Scotiabank EcoLiving and RONA announce Pickering Ontario family as the winner of $40,000 eco-friendly kitchen renovation contest

Twenty additional $100 RONA ECO prize packs awarded to families across Canada

TORONTO, Feb. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Scotiabank EcoLiving today announced that the Sebastian family of Pickering, Ontario is the $40,000 grand prize winner of its national EcoHome Renovation Contest in partnership with RONA. As the grand prize winner, the Sebastian family receives an eco kitchen renovation, featuring RONA ECO products with expertise and design provided by Scotiabank partner Green Living.

"We were really pleased by the quantity and quality of contest entrants from across Canada," said Kaz Flinn, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Scotiabank. "It is clear that many Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of how environmentally friendly renovation choices can save energy, water and money. The EcoHome Renovation Contest highlights the benefits of residential energy efficiency."

The Scotiabank EcoHome Renovation Contest launched November 2011. In addition to the Grand Prize, 20 secondary prize packages featuring RONA ECO products were also awarded. Details about the renovation, including a blog following the kitchen renovation from start to finish, can be found on the Scotiabank EcoLiving website, ecoliving.scotiabank.com/contests. The Sebastian family's new eco-kitchen will be featured in the Spring 2012 edition of Scotiabank's EcoLiving Magazine which will be available in Scotiabank branches across the country in June.

"The strong participation in the EcoHome Renovation Contest confirms that people are now open to and interested in integrating eco-friendly changes to their home renovation projects," said Claude Bernier Executive Vice President Marketing and Customer Innovations at RONA.  "At RONA, we believe the future is built one choice at a time and the choices we make today have a definite impact on the planet's future and we are glad to see our customers feel the same way," he added.

"We are ecstatic about winning the EcoHome Renovation Contest," said Shelley Sebastian. It's exciting to know that our 25-year-old kitchen will be beautiful as well as energy efficient.  Its especially great knowing that as we make these upgrades we will be demonstrating to our daughter the benefits of going green and reducing our negative impacts on the environment.  We can't wait to get started!"

Scotiabank's EcoLiving Program aims to enable and encourage Canadians to save energy and money at home. The RONA ECO line offers consumers over 400 products that have a less negative impact on the environment than equivalent standard items.

About the Scotiabank EcoLiving Program
The Scotiabank EcoLiving Program launched in June, 2010. The website, www.scotiabank.com/ecoliving, is a unique online consumer resource that provides home greening options together with government rebate and financial savings information all in one place - providing an easy-to-use resource for Canadians to learn about, plan and compare green home improvement options. The website includes project planning tools and a financial calculator to allow visitors to compare products and rebates, plan and finance their projects and see the savings that can result from each energy efficient renovation. The EcoLiving magazine is available twice yearly in Scotiabank branches and the Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards recognize innovation in residential energy efficiency.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 75,000 employees, Scotiabank and its affiliates serve some 19 million customers in more than 55 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $575 billion (as at October 31, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

About Rona
RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products. RONA operates a network of more than 950 corporate, franchise and affiliate 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 17 million square feet of retail space, the RONA store network generates over $6 billion in annual retail sales. For more information on how RONA can help making eco-friendly changes to your home, please visit ronaeco.ca.

About GreenLiving
Green Living Enterprises is a pioneer and leader in developing social and environmental marketing programs that keep consumers and clients at the forefront of the green agenda. Green Living Enterprises is a full-service, one-stop solution for green marketing, product and program development, custom publishing, and event management.  Green Living Enterprises, an authentically green company, also includes Greenlivingonline.com and The Green Living Show, North America's largest green consumer show, dedicated to easy and workable solutions for leading a sustainable lifestyle.

Deborah Clark, Scotiabank Media Communications, 416-933-0646, [email protected]

Nadia Goyer, Senior Advisor Communications and Public Affairs RONA inc., 514-599-5900, extension 5271, [email protected]