October 23, 2003 (Vancouver, BC)  – Haywood Securities, sponsor of the senior National Cross-Country Ski Team, announced today its continued commitment to winter sports excellence and amateur sports development in Canada by increasing its financial support to Cross Country Canada to a combined total of $270,000.

Olympic silver medalist, Beckie Scott, was in Vancouver today attending a special reception hosted by Haywood Securities, at which the sponsorship was announced. Scott was joined by other members of the National Cross-Country Ski Team to celebrate Canadian accomplishments in cross-country skiing, help raise awareness about amateur sport in Canada and the importance of corporate sponsorships for the development and success of high performance athletes.

“We are extremely proud to extend our financial commitment to the future of Canadian cross-country skiing,” says John Tognetti, president and CEO of Haywood Securities. “This reception is part of our on-going commitment to help raise the profile of amateur sports in Canada and stress the importance of corporate sponsorship.”

Haywood's increased funding provides essential training camps, altitude exposure, off-season skiing opportunities and premium technical services for the country's dedicated cross-country skiing stars. The company has been providing financial support to the team for the past year and has now renewed and enhanced its commitment for the 2003/2004 season.

A portion of the new funds are earmarked for the NorAm Canada Cup, where Haywood will now be title sponsor, and to an individual three-year sponsorship of Scott to support her future competitive endeavours.

Haywood's support is a true team effort and was inspired by the generosity of its employees, many of whom have provided individual donations to the sport for years. Their combined contributions aim to help the Canadian team to win at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy before looking towards the medal podium at Vancouver's 2010 Olympic Games.

“Haywood's financial support and commitment to our athletes recognizes the sacrifices and dedication shown by Canada's winter sport athletes,” said Bruce Jeffries, Cross Country Canada's executive director. “Their assistance has already helped the national Ski Team to make it's 2002/03 the best ever and we are looking forward to more victories throughout the coming season.”

Some of Cross Country Canada's more recent achievements include winning three medals on the 2002/03 FIS Cross-Country World Cup circuit and Beckie Scott's medal-winning performance at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Haywood Securities Haywood Securities Inc. is an independent, 100 percent employee-owned, full-service Canadian investment dealer headquartered in Vancouver. Haywood was founded in Vancouver in 1981, and has since expanded from regional to national status with the opening of offices in Toronto in 1999 and Calgary in 2000.

Cross Country Canada Cross Country Canada (CCC) is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, serving over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision, “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association's focus from entry level skiing and club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

For more information on the programs and services offered by Cross Country Canada or for complete up-to-date international race results through the “Haywood World Cup Report”, visit the CCC Web site at canada.x-c.com.