Athletics: Hbc Challenges Canadians to Run for Canada

Canadian communities and CHEO to benefit from special Canada Day run in Ottawa-Gatineau

OTTAWA, April 1, 2004 /CNW/ - HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY ("Hbc") announced today the launch of the first annual Hbc Run for Canada event in Canada's Capital on Canada Day, July 1st, 2004. The event will include a 10 km Run and a fun-for-all 3 km Family Walk, offering Canadians an exciting way to celebrate our nation's birthday while supporting the Hbc Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation.

"For the last 334 years, Hbc has been synonymous with the development of this country," said George Heller, president and chief executive officer, Hudson's Bay Company. "The Hbc Run for Canada event provides an opportunity to celebrate our diversity, express our pride and invest in the fabric of our communities. Taking part in the Canada Day 2004 festivities, working together with our associates, customers and partners to support the Hbc Foundation and CHEO Foundation, can only spell success."

Participants can sign up online at www.hbcrunforcanada.ca. The cost is $48 for the 10k run and $24 for the 3k walk and includes a performance wear T-shirt. Runners will receive a commemorative 10K finisher medal and a performance wear t-shirt with pre-printed run number. The Run begins at 7:30 am from the Bay Rideau store in downtown Ottawa and the Family Walk gets underway at 8:30am at Jacques Cartier-Park - with on-course entertainment and family fun along the way. Both events ends at Jacques Cartier-Park in Gatineau, one of the official Canada Day sites, where participants can get a head-start on the day's colourful festivities. All are invited to enjoy a pancake breakfast and head to the Hbc Family Zone where heritage activities, entertainment and kids activities, as well as a speaker's corner will be set up to give participants the opportunity to express what being Canadian means to them. Messages will be shared after the event.

The event is offering experienced and novice runners the opportunity to train for the run with a series of training runs in Canada's Capital beginning May 17th on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

The Chairman of the National Capital Commission (NCC), organizers of Canada Day in Canada's Capital Region, welcomed the Hbc Run for Canada to the July 1st festivities. "We are delighted to have Hbc, Canada's oldest company, join the Canada Day team, '' said Marcel Beaudry. ''What a great way for residents and visitors to kick-off our nation's birthday celebration, an event that draws more than 300,000 people to the Capital Region every year. "

Proceeds from Hbc's Run for Canada will help support the Hbc Foundation and the CHEO Foundation. The Hbc Foundation supports a number of charities throughout Canada focusing on health, wellness and education issues. The CHEO Foundation is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and youth. Fundraising pledge forms are available online at www.hbcrunforcanada.ca and in the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters stores.

"The future of our great country depends a lot on how our children are cared for today," said Fred Bartlett, President and CEO, CHEO Foundation. "The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario salutes Hbc for creating an event that will promote Canadian patriotism while raising money for pediatric health care in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. On behalf of the children and youth at CHEO, their families and all of the CHEO Staff, we thank Hbc for bringing the Hbc Run For Canada to our Nation's Capital."

For over three decades, CHEO has been committed to making a difference in the lives of children and youth who continue to require dedicated and specialized pediatric health services. CHEO has established an excellent team of highly qualified personnel who offer first class treatment, as well as world-renowned research activities to meet the needs of our young patients. CHEO is a teaching hospital affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and also partners with 17 other hospitals in Eastern Ontario to provide specialized services, exchange knowledge and share expertise.

Hbc, established in 1670, is Canada's largest Department store retailer and oldest corporation. We provide Canadians with the widest selection of goods and services available through numerous retail channels, including nearly 500 stores led by the Bay and Zeller's chains, and the Bay's kitchen, bed and bath specialty superstore chain, Home Outfitters. Hudson's Bay Company is one of Canada's largest employers, with 70,000 associates and has operations in every province in Canada. Hbc common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "HBC".

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is a Crown Corporation responsible for making Canada's Capital Region one that every Canadian can be proud of. Specifically it strives to make the Capital a meeting place for all, acts as a steward of federal lands and organizes national celebrations and events.

The NCC has been organizing Canada Day celebrations in the Capital since 1984. While the focal point of the July 1st celebrations is Parliament Hill, hundreds of thousands of Canadians also flock to Canada Day activities on several official sites spanning both sides of the Ottawa River.