In the spirit of the holiday season, 72% of Canadians will make
    charitable donationsTORONTO, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - This holiday season, Canadians are stuffing
their stockings with more than gifts and indulgences - they're making a
conscious effort to support charities that are important to them.
    Scotiabank's 2008 Holiday Poll reveals that 72% of Canadians are planning
to make a personal donation to charity this holiday season. Despite uncertain
economic times, this year's result is consistent with last year's finding of
73%.
    "At a time when some areas of charitable giving are declining, the
continued generosity of individual Canadians is more important than ever
before," said Malcolm Burrows, Scotia Trust Head of Philanthropic Advisory
Services. "It's heartening to see Canadians acknowledge and support the great
work that charities do in our communities, especially around the holiday
season."
    The Holiday Poll also found that women (52%) are more likely than men
(45%) to say they will donate to charity this holiday season. Canadians who
are 50 years or older are more likely to say they will give.
    "Contributions to charitable organizations extend beyond writing a cheque
and are important year-round. We applaud the countless volunteers who help
empower community organizations throughout Ontario and across the country,"
said Sue Graham Parker, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President Ontario Region.
    "Supporting the organizations, the volunteers and the communities where
we live and work is a commitment that Scotiabank shares and we encourage our
employees to extend the spirit of community giving even further by
volunteering their time and skills to support community causes important to
them," added Joe Brandt, Senior Vice-President, Toronto Region.
    In Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area, Scotiabank supports a number of
local community organizations and causes which reflect what is important to
customers, employees and shareholders. The following are a few of the many
charities supported in this community, representing the broad-base of
important local initiatives:Ontario

    -   McMaster Children's Hospital, Smiles Campaign
    -   United Way, Hamilton & Niagara
    -   Niagara Health System, It's our time
    -   Relay For Life - North east
    -   Learning Library, Nipissing University
    -   Hospice Simcoe
    -   Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion
    -   Brantford General Hospital
    -   Hospice Wellington
    -   Autism Society - Ontario Chapter
    -   Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre
    -   Thunder Bay George Jeffrey Children's Foundation
    -   Laurentian University Sports Track
    -   Museum London
    -   Université de Hearst
    -   Hospice Niagara
    -   Chelmsford Christmas Toy Drive
    -   Gillian's Place for Women, Niagara
    -   Hopes Garden
    -   Row bust
    -   Sudbury Confederation Secondary Schools Band
    -   Matawa Voyageur Days
    -   Matawa General Hospital
    -   Sudbury Terry Fox Run
    -   St. Thomas United Way
    -   Bethany's Hope
    -   VON Brunch
    -   Relay for Life/Cancer Society
    -   Operation Christmas Child
    -   Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival
    -   Ride for Dad, Kingston

    Toronto

    -   Markham Stouffville Hospital
    -   Durham Motorcycle ride for DAD
    -   Grandview Children's Care
    -   Oakville Bed Race
    -   Ride for Karen
    -   Halton Learning Foundation
    -   Cheung's Charity Gold
    -   William Osler Health Centre
    -   Relay For Life Burlington
    -   Toronto's Ronald MacDonald House
    -   Scadding Court
    -   St. Stephens
    -   The Toronto Children's Breakfast Club
    -   Tropicana Community Services
    -   The Scarborough Hospital Foundation
    -   About Face
    -   Reach for the RainbowThis study was conducted for Scotiabank using Harris/Decima's national
telephone omnibus - teleVox. Data collection was conducted via CATI (Computer
Assisted Telephone Interviewing). A total of 1,029 interviews were completed
between December 4 and 6, 2008. A random sample was generated for the month of
December and quotas were established by each region. The quotas were instilled
to maintain an adequate number of completed interviews in Canada's three
largest markets: Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Final data are weighted by
age and sex within region and are considered accurate to within +/- 3.1
percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
    Harris/Decima completed 1,006 online surveys among a random sample of
Harris/Decima panel members. The study was conducted between November 11th,
2008 and 17th, 2008. This was a standard panel survey among a random sample of
Canadian panel members. In a fashion similar to a telephone study, email
addresses from Harris/Decima's panel were pulled at random, according to
population and gender specifications, in order to make the study
representative of the Canadian population by region and gender. When contacted
to solicit participation, participants had no prior knowledge of the subject
matter of the study. Harris/Decima controls access to the study through
passwords to ensure that respondents can participate only one time. Subsequent
to completion of the study, the data was weighted for region, age, and gender.

    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 2008 the Bank provided about $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 online
at www.scotiabank.com.