RONA Receives Prestigious Ontario Nature Corporate Award

SOUTHAMPTON, ONTARIO, Jun 01 (MARKET WIRE) --
Ontario Nature, the province's leading conservation organization,
presented its prestigious Corporate Award to RONA (TSX: RON), Canada's
largest distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and
gardening products.

The Ontario Nature Corporate Award is given to a corporation that
demonstrates outstanding leadership in the environmental field and
protects the natural environment either directly through corporate
policies or major initiatives, or indirectly through other undertakings
that have stimulated significant environmental actions.

RONA received the Ontario Nature Corporate Award for leadership in
developing a strong procurement policy for the wood products sold in its
hardware and renovation stores.

RONA demonstrates a clear preference for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
certified wood products and gives purchasing preference to suppliers that
share the company's commitment to sustainable forestry practices. In
2008, RONA announced that 100 percent of the lumber sold in its stores
must come from eco-certified sources by the end of 2010 and, by 2012, 25
percent of this lumber must bear the FSC logo.

"Ontario Nature is extremely proud to present its Corporate Award to
RONA," said Caroline Schultz, Executive Director of Ontario Nature.
"RONA's innovative wood procurement initiatives will have a direct impact
on the health of Canada's vital boreal forest, which is home to billions
of songbirds and provincially threatened species such as the woodland
caribou."

"RONA wants to play a major role in wilderness conservation as well as in
the sustainability of natural resources, while supporting Canadian
consumers in their efforts to adopt sustainable behaviors," said Normand
Dumont, Executive Vice President, Merchandising at RONA. "Product
selection is a key component by which RONA can exercise such leadership
and demonstrate its desire to protect the environment. Today, we're
thrilled to see our efforts recognized by Ontario Nature," he added.

The award was presented to RONA at the Bruce County Museum in Southampton
during Ontario Nature's 78th Annual General Meeting and Conference.

About Ontario Nature

Founded in 1931, Ontario Nature protects wild species and wild spaces
through conservation, education and public engagement. Ontario Nature is
a charitable organization representing more than 30,000 members and
supporters and 140 member groups across Ontario (charitable registration
# 10737 8952 RR0001). For more information, visit www.ontarionature.org.

About RONA

RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home
renovation and gardening products. RONA operates a network of close to
700 franchise, affiliate and corporate stores of various sizes and
formats. With close to 30,000 employees working under its family of
banners in every region of Canada and more than 15 million square feet of
retail space, the RONA store network generates over $6.3 billion in
annual retail sales. Visit www.rona.ca.

For more information on the award, to arrange an interview, or for photos
of the presentation, please contact:

Contacts:
Ontario Nature
Jim MacInnis
Communications Coordinator
416-444-8419 ext. 269
1-800-440-2366 ext. 269
jimm@ontarionature.org

RONA inc.
Eva Boucher-Hartling
Director, External Communications
514-599-5114
eva.boucher-hartling@rona.ca

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