TORONTO, June 17 /CNW/ - In celebration of Pride Month, Scotiabank and
the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation's 10th Annual Friends For Life Bike
Rally, announced a new partnership yesterday evening at Pro-Pride, the first
professional corporate Pride celebration of its kind. The Friends For Life
Bike Rally takes place in Toronto on July 27th and finishes in Montreal on
August 1st.
    "Scotiabank is very proud to support the Bike Rally, which is the Toronto
People With AIDS Foundation's largest fundraiser, an event that in ten years
has contributed over $5 million dollars to support men, women and children
living with HIV/AIDS in Canada," said Alberta Cefis, Scotiabank Executive
Vice-President and Head, Global Transaction Banking. "Scotiabank's workforce
reflects the diverse communities in which we operate, and our mandate is to
ensure we provide an inclusive and accessible workplace for all of our
employees. With more than 2,000 cases of HIV/AIDS emerging in Canada each
year, this disease touches people in the communities where we live and work
across the country and around the world."
    "While treatment options have improved, the challenges facing people
living with HIV/AIDS are numerous and complex. We could not provide the direct
practical support services that we do without the funds and awareness raised
through this event," said Murray Jose, Executive Director of the Toronto
People With AIDS Foundation. "We are excited to have Scotiabank partnering in
this years Friends for Life Bike Rally as presenting sponsor. Scotiabank is
truly making a positive difference in the lives of the over 3,500 individuals
we serve each year.
    In addition to the corporate support for this event, Scotiabank employees
will participate in the Bike Rally by cycling, fundraising and volunteering at
the many stops along the six-day, 608 km route from Toronto to Montreal.
    "The Bike Rally is a colourful, rolling community that has grown to
become one of Canada's largest fundraisers for an HIV/AIDS organization," said
Todd Ross and Stefanie McQuaid, the event's co-chairs. "Our new partnership
with Scotiabank will help us spread the Bike Rally message to more Ontarians
to help us support the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation."
    Through Scotiabank's mandate in providing an inclusive and accessible
workplace for all employees, the Bank's commitment to diversity encompasses
people of varied nationalities, race, colour, gender, values, abilities,
family status, age, religious beliefs and sexual orientation - including
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees. Earlier this month,
Scotiabank announced its support for the AIDS Walk for Life, taking place in
cities across the country in September 2008.

    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.