CIGI to Create Balsillie Centre of Excellence

WATERLOO, CANADA, May 25 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) welcomed the
announcement today by the Government of Canada and the Government of
Ontario of building and infrastructure grants towards the creation of the
Balsillie Centre of Excellence. CIGI founder and Chair Jim Balsillie made
a private donation to CIGI to match the funds provided by the two
governments.

The Government of Canada and Government of Ontario both pledged $25
million each to CIGI for building and infrastructure associated with
creating the Balsillie Centre of Excellence. Mr. Balsillie's matching
donation of $50 million will be used to fund activities at CIGI in
support of the centre. The City of Waterloo donated the land next to CIGI
for the building of the new centre, valued at $5 million.

"We are grateful for the support we have received today and, from the
very beginning, of both the federal and provincial governments," said
John English, executive director of CIGI. "These grants will enable CIGI
to create a unique centre of excellence that will serve as a vehicle of
partnership among CIGI, global research institutions and the academic and
policy communities in Canada. Networking, capacity-building and knowledge
sharing are central to CIGI's work and our mandate."

Under CIGI's leadership and direction, the Balsillie Centre of Excellence
will create resources and facilities to run programs of studies at each
school in partnership with the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier
University and other universities in Canada and internationally.

"This is another positive step for the vision which we started to build
with CIGI in 2002," said Mr. Balsillie. "Today's support from both the
Government of Canada and Government of Ontario is further proof that the
most pressing issues of our time require investment and long-term
commitment to build capacity in international affairs."

CIGI will be responsible for the construction of the new buildings which
will be built on the land next to CIGI. It will also assume
responsibility for modifying and redesigning its existing interior,
managing the facilities and negotiating partnerships for the centre.
Construction on the Balsillie Centre of Excellence will begin in June
2009.

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an
independent, nonpartisan think tank that addresses international
governance challenges. Led by a group of experienced practitioners and
distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances
policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for multilateral
governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events
and publications, CIGI's interdisciplinary work includes collaboration
with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was
founded in 2002 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and
collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of
strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the
Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit
www.cigionline.org.

Contacts:
CIGI
Neve Peric
Media Relations
1.519.885.2444 ext 390
nperic@cigionline.org
www.cigionline.org

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