December 2, 2005 – Canada’s elite cross-country ski athletes got a boost of support on Friday that will help them prepare for the final sprint to the Games this February.

Cross Country Canada’s long-time and primary sponsor, Haywood Securities Inc, extended its commitment to putting the nation’s top cross-country ski athletes on the international podium by announcing it will provide a $150,000 financial injection into the national program this year. Cross Country Canada and Haywood Securities made the announcement during a media conference at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary to introduce the 2005-06 World Cup team.

“This is truly an exciting day for our program as our athletes prepare to compete in their first ever World Cup event at home, and look forward to the Olympics and Paralympics on the immediate horizon,” said Bruce Jeffries, executive director, Cross Country Canada. “Our sport has skied into the history books over the last four years, and Haywood Securities has been with us every step of the way. We are delighted to have them on our team during this critical competition year.”

Haywood Securities first joined Cross Country Canada’s team in 2002 with a $40,000 donation to help the Canadian team prepare for the Games in Salt Lake City. Since that time, Haywood’s investment has grown to more than $575,000, and has played a key role in Beckie Scott and Sara Renner becoming the first Canadian athletes to win a medal in cross-country skiing at the Olympics and World Championships respectively.

“We are extremely proud to extend our financial commitment to help these great athletes achieve success on the world stage,” said Rob Blanchard, president, Haywood Securities. “It is our hope that this contribution will help put Canada’s cross-country skiers on top of the podium.”

Haywood’s increased funding provides access to additional resources, essential training camps, altitude exposure, off-season skiing opportunities and premium technical services for the country’s dedicated cross-country skiing stars. A portion of the new funds is earmarked for the NorAm Canada Cup races – the nation’s premiere development race series – where Haywood will continue its title sponsorship. On top of the corporate sponsorship, Haywood also maintains an individual three-year sponsorship of Beckie Scott that has helped keep her competitive goals in sharp focus.

Scott, of Vermilion, Alta., and Sara Renner, of Canmore, Alta., will once again lead one of the most talented Canadian Cross-Country Ski Teams ever assembled, when the team of eight athletes kicks off its World Cup season at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre near Vernon, B.C., December 10, 2005.

Scott and Renner will be joined on the powerful women’s team by two-time Olympian, Milaine Theriault, of St. Quentin, N.B. Theriault has spent the majority of her last two competitive seasons competing at home on the Haywood NorAm series, while raising her two-year-old child.

Canada will also field a national men’s team loaded with depth and potential after making its first international mark against the world’s top skiers at the 2005 World Championships. George Grey, of Rossland, B.C., and Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., will lead the young Canucks. The 26-year-old Grey, and Kershaw, 22, made history finishing sixth in the team sprint at last year’s World Championships. They will be joined on this year’s World Cup circuit by 27-year-old competitors, Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., and Dan Roycroft, of Port Sydney, Ont. Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., 24, will round out the Canadian men’s contingent.

The eight athletes announced to the Canadian Team have all met qualifying standards for nomination to the 2006 Olympic team. Canada will send up to 12 athletes to compete in cross-country skiing in Torino. The imminent World Cup races in Canada provide the opportunity for other skiers to make the qualifying standard.

“This is a unique group of athletes that has been making significant progress, and continues to push harder each day in an effort to climb closer to putting the maple leaf on the podium,” said Dave Wood, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team. “With Beckie and Sara continuing to steer the ship, our young team will continue to benefit from having two of the top skiers in the world at their side.”

The Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and a contingent of other Canadian skiers hoping for Olympic qualification will compete in two World Cup races at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre near Vernon, B.C., December 10-11, 2005. The action will then shift to Canmore, Alta., where the top athletes from around the world will be showcased in three races at the Alberta Centennial World Cup, December 15-18, 2005. Canada’s cross-country ski athletes have not competed in a World Cup race at home since 1994.

Haywood Securities Inc. is an independent, 100 per cent employee-owned, full-service Canadian investment dealer headquartered in Vancouver. Haywood was founded in Vancouver in 1981, and opened offices in Toronto in 1999 and in Calgary in 2000. The firm expanded from national to international status in May 2005 with the opening of an office in London England.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.