Pointe Claire Next Stop on Scotiabank 'Get Growing to a Million' Small
    Business RV TourPOINTE CLAIRE, QC, Oct. 1 /CNW/ - Scotiabank has taken to the highway
with its Small Business Banking initiative and will visit Pointe Claire on
October 2, 2008 as part of a five month cross-country tour to deliver
Scotiabank's Small Business Banking tools, experts and services to small
businesses who want to 'Get Growing'. 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
and Head 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 Pointe Claire economy and we are looking
forward to meeting and working with these small business owners and
understanding their unique business concerns and opportunities."
    According to Mr. Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development,
Innovation and Export Trade, and Minister of Tourism, SMEs and new businesses
are very important engines of economic development in Québec. While they
account for a little over 50% of the GIP and wage-earning employment, they
create more than 70% of new jobs. Over 90% of the companies that perform
industrial R & D are SMEs, along with over 90% of export companies. These
results unquestionably demonstrate the vitality and hard work of our
entrepreneurs.
    According to Statistics Canada's Business Register, 97.5% of companies in
the metropolitan area have fewer than 100 employees. Between 2006 and 2007,
1,287 newly created companies - or more than 90% of all businesses created
that year - had fewer than 100 employees. As noted by Isabelle Hudon,
president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, "the talent
of Montrealers is highlighted through the creation of new companies.
Entrepreneurship and the SMEs that result from it are signs of economic health
and of our ability to seize new business opportunities and run with them. It
is this raw creative energy that generates future champions - the SMEs that
growth and success will transform into Canadian multinationals - and that is
why we must support them and provide them with the right tools."
    While in Pointe Claire on October 2nd the Scotiabank 'Get Growing to a
Million' RV will be parked at the Scotiabank located at Fairview Center, 6815
Trans Canada Hwy., Pointe Claire from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. It will be
open for interested local small business owners and Scotiabank Small Business
advisors will be on hand.
    "The 'Get Growing to a Million' campaign builds on Scotiabank's existing
foundation of delivering expert advice, information and services that help
small business owners improve their bottom line," said James Mousseau,
Community Manager, West Island. "Our advisors are ready to work with small
business owners in Pointe Claire to help them grow to the next level - whether
it's their first million or their next million in revenue. We have the tools,
advice and expertise to help them get there."
    The touring RV will make dozens of stops across the country to give local
small business owners an opportunity to "test drive" these Small Business
tools, visit the new 'Get Growing for business' website, as well as discuss
their growth plans with a Scotiabank Small Business advisor.
    "Our experience with growing small businesses suggests the 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 to offer. We have also made a number
of these resources available 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," he
concluded.
    In addition to the cross-country tour, the Scotiabank, 'Get Growing to a
Million' campaign includes a new Scotiabank Small Business website,
www.getgrowingforbusiness.com, which serves as an important vehicle to deliver
Scotiabank's Small Business resources. Designed as an interactive on-line
community the site 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 its newest, Get Growing for
        business Sales and Marketing(TM) tool.

    "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 we can make them work for their businesses," said 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 $462 billion in assets (as at July 31, 2008), Scotiabank trades on the
Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit
www.scotiabank.com.