TORONTO, May 9 /CNW/ - Scotiabank and the AIDS Walk for Life are coming
together for the 2008 Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life to be held in communities
across Canada September 14-21.
    "The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is an important event for all
Canadians," said Rick Waugh, Scotiabank President and CEO. "AIDS and HIV do
not discriminate. Men, women, youth, and children across this country in the
communities where we live and work face the realities of this unforgiving
disease every day. We are proud to support an event that provides important
funding to fight AIDS and raises awareness about prevention of HIV."
    "With more than 2,000 cases of HIV/AIDS showing up in Canada every year,
the case for enhancing our efforts goes beyond humanitarian reasons, although
these are important. With no cure, the economic costs in lost productivity and
the loss of talented Canadians compel us to act," said Mr. Waugh.
    The first fundraising and awareness walk for HIV/AIDS in Canada was held
in Vancouver in 1986. The Walk became a national event in 1996. At that time,
the Canadian AIDS Society agreed to coordinate and manage what was then known
as AIDS Walk Canada, at a national level, in cooperation with its community
partners. Since 1996, the national Walk has raised close to $28 million for
community-based AIDS service organizations and has hosted over half a million
participants. Scotiabank has been a sponsor of this event since 2007.
    2008 Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life events will be held in more than 50
communities across Canada.
    "With national coordination we are able to ensure that all funds raised
through the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life stay in the communities where the
walks take place and are directed towards services and prevention programs
where they are needed," explains Monique Doolittle-Romas, Executive Director
of the Canadian AIDS Society. "The support provided through this partnership
will help us to recruit more walkers, raise more awareness, and help stop the
spread of HIV in Canada."
    The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life gratefully acknowledges Scotiabank and
all of its sponsors who help increase awareness of the Walk and contribute to
its success through their support. The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is a
project of the Canadian AIDS Society in partnership with the British Columbia
Persons with AIDS Society, the AIDS Committee of Toronto, and community-based
AIDS organizations across Canada. For more information and to find the
Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life nearest you, please visit us at
www.aidswalkforlife.ca.

    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. Visit us at
www.scotiabank.com.