register for an event: Register for Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k on www.vancouverhalf.com
• Fundraise: Once registered, sign up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and raise funds for a participating official charity
• Share! Share your story behind why you support your charity, using #runScotia
• Donate: Visit the Scotiabank Charity Challenge page to select an official charity and make a one-time donation
• Cheer: Support friends and family along the race route and as they cross the finish line. You can also show your support to runners online by using the hashtags #scotiahalf and #runScotia

About Scotiabank
Through our global community investment strategy, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2015, Scotiabank contributed $67 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 89,000 employees and assets of $895 billion (as at April 30, 2016), 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 @ScotiabankViews.

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 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 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".