TROIS-RIVIERES,May 20 2004 --Bell Canada is announcing a
philanthropic gift of $1 million to Carleton's Community Economic Development
Technical Assistance Program (CEDTAP) to undertake the management of the Bell
Community Economic Development Fund. Bell Canada's contribution will be
matched dollar-for-dollar by CEDTAP and The J.W McConnell Family Foundation
for a total of $2 million. This association with Carleton University
demonstrates Bell's leadership role in community economic development amongst
private sector companies.
    The new three year partnership between, Bell, Carleton University, and
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation will be able to better assist an even
greater number of communities through this joint effort than by working
individually. This fund will initially serve community economic development
needs in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and is intended to
stimulate growth and innovation through improved communications technology.
This innovative partnership enables Bell to increase, by 2007, the support it
provided previously to as many as 100 projects in these four provinces.
    "Our success is tied to the success of all these communities. It's a
virtuous circle where everyone benefits and the benefits multiply. Bell is
excited and energized by the new possibilities and projects that the Community
Economic Development Fund represent" said Terry Mosey, Executive Vice
President at Bell Canada at the Canadian Community Economic Development
Network Conference held at the Convention Centre in Trois-Rivières on Thursday
May 20th.
    "This is the first time that the private and public sectors have
partnered at such a high level in the field of community economic development
in Canada", explained Katherine Graham, Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs
and Management. "This partnership will open all kinds of opportunities for
Carleton University, Bell Canada, and for the communities it will be able to
assist through CEDTAP. From its inception, CEDTAP has been an active partner
in applied research on local economic solutions. The program is now poised to
mine the rich experience of community projects in many regions of Canada.
Drawing on the different strength of the various partners, CEDTAP will
mobilize this knowledge to strengthen government policy and replicate
community-based models of economic opportunity and social fairness."
    Both Carleton University and Bell Canada already have an established
record of success with their own programs that have achieved concrete results
in close to 400 communities across Canada.
    The Bell Community Economic Development Fund is the third iteration of a
program that was started by Bell in 1998. CEDTAP, Canada's largest non-profit,
non-government grant-maker in the field of community economic development,
wants to provide financial assistance for community economic development
activities that create economic and social assets, through jobs and
businesses, in less privileged communities across Canada.
    Community groups interested in more information about the program can
visit the CEDTAP website at www.carleton.ca/cedtap .

    About Bell Canada

    Bell Canada, Canada's national leader in communications, provides
connectivity to residential and business customers through wired and wireless
voice and data communications, local and long distance phone services, high-
speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business
solutions and satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly owned by
BCE Inc. For more information please visit www.bell.ca .

    About Carleton University

    Carleton University, Canada's Capital University is a dynamic research
and learning institution located in Ottawa, Canada. The University is a
national leader in the study of public affairs and management, and high
technology, as well as a leading innovator in undergraduate education.
Carleton University offers outstanding programs in both the undergraduate and
graduate levels in the major disciplines of the Arts and Social Sciences,
Science, Engineering and Design and Public Affairs and Management. With close
to 23,000 full and part-time students and over 2,000 faculty and staff,
Carleton University has a vibrant work and learning environment, with close
ties to the region's business, cultural, government, and high technology
communities.

    About CEDTAP

    CEDTAP, which was created in 1997 by The Centre for the Study of
Training, Investment and Economic Restructuring (CSTIER) of Carleton
University and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is Canada's largest non-
profit (non-governmental) granting agency in the field of community economic
development. It provides grants to community-based organizations of up to
$20,000 to assist them with the technical assistance, technology enhancement,
and expertise from a pool of over 500 consultants. So far, CEDTAP has assisted
300 communities with initiatives ranging from enhanced job-creation
opportunities to assisting with neighbourhood revitalization projects. CEDTAP
is funded by The J.W.McConnell Family Foundation of Montréal.

    About the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

    The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation's vision is a society in which all
Canadians have the opportunity to develop their potential and to engage fully
as citizens in the exercise of their rights and responsibilities. The
Foundation's mission is to support projects and programs that enhance the
ability of Canadians to understand, adapt and respond creatively to the
underlying forces which are transforming Canadian society and the world. Its
goals are to support the development of healthy communities that are
environmentally and economically sustainable and to encourage and promote
generosity and voluntary action.

    Note to the editor: A photo of the event will be issued shortly on CNW.



For further information: Yannick Boutin, Media Relations, Bell Canada,
1 877 391-2007, (514) 391-2007, yannick.boutin@bell.ca;
Lin Moody, Media
Relations Officer, Carleton University, 613-520-2600 ext. 8705, (cell)
613-371-4843