Media Advisory - Boreal Awards Winners to be Honoured at National Gala Tonight

    OTTAWA, Dec. 6 /CNW Telbec/ -

    
    WHAT:   The Boreal Awards recognize leadership, innovation, cooperation
            and excellence among stakeholders who live and work in Canada's
            Boreal Forest region, along with those who have made an
            outstanding contribution to protection of the Boreal Forest and
            the advancement of the principles outlined in the Boreal Forest
            Conservation Framework.

    WHEN:   Thursday, December 6, 2007
            6:30 p.m. ET

    WHERE:  National Gallery of Canada (guests by invitation only)

    NOMINEES INCLUDE:

            George Woodhouse, with Blake Godward and David Lawless, for
            creatively spreading insightful messages among youth about the
            importance of Canada's Boreal Forest through video and song.

            Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation for their dedication to
            ensuring that the traditional territory near Big Trout Lake
            remains exempt from mining exploration, most notably through an
            awareness walk of over 2000 km called the Kitchenuhmaykoosib
            Awareness Walk: Our Land, Our Children, Our Future.

            Limited Brands Inc. for significantly advancing sustainable
            conservation in the Boreal Forest by changing their purchasing
            policy and actively advocating for Boreal Forest conservation.

            Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation for their vision and leadership in
            advancing the designation of the East Arm National Park on the
            Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. Together with the
            Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories and the other
            Akaitcho communities, Lutsel'Ke has been at the forefront of
            accomplishing the largest single land withdrawal for conservation
            in Canadian history.

            Malkolm Boothroyd for raising awareness and funds for bird
            conservation initiatives in Canada's Boreal region through his
            bike travels for the continental Bird Year project.

            Poplar River First Nation for their unwavering support to protect
            their traditional homelands on the eastern side of Lake Winnipeg,
            and their leadership in advancing, with the Province of Manitoba,
            a proposal to have a significant area of Canada's Boreal Forest
            in Manitoba and Ontario declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
    

    The Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, a visionary plan for Canadian
wilderness developed by the Boreal Leadership Council, is endorsed by over
1500 scientists, 25 Aboriginal organizations, 100 corporations and leading
conservation groups in Canada.
    The Boreal Forest Conservation Framework calls for permanently protecting
at least 50% of the Canadian Boreal and applying strict environmental
safeguards for development in any other areas.

    Based in Ottawa, the Canadian Boreal Initiative brings together diverse
partners to create new solutions for Boreal conservation and acts as a
catalyst for on-the-ground efforts across the Boreal by governments, industry,
First Nations, conservation groups, major retailers, financial institutions
and scientists.

For further information:

For further information: Larry Innes, Canadian Boreal Initiative, (416)
575-6776, www.borealcanada.ca