As part of CanWest Global’s national “Raise-a-Reader” campaign

Montreal, Quebec, October 1, 2003 — People circulating in Montreal’s downtown core on Thursday morning will be offered a special edition of The Gazette newspaper as part of the second annual “Raise-a-Reader” campaign, a CanWest Global initiative that raised $440,000 nationally last year to promote children’s literacy.

Personalities from the Montreal community, including members of the Alouettes’ football team, will be joining editorial department staff of The Gazette as “newspaper hawkers” to encourage the public to make a donation in exchange for a copy of the newspaper that will contain a four-page wraparound section devoted to literacy.

“This is a cause that is of considerable interest to us,” said Larry Smith, president and publisher of The Gazette. “We urge Montrealers to strongly support this fund-raising effort, which collected $75,000 in 2002 for local programs to promote early reading.”

The three organizations that will be the beneficiaries of Montrealers’ generosity in this campaign are: la Fondation pour l’alphabétisation, Literacy Partners of Quebec and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

“Statistics show that 22% of the adult population have difficulty reading,” noted Mr. Smith. “This underscores the importance of getting children to take an interest in reading at an early age. I’m proud of the teamwork and involvement by CanWest Global, which is devoting more than $3.5 million in advertising and promotional support across Canada to make people aware of this issue. Together, we can do something about it.”

The fund-raising will take place on Thursday, October 2, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the following six street corners:

• On McGill College Ave. at the corners of Ste-Catherine St. and Sherbrooke St.
• On Peel St. at the corners of René-Lévesque Blvd. and Ste-Catherine St.
• René-Lévesque Blvd. at the corner of University St.
• 1000 de la Gauchetière W. at the corner of de la Cathédrale St.

People may also make their donations in front of The Gazette’s new office building at 1010 Ste-Catherine W. until 2:00 p.m.

Information: Louis Payette Torchia Communications Tel.: (514) 288-8290