INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

Contact:         Leigh A. Poirier, Executive Director

                     613-228-3155

THE CANADIAN TOY TESTING COUNCIL,

THE LEADING AUTHORITY ON TOYS IN CANADA,

PRESENTS THE TOP TOYS OF THE YEAR NOV. 12

OTTAWA – November 3, 2003 – Which toys are tops with children? The Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC) knows!

The Canadian Toy Testing Council, the leading authority on toys in Canada, presents the top toys of the year! On November 12, 2003 at 10:30 am in the Drawing Room at the Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau Street, the Council will announce the “Top 10” CHILDREN’S CHOICE award-winning toys, BEST BET award-winning toys, plus the prestigious CTTC/ENERGIZER BATTERY-OPERATED TOY OF THE YEAR.

The CTTC is a non-profit organization with over 50 years’ experience of learning through play. The Council is dedicated to testing toys and providing families with the information they need to make informed purchasing choices. “Parents need to know which toys have lasting play value,” commented Leigh Poirier, CTTC Executive Director. “The toys we recommend have been evaluated by children in their home environments. Ultimately, it’s the kids who tell us which toys are best.”

The Council’s specially trained volunteer families test and rate toys for durability, safety, design, function, battery consumption, ease of assembly and most importantly, play value. Over 1,000 of CTTC’s toy experts--kids--enjoy the power of play as they test all year round.

The complete 2004 toy testing results, plus this year’s CTTC Great Books for Children selections, will be made available to Canadian consumers via the Internet on the Canadian Toy Testing Council’s website (www.toy-testing.org) as of November 12, 2003. In addition, CTTC’s award-winning toys will be auctioned on eBay at www.ebay.ca under the eBay name “besttoytestingcharity,” from November 12-19.

Children will announce the CTTC/ENERGIZER BATTERY-OPERATED TOY OF THE YEAR, the CHILDREN’S CHOICE AWARD toys as well as the BEST BET AWARD toys at this year’s National Media Conference.

Toy experts of all ages will be at the National Media Conference to give their reactions to the award-winning toys. If you would like to pre-arrange an interview time, please call Leigh A. Poirier at 613-228-3155 or e-mail cttc@cyberus.ca.

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