Media Release
The Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la Capitale nationale Joins the LectureOttawa Program

OTTAWA, May 19, 2004 – The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) and the Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la Capitale nationale (RGA) are pleased to announce the launch of a unique partnership aimed at strengthening OCRI's LectureOttawa program.

RGA, the francophone economic force in Ontario, has formerly announced its support of the LectureOttawa program. With, and through, its membership, RGA will promote industry partnership opportunities for the French literacy program.

LectureOttawa is a unique program that matches the schools of the Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française du centre-est (CECLF) and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO) and the Ottawa business community. With the cooperation of employers, volunteers commit to reading one-on-one, one hour per week, to children in kindergarten and grade one.

"The Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la Capitale nationale encourages its members and the francophone business community to participate in the LectureOttawa program in collaboration with the francophone Boards of Education," said Joanne Lefebvre, Executive Director of RGA. "Having employees involved in voluntary activities sends a message to the community that the business sector is concerned about important community issues. Volunteering one hour per week will help keep children in school and improve their learning. We believe that this initiative is an investment in the future of the economic prosperity of the greater National Capital Region."

According to a Statistics Canada study, "In Canada, one out of every two francophones has serious problems reading and understanding a simple French text."

"OCRI and RGA share a common mandate of generating wealth and creating quality of life for the Ottawa area," said Jeffrey Dale, President and CEO of OCRI. "The partnership between the two organizations through the LectureOttawa program was a natural fit. We are honoured to have such a strong new partner that will help our region's children become strong readers at an early age and ensure their future success."

OCRI launched the LectureOttawa program on November 4, 2003, with the mandate to: strengthen, enrich and improve student learning, specifically in early literacy skills; foster volunteerism within the corporate and public sectors; create a climate for involvement and interaction between schools and community; and, facilitate an increase in social and economic capital through enhanced literacy.

-30-

About OCRI:
The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) is Ottawa's economic development corporation. OCRI is the rallying point to bring business, education and research together to create the winning economic conditions that allow Ottawa's technology companies to thrive locally and compete globally. At OCRI we promote sustainable economic development to maintain our high quality of life. For more information on OCRI visit our website at www.ocri.ca and for more information on the Ottawa Region please visit www.ottawaregion.com.