Thursday, October 13, 2005                                                                           

OTTAWA SENATORS FOUNDATION DONATES $250,000

TO THE CSSS DE GATINEAU FOUNDATION

GATINEAU, Quebec - The Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Gatineau Foundation (CSSS de Gatineau Foundation) received a huge contribution today . The Ottawa Senators Foundation has committed to contribute a gift of $250,000 over a five-year period.

"I am proud to represent the players and management of the Ottawa Senators Foundation and club in supporting the CSSS de Gatineau Foundation. With our financial support to the CSSS de Gatineau, we want to contribute to the improvement of the health-care services offered to the children of the region," said Ottawa Senators forward Antoine Vermette.

Cyril Leeder, Ottawa Senators chief operating officer and foundation board member, said, "The Ottawa Senators community involvement has different aspects, but the support to children has always been a priority. We are proud to put our support behind a strong partner and community-focused organization in the CSSS de Gatineau Foundation."

Claude Poirier Defoy, president of the CSSS de Gatineau Foundation, was particularly delighted with this contribution. "The gift from the Ottawa Senators Foundation is one of the most important in the (CSSS) foundation's history. The commitment of a corporate citizen like the Ottawa Senators is priceless to us. It shows the seriousness of their involvement in the regional community."

The donation will be used to improve the quality of health-care services and to support programmes for children that use the services of the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Gatineau.

Denis-Bernard Raiche, Executive director of the CSSS de Gatineau, noted during the news conference, "Thanks to this gift from the Senators foundation, we will be able to pursue our mission and continue our efforts in developing a Centre de santé et de services sociaux focussed on people, their well-being and their community. This gift will allow to support the Parents-Children Programme. The partnership between the world of sports and the world of health is for us a winning combination."

Martin Lacasse, chairman of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, took advantage of the news conference to launch a message to the business community of the Outaouais region by inviting them to support the Ottawa Senators.