Trees Ontario: Blue is the new green

TORONTO, April 8 - Following the success of Canadian Tire's 2008 'Buy a Bulb, Plant a Tree Campaign', Canadians once again have the opportunity to help the environment by incorporating environmentally-preferable products into their everyday lives. From April 11 until May 8, 2009, customers who purchase an environmentally-preferable Blue Planet product will have a tree planted in their name.

Taking place at Canadian Tire stores across Canada and in partnership with Trees Ontario, the 2009 campaign enables customers to contribute to the planting of trees with the purchase of innovative, environmentally-preferred products for their home. Like the 2008 'Buy a Bulb, Plant a Tree Campaign', it is expected that the Blue Planet Program will result in the planting of additional 100,000 trees.

"Together with our customers, we are part of the solution for creating a sustainable environment. Through product innovation, Canadian Tire provides customers with quality merchandise that meets their needs and supports their personal environmental goals," says Reg McLay, senior vice president, Marketing and Sourcing Services, Canadian Tire. "This initiative not only offers customers environmentally-preferred product solutions for their home, but also allows us to give back to the communities across Canada through the planting of trees."

"We are very pleased to be working closely with Canadian Tire on this promotion, which will help raise much needed funds to address reforestation needs across Ontario and nationally," says Michael Scott, President and CEO of Trees Ontario.

The Blue Planet product line includes items such as natural household cleaning products, CFL light bulbs that use 75% less energy, rechargeable batteries, energy meters and more.

"From CFL bulbs and eco-friendly lawn care products to solar panels, reusable shopping bags and green household cleaners, we want to make smart environmental products available to our customers," says McLay. "The Blue Planet line provides customers with environmentally-preferable options for everyday items, which not only helps customers to make smart environmental choices, but also helps them to save money on utility bills."

The tree planting initiative is just one of the many ways Canadian Tire is helping to make a positive impact on the environment. An in-store lighting retrofit is well underway to convert all in-store lighting to more energy-efficient lighting. Expected to be completed in June, the initiative will result in more than 9,480 tonnes of greenhouse gasses prevented from being emitted in 2009. Other programs also include a new paper sourcing strategy and reduced packaging and waste program all aimed at reducing Canadian Tire's carbon footprint.

To learn more about Canadian Tire's sustainability initiatives or for more information on Canadian Tire's growing assortment of environmentally-preferable products, visit www.canadiantire.ca. A greener tomorrow starts today!

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX: CTC.A, CTC) operates more than 1,200 stores, gas bars and car washes in an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retail, financial services and petroleum. More than 57,000 Canadians work across the Canadian Tire organization from coast-to- coast. Canadian Tire Retail and its Associate Dealers together form one of Canada's best-known and most successful retailers with 475 stores in communities nationwide. Canadian Tire stores offer a unique mix of products and services through the leadership of three specialty stores under one roof - Automotive, Sports and Leisure, and Home Products. Canadian Tire also offers customers the opportunity to research over 25,000 products online at www.canadiantire.ca and order items by phone order at 1-866-746-7287.

Trees Ontario, working with its partners, is the largest, not-for-profit tree planting partnership in North America. It is committed to the re-greening of Ontario through a range of tree planting activities. Trees Ontario is also partnering with the Ministry of Natural Resources to help deliver the Ontario government's commitment to plant 50 million trees by 2020.The goal of Trees Ontario is to restore the province's tree planting capacity, especially throughout southern Ontario on private lands, by providing funding and planning support for its tree planting partners. These include local Conservation Authorities, Ontario Stewardship Councils, municipal governments and community volunteer groups. This spring, with its partners, Trees Ontario will plant close to 3 million trees. Visit the Trees Ontario website at www.treesontario.ca.

(*) Canadian Tire will donate $2 towards planting a tree up to a maximum of 100,000 trees.

For more information contact:

Lisa Gibson
Canadian Tire
(416) 544-7655