Scotiabank National Game Changer to be announced at the 100^th Grey Cup

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Toronto's Anne Marie Batten has been named a Scotiabank National Game Changer Finalist for her passion and dedication to helping improve the lives of people who live on the street. Anne Marie will be recognized on-field at the 100^th Grey Cup in Toronto where she could win $100,000 for Street Health, a non-profit community agency that improves the health of homeless and under-housed people in Toronto.

"I am very grateful to be chosen as one of the Game Changer Finalists and honoured to be among this group of outstanding people who are making such a difference in their communities," said Anne Marie Batten. "If I were ever to win the grand prize of $100,000 it would be given to Street Health to purchase outreach kits to help our most vulnerable and those who sleep on our streets each night. It will help them to get through the upcoming winter months and to save lives."

About Anne Marie:

• Anne Marie helps to take care of the homeless, and focuses on specialty crisis nursing and outreach.
• She is instrumental with Project Winter Survival and Project Water which makes and distributes kits for people living on the street.
• Thousands of people have been touched by Street Health's initiatives and Anne Marie is motivated by the people who she works with every day.

Anne Marie is one of eight Scotiabank National Game Changer Finalists, one for every CFL market. The Scotiabank National Game Changer will be announced during the game and broadcast on TSN during the 100^th Grey Cup on November 25, 2012.

"There are extraordinary people who do outstanding things for causes in our community every single day," said Oliver Uppal, Scotiabank's District Vice President, GTA/Mississauga Region. "The Scotiabank Game Changer program has recognized dozens of community heroes over the course of the CFL season, and now Canadians have the chance to vote for a winner. We encourage everyone to go to www.ScotiabankGameChangers and vote today for the Scotiabank National Game Changer Finalist of their choice."

The winner will be chosen by an all-star jury panel comprised of Michael "Pinball" Clemons, Mark Cohon - Commissioner of the Canadian Football League, Stewart Johnston - President, TSN, and Scotiabank's Anatol von Hahn, and through public voting between October 29, 2012 and November 20, 2012.For more information about the Scotiabank Game Changers program and to vote, go to www.ScotiabankGameChangers.com

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is a proud supporter of the Canadian Football League and is the Official Bank of the CFL, 100^th Grey Cup Festival, BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts. Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $45 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

About the Canadian Football League

The Canadian Football League is our league. The Grey Cup is our national championship and Canada's largest annual single sporting event. We are proudly preparing for the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. The celebration will span the country and culminate in a tremendous festival and game in Toronto this November. We invite all Canadians to be a part of it.

Image with caption: "Scotiabank National Game Changer Finalist Anne Marie Batten of Toronto at the Rogers Centre. Anne Marie will be recognized on-field at the 100th Grey Cup where she could win a $100,000 charity prize for Street Health. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121124_C5691_PHOTO_EN_21133.jpg

SOURCE: Scotiabank