TORONTO, March 3 /CNW/ - Scotiabank is pleased to celebrate International
Women's Day on March 8th. To mark the event, the Bank will make a series of
donations to local breast cancer organizations in the Caribbean, Central
America and Latin America. In addition, Scotia Plaza in Toronto, will host an
exhibition with women-focused organizations on March 6th to promote the work
being done with and on behalf of Canadian women.
    "International Women's Day connects women around the world in celebration
of the advancement of women," said Sylvia Chrominska, Executive
Vice -President, Human Resources and Public, Corporate and Government Affairs,
Scotiabank. "In Canada and around the world, Scotiabank is proud to support
women in all parts of society. Inspiring and supporting women in the
achievement of their full potential is important to Scotiabank, to our
employees and to the customers and communities we serve."
    Through its offices in Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Puerto Rico,
Mexico, Chile, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Peru and Costa Rica,
Scotiabank will make donations to organizations that are working in the area
of breast cancer awareness. The countries selected have an active local
network dedicated to the advancement of women. These donations complement
Scotiabank's broader strategy of supporting organizations active in this
field.
    "Scotiabank has a long tradition of support for breast cancer awareness.
With this donation, we are taking Scotiabank's corporate support for breast
cancer awareness to our international communities, where our customers are,
where our employees are," said Nicole Reich de Polignac, President and CEO,
BNS Mexico. "On this day when the world comes together to celebrate women, we
are contributing to the sharing of breast cancer information and research to
help raise awareness about a disease that affects so many wives, mothers,
friends and sisters around the world."
    Also in celebration of International Women's Day, on March 6th Scotiabank
will gather together some of its partners who are active in a range of
initiatives to support the personal and professional growth and development of
women. These organizations will be presenting information at Scotia Plaza in
Toronto from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Participating organizations include:-  Canadian Women's Hockey League
    -  Canadian Women's Foundation
    -  Catalyst (a research and advisory organization working globally with
       businesses and the professions to build inclusive environments and
       expand opportunities for women and business)
    -  Equal Voice (a multi-partisan action group dedicated to increasing the
       political presence of women and women elected to all levels of
       political office in Canada)
    -  Habitat for Humanity - Women Build
    -  Nightwood Theatre (a Canadian collaborative women's company)
    -  Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada
    -  YWCA"Scotiabank's commitment to supporting and inspiring women goes beyond
our own walls. Through the generosity and commitment of Scotiabank employees
and customers around the world we are helping to build a brighter future for
women and girls in the communities we call home," said Ms. Chrominska.

    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Please visit
us at www.scotiabank.com.



    Appendix I

    Scotiabank Support for Women-focused Initiatives

    Scotiabank supports a number of important organizations and initiatives
that are focused on supporting women on a personal and professional level. The
following are a few of the many charities that Scotiabank and its employees
have been supporting in Canada and internationally. This is not an inclusive
list, but represents the broad-base of important women-focused initiatives
that Scotiabank is proud to support:Canada

    -  Alberta Council of Women's Shelters
    -  Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
    -  Canadian Women's Foundation
    -  Canadian Women's Hockey League
    -  Catalyst - works globally with businesses and the professions to build
       inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women and business
    -  Dragon Boat teams
    -  Dress for Success Halifax
    -  Equal Voice - promotes the involvement of women in politics
    -  Habitat for Humanity (Women Build)
    -  Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
    -  London Health Sciences Centre - Scotiabank Breast Health Centre
    -  Medicine Hat Women's Shelter
    -  Nightwood Theatre - promotes creative alliances among women artists
    -  Quilt: A Breast Cancer Support Project
    -  Regina Women's Transition House
    -  Scotiabank Sunflower golf Tournament - in support of ovarian cancer
    -  Tour PEI - women's elite cycling
    -  University of Montreal Chair in Breast Cancer Research
    -  West Island Women's Shelter
    -  Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada
    -  Women in Leadership Foundation
    -  Women's Executive Network
    -  Women's Place of South Niagara
    -  World Conference on Breast Cancer
    -  YWCA Metro Toronto
    -  YWCA Montreal
    -  YWCA of Calgary
    -  YWCA Women of Distinction

    International

    -  Educar (Mexico) - provides education for underprivileged girls and
       night school for their families.
    -  Help and Shelter (Guyana) - work with abused women and children to
       provide counseling and care
    -  Manos Amigas (Costa Rica) - provides support to sexually abused girls
    -  Mujeres en Desarrollo (Dominican Republic) - encourages women to be
       independent and productive - also provides Micro Credits, Lectures on
       HIV/AIDS, support constructions of schools and teach women how to make
       and maintain orchards in their homes
    -  Organization for the Development of Women (St. Vincent)
    -  Parenting Partners (St. Kitts) - provides services and support to teen
       mothers while in school
    -  Patronato de Sirama, Asociacion de Fomento Cultural y Deportivo (El
       Salvador) - outreach program that helps women become financially
       independent
    -  Proyecto Matria (Puerto Rico) - supports women affected by domestic
       violence
    -  Safe Haven Foundation (St. Maarten) - operates a shelter for abused
       women
    -  St. Lucia Crisis Centre - organizes arts and crafts workshops for
       unemployed mothers and abused women, to enables them to bring income
       to their households
    -  The Crisis Centre (Bahamas) - shares best practices for issues related
       to violence against women
    -  Unidas Contigo (Mexico) - breast cancer survivors provide support to
       women undergoing treatment, and increase awareness through education
    -  Un Kilo de Ayuda (Mexico) - provide training to mothers in poor
       regions on preventing child malnutrition and supplies bi-monthly food
       packages to their children
    -  Victorious Living Foundation (St. Maarten) - promotes programs geared
       at empowerment of women
    -  World Vision (Guyana) - provides training to assist women to become
       gainfully employed
    -  Young Women's Christian Organization (Belize) - assists young girls
       and women not able to complete their high school education
    -  Youth Enhancement Services (Belize) - geared to teach young girls and
       women about sexuality and HIV/AIDS