Two teams, 30 celebrities and a friendly game of hockey to improve children’s well-being

MONTREAL, January 24, 2012–Hockey fans will definitely want to mark their datebooks for Sunday, March 4, 2012, the first edition of the Ford Celebrity Faceoff powered by CKOI. Two teams of Quebec personalities from various backgrounds will face off at the Bell Centre in a friendly hockey game. The event, presented in collaboration with Evenko, will be a fundraiser for the Canadiens Children’s Foundation.

The first edition of this benefit event is hoping to attract 10,000 spectators. Ford Canada will make a donation equivalent to the number of people who attend, and donate $5,000 on behalf of the winning team.

Mario Tremblay and Michel Therrien will coach the two teams, supported by captains Louis Morissette and Patrice Bélanger. Also, a few announcements that will certainly pique the fans’ interest are still to come before the game, such as the announcement of the referee, who will sing the national anthem and entertainment between periods.

“The Ford Celebrity Face-off is an opportunity to combine two things that Quebecers love: hockey and their favourite personalities. We’re very proud to invite people to this friendly hockey game to benefit the Canadiens Children’s Foundation, which does incredible work on behalf of families and children in need,” said Bertrand Lessard, general manager for the Quebec region at Ford of Canada. “It will be a highly exciting event, and I encourage people to turn out in large numbers.”

The Ford Celebrity Faceoff will take place Sunday, March 4, starting at 1 p.m. at the Bell Centre. Tickets can be purchased for $7.50 including taxes at www.jesuisfan.ca or www.evenko.ca, and at the Bell Centre box office. Each ticket purchased will give the ticket holder a chance to win a 24-month lease for a 2013 Ford Escape, courtesy of the Quebec Ford Dealer Association.

About Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited

Ford of Canada’s operations include a national headquarters, three regional offices, two branch offices, three vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, and two parts distribution centres. Ford employs approximately 6,000 people in Canada, while an additional 18,000 people are employed in the more than 400 Ford and Ford-Lincoln dealerships across the country. For more information, please visit www.ford.ca.

About the Canadiens Children’s Foundation

The Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation is determined to provide a better and healthier future for children in need and committed to encouraging and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among youth. In January 2009, the Foundation launched its flagship project—the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program—which builds refrigerated multisport ice rinks in low-income neighbourhoods. Established in 2000, the Foundation has donated nearly $13.5 million to 425 organizations that work to improve the well-being of children in Quebec.

About CKOI

CKOI is owned by Cogeco Diffusion, a subsidiary of COGECO Inc., a diversified telecommunications company whose subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:CGO). Cogeco Diffusion operates 13 radio stations in Quebec, including CKOI 96.9 in Montreal, CKOI 106.9 in the Mauricie region, CKOI 104.7 in the Outaouais, CKOI 107.7 in the Eastern Townships, the member stations of the Rythme FM network; 105.7 in Montreal, 100.1 in the Mauricie and 93.7 in Sherbrooke, as well as 98.5 fm, 92.5 The Beat of Montreal and Radio-Circulation in Montreal, FM 93.3 and Souvenirs Garantis 102.9 in Quebec City, and CIME 103.9 FM in St-Jérôme, making it one of Quebec’s leading radio broadcasters.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jesuisfan

Twitter: http://twitter.com/fordjesuisfan @fordjesuisfan

Hashtag: #faceaface