News Release

Canada’s CFO of the Year™ 2009 Award Nominations now Open

Submit your nomination at CFOY.ca

TORONTO, November 17, 2008 — Nominations are now being accepted at www.cfoy.ca for the 2009 Canada's CFO of the Year™ Award. The award is given annually by presenting sponsors Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) and The Caldwell Partners International. Now in its seventh year, the award honours the quality, insight, direction and leadership of Canada's senior financial leaders. Nominations close on February 6, 2009.

Candidates, from any business sector, private or public, may be nominated by CEOs, corporate directors, financial analysts and other senior executives. An independent selection committee, chaired by Peter Dey, Chairman, Paradigm Capital Inc., and composed of some of Canada's most prominent business leaders, will select the 2009 award winner. The 2009 recipient of Canada's CFO of the Year Award will be honoured at a gala dinner on April 14, 2009 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

"Financial leaders in private and public companies across Canada play an increasingly important role in the success of an organization," says Michael Conway, Chief Executive & National President of FEI Canada. "It is important we recognize and celebrate their accomplishments."

Previous recipients of Canada's CFO of the Year Award include:

2008: Bruce Waterman, Senior Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Agrium Inc.
2007: Marvin Romanow, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Nexen Inc.
2006: Karen Maidment, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, BMO Financial Group
2005: Claude Mongeau, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, CN
2004: Peter Rubenovitch, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Manulife Financial Group
2003: Peter W. Currie, former, Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, RBC Financial Group.

"Over the past six years we've seen many accomplished executives honoured for their commitment to sound financial reporting, building public trust and assuming a critical leadership role within their respective companies," says Chris Clark, Canadian Senior Partner and CEO, PwC. "We are looking forward to adding another name to this impressive list of award recipients."

Douglas Caldwell, Chairman of The Caldwell Partners International adds, "In the six years that we have been involved in this Award, we have seen the pressures on CFOs increase dramatically; from regulators, investors, Boards of Directors, and Chief Executive Officers. These pressures on CFOs are enormous, and they deserve our recognition and praise for their contribution."

For more information or to submit your nomination for the next Canada's CFO of the Year, please visit www.cfoy.ca.

About Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada)

Financial Executives International Canada is the professional membership association for senior financial executives. With 11 chapters across Canada and more than 2,100 members, FEI Canada provides professional development, thought leadership and advocacy services to its members. The association membership, which consists of Chief Financial Officers, Audit Committee Directors and senior executives in the Finance, Controller, Treasury and Taxation functions, represents a significant number of Canada's leading and most influential corporations. For more information, visit www.feicanada.org.

About PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 155,000 people in 153 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. In Canada, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (www.pwc.com/ca) and its related entities have more than 5,200 partners and staff in offices across the country.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

About The Caldwell Partners International

The Caldwell Partners International Inc., founded in 1970, was Canada's first executive search firm. Today it is the largest and only truly national human capital services company, serving clients across Canada from its offices in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, as well as internationally. The Caldwell Partners focuses on recruiting "C-class" executives (chief executive, chief financial, chief information officers, as well as other senior executives), as well as non-executive board directors. The Caldwell Partners takes pride in delivering unmatched depth of service and expertise to its clients, the caliber and experience of its staff, and the successful completion of its engagements. The Caldwell Partners founded and continues to promote the prestigious national awards programs recognizing Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year™ and Canada's Top 40 Under 40™. The Caldwell Partners' Class-A non-voting shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CWL.A). For more information see www.caldwell.ca.