Canadian Children Celebrate the Nationwide Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Campaign

GATINEAU, QUEBEC, Oct 23 (MARKET WIRE) --
The 2008 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign is now in full swing across
the country, marked today by a special Halloween celebration hosted by
the Canadian Children's Museum in Gatineau, Quebec. In the days leading
up to Halloween, hundreds of thousands of children from every province
and territory will take part in the over half-century-old Canadian
tradition of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, including a wide range of
similarly colourful and educational activities in schools and communities
across the country.

In Gatineau, students from Ottawa's Elmwood School and Gatineau's l'Ecole
Vieux Verger dressed in Halloween costumes took part in a symbolic Walk
for Water, one of numerous such walks being held today and in the coming
days across Canada.

Joined by well-known actor and UNICEF Quebec Ambassador Catherine Brunet,
and award-winning child activist, young author, and National UNICEF Child
Representative Bilaal Rajan, over 50 schoolchildren participated in a
first-hand learning experience of one of the significant barriers
preventing many African girls and boys from attending school - the daily
chore of walking to fetch their family's supply of clean water.

"Children and young people can have a major impact on their world," said
Catherine Brunet, who led the event and engaged the young participants in
a dialogue on the power of education, as she herself has witnessed in
Burkina Faso. "Seeing the progress achieved by providing access to
quality basic education for millions of children has made me realize how
easy it is to contribute to something wonderful. The participation of
children and young people through this extraordinary initiative of kids
helping kids has changed my life. I am so proud of being part of this
event with you, and I say loud and clear that we can change the world!"

Bilaal Rajan, who co-led the event, has visited UNICEF-supported
education programmes in Malawi and seen the smiles on children's faces
when they see their dreams become a reality: being able to learn,
socialize and develop their potential thanks to the contributions of
young people. "Every child, with the help of their family, their teacher,
their school and their community, can make a lasting difference in the
lives of their peers around the world," said Rajan. "I encourage you to
consider what you, your friends, the students in your school - and all
young Canadians - can do to help other kids live their dreams. Together,
this Halloween season, we can help improve the lives of children like us
in Malawi and Rwanda."

Schools for Africa

More than one million children in Malawi and Rwanda will benefit from the
Schools for Africa programme - a joint initiative established by UNICEF,
the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the Hamburg Society for the Promotion
of Democracy and International Law - which UNICEF Canada is supporting
for the third consecutive year with funds raised through the
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Through the Schools for Africa
programme, UNICEF helps increase access to quality basic education by
building new schools, repairing and refurbishing existing schools,
providing schools with clean water and sanitation facilities, and
training teachers.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

Since the UNICEF Halloween campaign was launched in 1955, Canadian
children have raised more than $96 million to help save and enhance the
lives of children in need around the world. What started years ago with
children carrying the famous UNICEF orange collection box has now evolved
into more creative, fun and meaningful opportunities for them to both
learn and help other children throughout the month of October.

As of 2006, the collection box is no longer part of the campaign, but the
tradition of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF continues to be the most popular
and engaging Halloween fundraising activity undertaken annually by
children and schools across Canada. New this year, children can now build
their own online fundraising pages and all Canadians can contribute
directly through a secure online donation page at
www.trickortreatforunicef.ca.

Amazing activities across the country

Over the years, the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, while still being
driven by and for children, has become a family affair and a
community-based annual celebration. Adults and young people alike are
joining in this nationwide mobilization of Canadians to help children
around the world. Pumpkin-carving contests engaging local artists and
media personalities, pumpkin art tours, a reading marathon, challenges to
teachers and principals, and Halloween parties organized by professional
and staff associations and social clubs are just a few of the innovative
school and community fundraising activities being organized to help
UNICEF Canada provide thousands of children in Malawi and Rwanda with
quality basic education.

Exciting prizes available for participating children and schools

In addition to generously hosting today's Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
celebration, the Canadian Children's Museum is offering two exciting
prizes to the top fundraising schools in Ottawa and Gatineau: two
unbelievable Overnight Adventures at the museum.

Other great prizes being offered to reward participating children and
schools include:

The top English-speaking fundraising school in Canada will win an
exclusive visit from UNICEF Canada Ambassadors Ben Mulroney and Farley
Flex, of Canadian Idol, who will help judge its school's talent contest.
Participating French-speaking schools in Quebec will be eligible to win a
number of fun and educational prizes, thanks to Ramdam, Archambault, the
Montreal Botanical Garden, and the Plains of Abraham (for schools in the
Quebec City region). Top fundraising schools in Ontario will win a pizza
party from Pizza Nova. And students who raise funds online are eligible
to win a family dinner out from Swiss Chalet and book prize packs from
Scholastic.

UNICEF Canada is also grateful for the generous support of Trick-or-Treat
for UNICEF partners: DHL, for providing in-kind shipping of
Trick-or-Treat school materials; Slaight Communications, and Astral Media
in Quebec, for the broadcasting of public service announcements promoting
the campaign; and Cadbury, for its in-store, on-pack and funding support.

This Halloween season, UNICEF Canada calls on all Canadians - children
and adults - to join in and contribute generously to the Trick-or-Treat
for UNICEF campaign to help give the gift of education to children in
Malawi and Rwanda.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is the world's leader for children, working in 156 countries and
territories to save, protect and enhance the lives of girls and boys.
UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, promotes quality basic
education, protects children from violence, exploitation and AIDS, and is
the world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries. A
global leader in emergencies with six decades of on-the-ground
experience, UNICEF saves and rebuilds children's lives in natural
disasters and conflict. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary
contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, schools,
associations and governments.

For more information on Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF events in your region,
or to arrange interviews or photo opportunities, please contact:

Atlantic
--------
Jenn Gillespie, UNICEF Atlantic

Tel: (902) 441-4513; Email: jenn@crushcommunications.ca

Quebec
------
Sarah Houde, UNICEF Quebec

Tel: (514) 288-5134, ext. 8424; Cell: (514) 574-9668;

Email: SHoude@unicef.ca

Ontario
-------
Kathleen Powderley, UNICEF Ontario

Tel: (416) 699-5665; Cell: (416) 803-5597; E-mail: kpowderley@unicef.ca

Prairies
--------
Adam Dooley, UNICEF Prairies

Tel: (204) 291-4092; Email: adooley@dooleycommunications.ca

Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories
------------------------------------------
Shael Gelfand, UNICEF Alberta

Tel: (403) 240-7862; Cell: (403) 818-8849; Email: sgelfand@peakco.com

BC and Yukon
------------
George Affleck, UNICEF BC

Tel: (604) 684-3170, ext. 103; Cell: (604) 618-4496;

Email: george@curvecommunications.com

National Office
---------------
Robert B. Lussier, UNICEF Canada

Tel: (416) 482-4444, ext. 8830; Cell: (647) 282-7546;

Email: RLussier@unicef.ca

This Halloween, give children in Malawi and Rwanda an education!

www.trickortreatforunicef.ca

Contacts:
National Office:
UNICEF Canada
Robert B. Lussier
(416) 482-4444, ext. 8830 or Cell: (647) 282-7546
Email: RLussier@unicef.ca
Website: www.trickortreatforunicef.ca

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