INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Leigh A. Poirier or
Janet Hetherington
613-228-3155

THE CANADIAN TOY TESTING COUNCIL, CELEBRATING 50 YEARS,
ANNOUNCES THE TOP TOYS OF THE YEAR

OTTAWA - November 14, 2001 - Here's the information parents need to choose good toys with lasting play value. The Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC), the leading authority on toys in Canada, has announced the top toys for this year, just in time for the holiday season.

"While this generation of children are attracted to computer games and jazzy electronic toys, our testing has shown that traditional games and toys still inspire children to use their imaginations, and to enjoy healthy, active outdoor play. We have found that simple games and toys often have lasting play value, and are good toy choices," said Leigh Poirier, CTTC Executive Director, adding, "However, there are excellent software programs out there, and we have award winners in that category as well."

The Canadian Toy Testing Council, a non-profit organization that tests toys and provides the results to Canadian families, is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2002. The Council tests and rates toys for durability, safety, design, function, ease of assembly, battery consumption and overall play value.

"Parents want to know how well toys perform, and the Canadian Toy Testing Council does the leg-work for the consumer. The hundreds of toys we test each year are evaluated and played with by Canadian children in actual home environments," said Ms. Poirier. Over 1,000 kids, ages three months to sixteen years, test toys for the Council on an ongoing basis.

Children from the Council announced the CTTC/ENERGIZER TOY OF THE YEAR as well as the CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD winning toys, and presented the BEST BET AWARD winning toys at its annual press conference, held in the Adam Room of the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. The complete 2002 toy testing results have again been made available to Canadian consumers via the Internet on the Canadian Toy Testing Council's web site (www.toy-testing.org).

Parents looking for the award-winning toys should check the Canadian Toy Testing Council's website for its listing of CTTC's Retail Partners. These are toy stores that are committed to carrying quality toys.

The Canadian Toy Testing Council's award-winning toys are:

CTTC/ENERGIZER BATTERY-OPERATED TOY OF THE YEAR 2002

ACTIVE PLAY
Racin' Rider RC Cycle, Model #0102, Little Tikes Company, Ages 3+

2002 CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS (honouring toys on the market that have been proven to be fun, innovative, and the absolute best in their area of play):

ACTIVE PLAY
Radio Flyer Racer, Model #88, Radio Flyer Inc., Ages 3-6

IMAGINATIVE PLAY
Jolly Dolly, Model #773215, Zapf Creation (U.S.) Inc., Ages 3+

EDUCATIONAL TOYS
Blink, ISBN 0-9708554-1-9, Out of the Box Publishing, Ages 6+ (Northern Games)
Music Blocks, Model #663488-12210-9, Neurosmith, Ages 2+ (Pierre Belvédère)

DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS
Discoversounds Workshop, Model #1580, Little Tikes Company, Ages 9 mos-1.5 yrs

ARTS & CRAFTS
Noris Club Back Pack, Model #31901 92765 3, Staedtler-Mars Limited., Ages 3+
The Body Book, ISBN 1-57054-590-1, Klutz Inc., Ages 12+ (Stewart House)

CONSTRUCTION TOYS
Lego Technic Bionicle (series), Model #8531/8532/8533/8534/8535/8536, Lego Canada Inc., Ages 7+
Puzzle World Big City Adventure, Model #006071, Lights, Camera, Interaction! Ages 4+ (Pierre Belvedere)

COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND GAMES
Geosafari Knowledge Pad CD-ROM Learning Game, Model #EI-9301, Educational Insights, Ages 10+

2002 BEST BET AWARD WINNERS (honouring toys on the market that surpass all of the Council's demanding testing criteria):

ACTIVE PLAY
All-in-One Wagon, Model #4134, Little Tikes Company, Ages 1.5-2.5
Nerf Vortex Mega Howler, Model #54072, Hasbro Canada, Ages 5+
Dragonfly Stunt Racer, Model #33077, Toymax Inc., Ages 8+

IMAGINATIVE PLAY
Uptown Baby & Outfit/Booties, Model #100570 & 100580, Manhattan Toy Company, Ages 1+
Camping Kit, Model #77811, Fisher-Price Canada, Ages 3+

EDUCATIONAL TOYS
Apples to Apples Junior Edition, Model #7750, Out of the Box Publishing, Ages 7+ (Northern Games)
Funny Bunny, Model #215584, Ravensburger, Ages 5-10 (Pierre Belvédère)
Harold and the Purple Crayon Game, Model #BP20101, Briarpatch, Ages 4+
Lucky Catch, ISBN 1-88843945-9, Gamewright, Ages 4-7
Geosafari Laptop, Model #EI-8540, Educational Insights, Ages 8+
MacGregor, Model #262366, Ravensburger, Ages 8+ (Pierre Belvédère)
Phonics Firefly, Model #K-2600, Educational Insights, Ages 3-5
Cranium, Model #04001, Cranium Inc., Ages 13+ (Mottro Canada Ltd.)
Explore Photo Safari, Model #00012, Patrix Communications, Ages 4+

DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS
Sparkling Symphony Compose 'n Play Orchestra, Model #73767, Fisher-Price Canada, Ages 0.5-3 (Stewart House)
Take and Shake Snake, Model #20030, Manhattan Toy Company, Ages 0.5-1

ARTS & CRAFTS
Tissue Paper Flowers, ISBN 1-57054-497-2, Klutz Inc., Ages 8+ (Stewart House)
Shure Ballet Studio, Model #005010, Shure Products Inc., Ages 5+ (Pierre Belvédère)
Crayola Rinse-Off Markers and Washable Crayons, Model #7994 & 52-6924, Binney & Smith, Ages 3+
Window Art, ISBN 1-57054-643-6, Klutz Inc., Ages 8+ (Stewart House)

CONSTRUCTION TOYS
Mega Bloks Transforming Timmy the Smart Truck, Model #8949, Ritvik Toys Inc., Ages 1.5-5

COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND GAMES
Spy Fox Operation Ozone, Model #04-22394J, Humongous Entertainment, Ages 7+
Mia The Search for Grandma's Remedy, Model #32332 02110, Kutoka Interactive, Ages 5-7
Clifford Reading, Model #78073 21537, Scholastic Inc., Ages 4-6

Toy experts will be available for interviews by telephone to discuss this year's honorees, how they were judged, and what kids will want this year.