Toronto, Sept. 7, 2006 - Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada (IAB) Announces Special Promotion To Support National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) - Every Billion Counts!

According to comScore Media Metrix, almost 22 million Canadians use the Internet every month. For Canadians, the Internet has become an irreplaceable medium for both business and consumer communication, networking, research and product purchase.

In the last year alone, the number of people Online in Canada has grown by 12 percent. Not surprisingly, advertisers are following the consumer and dedicating more of their advertising budgets to Interactive media. In fact, the IAB recently estimated that in 2006, Canadian Online Advertising Revenue will top $800 million dollars.

On behalf of an Interactive industry that is currently enjoying prosperity - but which certainly has seen and been through rough times - IAB Canada believes it is important for those who can, to give something back to the industry.

As a result, in the month of September 2006, for every billion minutes spent Online, IAB Canada will provide NABS with $250. Historically, between 37-38 billion minutes per month have been spent Online by Canadians at this time of the year. The actual total minutes spent Online for the month of September will be verified by comScore Media Metrix using its Home and Work usage database. The IAB donation cheque is to be presented to NABS at the IAB and Marketing Magazine's Interactive To The Max conference in Toronto on November 2nd, 2006.

"NABS' first ever "Monitor" survey regarding workplace issues within the advertising and marketing industry in Canada, confirmed that the stress of being in this business is increasing at a rate that should serve as a wake-up call to us all," says Mike Fenton, President and CEO of NABS. "That's the bad news. The good news is that NABS is making a very real difference by providing day-to-day assistance to industry professionals who may need help due to stress, illness, injury, unemployment or financial difficulties, as a result of these increased demands and other work-related issues."

"These have been hard-won, and yet a tremendous last few years for the Interactive industry," says Paula Gignac, President of IAB Canada. "But with growth at this pace, we have to realize there is often a human cost. IAB Canada is excited to launch this new initiative to help NABS continue to provide the expert services that they do," she says. "Furthermore, it's our hope that related associations for TV, Magazines, Newspaper and Radio will join us in increasing our collective commitment to the industry, in order to ensure that everyone gets a chance to share not only the successes of today, but also those of the future."

For more information contact:

President, IAB Canada
iabcanada.com

The Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada is the national voice of the Canadian interactive marketing and advertising industry, and is a not-for-profit association representing a membership composed of publishers, agencies, advertisers and interactive service associates.

The National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) is the only charitable organization in Canada that provides assistance to advertising, media and related industry professionals. NABS services include a national toll-free HELPLINE (1-888-355-5548), financial assistance, skills assessment and retraining, as well as emotional, personal and career counseling services. Founded in 1983, and supported 100 percent by the industry, NABS has contributed more than $7 million to thousands of industry colleagues and their families.

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