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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Aliant proudly announces partnership in youth development with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia Division - Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Young Canadians Challenge, Atlantic Divisions, announced today a $40,000 partnership commitment from Aliant Inc. designed to support efforts to challenge Atlantic Canadian youth to become involved in worthwhile extracurricular activities, leading to personal growth, community service, development and achievement.

Aliant’s investment includes a $25,000 cash donation combined with communication services and educational materials divided between the four Divisions to help increase the awareness of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme and the positive impact it offers youth.

“Our youth are our future,” said David Rathbun, Senior Vice President Corporate and Chief Human Resources, Aliant. “By investing in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme, we are supporting an initiative that encourages our youth to experience various positive aspects of life, which will enable them to make more educated decisions for their futures and the future of their communities.”

Aliant will help promote The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through the production of promotional materials and the support of in-person information sessions at five to 10 educational facilities each year in each of the Atlantic Divisions. The goal of this initiative is to educate more people about the Programme, enroll more participants, leaders and mentors and encourage the completion of all sections of this youth initiative.

“Aliant’s support will help us to educate, enroll, and encourage more young people into the Award Programme,” explained Richard Powell, Nova Scotia Division President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. “The tenets of the Programme enable young people to develop life skills through initiative and participation. There are no limits on the potential outreach this initiative has. To have a major corporation, like Aliant, support the Award is an incredible opportunity for our youth and the Award Programme.”

Background - The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Young Canadians Challenge
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Young Canadians Challenge is an exciting self-development programme available to all young people, ages 14 to 25, equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and their country. Each of the three levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) is progressively more challenging than the previous one; yet the Award Programme is readily adapted to all individuals regardless of ability and social circumstances.

This International Award Programme operates worldwide in over 110 countries. It was introduced into Canada in 1963 and began in New Brunswick in 1964, Nova Scotia in 1972, Newfoundland & Labrador in 1974, and Prince Edward Island in 1977. Thousands of Canadians have made a difference to their own lives and their communities by achieving the Bronze, Silver, and/or Gold.

* Please note attachment for additional background info.

Background - Aliant Inc.
From its home base in Atlantic Canada, Aliant delivers a wide variety of innovative and traditional communications services, including local and long distance telephony, wireless, Internet, e-commerce, interactive multimedia, data and managed network services, to more than two million consumers and over 80,000 enterprises. Aliant complements its industry-leading telecommunications business with strengths in information technology solutions and knowledge-services applications. The company's approximately 8,200 employees build on Aliant's 100-plus year history by collaborating to deliver the highest quality of customer service, choice and convenience. Aliant is a TSX 100 company with a market capitalization of approximately $3.8 billion.

Media representatives are encouraged to sign up for Aliant News Alerts.

For more information, please contact:
Dawn Boylan
Aliant Communications & Public Affairs
(866) 762-6540
dawn.boylan@aliant.ca

and/or:

Bonnie B. Baltzer
Executive Director
Nova Scotia Division
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Telephone/Fax: (902) 847-0927
bbbdukeofed@ns.sympatico.ca

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