Edmonton a Key Stop as part of Scotiabank's Mission to Help Local Small
    Business Owners 'Get Growing to a Million'

    EDMONTON, June 11 /CNW/ - Scotiabank has taken to the highway in a
customized RV to meet with small business people in their communities, and two
of the most notable people in Edmonton's business community were on hand to
participate in a special event for local business owners: The Honourable Iris
Evans, Alberta Minister of Finance and Enterprise, and Patrick LaForge,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club and
Chairman of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.
    The event in Alberta's capital city was a highlight of the five month
cross-country tour that got underway in Vancouver last week to deliver
Scotiabank's Small Business Banking tools, experts and services to small
businesses. It's all part of the Bank's 'Get Growing to a Million' campaign to
help small business owners identify strategies to grow their businesses.
    "We're on more than a road trip," said Kyle McNamara, Managing Director
of Small Business Banking, Scotiabank. "We're on a mission to help Canadian
small business owners grow to the next level. Small business is clearly an
important factor in the Edmonton economy. It's a valuable opportunity to be
able to meet and work with business owners in their communities to gain more
insight into their unique business challenges and opportunities."
    The Scotiabank Small Business event was opened by Minister Evans and the
Oilers' LaForge. Other featured speakers included Simon Bennett, Co-owner of
Edmonton-based fitness training company Body by Bennett and Strength and
Conditioning Coach for the Edmonton Oil Kings, and Roger Pierce, Co-founder of
BizLaunch, Canada's largest small business training company. The speakers
provided insights and advice on how to establish and grow a small business.
    "Small businesses are the heartbeat of Alberta communities. Our economic
growth rate, continued population increase and outstanding labour force
participation has helped to create an economy which is second to none," said
Iris Evans, Alberta's Minister of Finance and Enterprise. "Entrepreneurialism
is part of Alberta's culture. This shows in the fact that the province has 10
per cent of Canada's population, yet is home to over 13 per cent of Canada's
small and medium-sized enterprises."
    The Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, meantime, estimates that
87 per cent of Edmonton-based businesses have fewer than 50 employees.
    The touring RV, hosted by Scotiabank Small Business advisors, is equipped
with Scotiabank Small Business tools and resources. Dozens of stops are
scheduled across the country to give local small business owners an
opportunity to test drive Scotiabank's Small Business tools, visit the new
'Get Growing for business' website, and discuss their growth plans with a
Scotiabank Small Business advisor.
    "Our experience with small businesses suggests that most successful small
business owners are those who have effectively planned their business concept,
from market research and human resources planning to cash flow forecasts,"
said David Wilton, Director, Small Business Banking for Scotiabank. "Our Small
Business advisors have unique business planning and financial diagnostic and
check-up tools. A number of these resources can be found on our new 'Get
Growing for business' website, available 24/7 for the convenience of small
business owners. In addition, because we are so confident in the potential of
these tools, we are bringing them directly to small business owners in
communities across the country with the touring RV," he explained.
    The 'Get Growing for business' website serves as an important vehicle to
deliver Scotiabank's Small Business resources. Designed as an interactive
community site, it offers small business owners a place to:-  participate in discussion forums focusing on current economic and
         business themes and their impact on small business;
      -  ask an online Small Business advisor a question;
      -  network with other small business owners identified by business
         segment; and
      -  access tools, including Blueprint for Business(TM) Check-up tool,
         ScotiaPlan Writer for business(TM) Planning tool, Scotia Starting
         Line for business(TM) Check-up tool, and the newest, Get Growing for
         business Sales and Marketing(TM) tool.In the spirit of encouraging and spotlighting entrepreneurialism, the new
website features the 'Get Growing to a Million' contest. Website visitors are
invited to submit a written or video entry explaining how $20,000 would help
them get their business to the next level for a chance to win a grand prize of
$20,000 or one of six regional cash prizes of $5,000.
    "The 'Get Growing to a Million' tour, website, and tools have combined
elements that can help significantly increase opportunities for small
businesses. We are looking forward to taking them out to local communities and
showing owners how these resources can work for their businesses," said Mr.
McNamara.

    About Scotiabank
    ----------------

    Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and
Canada's most international bank. With more than 60,000 employees, Scotiabank
Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12.5 million customers in some 50
countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a diverse range of products and
services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking.
With $453 billion in assets (as at April 30, 2008), Scotiabank trades on the
Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit
www.scotiabank.com.

    /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
    the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
    Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
    website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
    members of the media/