Editors Note: A photo is included with this release.

JA Canada(TM) is delighted to announce that Rob H. Pitfield, Group Head, International Banking at Scotiabank, has joined the JA Worldwide Americas Regional Board of Directors. As a respected business leader in Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Rob will help lead Junior Achievement into the next decade and create meaningful private-public partnerships throughout the region.

Mr. Pitfield's contribution to the Regional Board will be to provide vision for JA in this important region, lead enhanced growth of JA and its partnerships, and set the direction for more than 500 CEOs now serving on 32 country boards throughout the Americas. Under his leadership, regional board members will become JA ambassadors within their own organizations and in the business community at large to mobilize corporate volunteers and financial resources. It is a key objective to attain sustainability and keep up with demand as the more developed countries expand and new ones join the JA family.

Rob joined the Commercial Banking operations of Scotiabank in 1983. Over the years, he has worked in various positions in Commercial and Retail Banking. In 1996, Rob was appointed Senior Vice-President, International Banking, responsible for the Caribbean and Central America. In 1998, he returned to Retail Products and Marketing as Executive Vice-President.

In 1999, Rob was appointed Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Wealth Management, responsible for Scotiabank's domestic wealth management operations. He returned to International Banking as Executive Vice-President in 2003, and received his most recent appointment, responsible for all of the Bank's retail and commercial operations outside of Canada, in October 2008.

Mr. Pitfield holds directorships with several of Scotiabank's subsidiaries and affiliates. He was Chairman of the Finance Division of the United Way in 2001, and is currently a Director of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Foundation. At the University of Ottawa, Rob serves as a member of the National Campaign Cabinet and the Common Law Campaign Cabinet. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the EDGE Network on the Emerging, Dynamic Global Economies. In 2006, Rob was inducted into the Common Law Honour Society.

"Rob will make an excellent addition to the Americas Regional Board of Directors," said Ross Maund, President, Junior Achievement of Canada. "Canada's competitiveness and prosperity in the global market requires strong leaders like Rob to define the vision of growth and sustainability."

Rob has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto. He earned his law degree from the University of Ottawa, and he is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Rob is married and has four children.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 60,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12.5 million customers in some 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a diverse range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With $508 billion in assets (as at October 31, 2008), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

About JA Worldwide®

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 138 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

About JA Canada(TM)

For more than 50 years, Junior Achievement learning experiences have helped young Canadians discover leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills so they can achieve their highest potential and future successes. Across Canada, Junior Achievement reaches more than 244,000 students annually in more than 400 communities from coast to coast. A suite of nine curriculum-matched programs are delivered thanks to the time and talent of 14,000 dedicated business volunteers. Since 1955, three million Canadian youth have participated in JA Canada's education programs free-of-charge.

Through the Junior Achievement of Canada Foundation, JA Canada also manages The Canadian Business Hall of Fame(TM), Business Hall of Fame Institute(TM) and the National Business Archives of Canada(TM).

For more information about JA Canada please visit www.jacan.org.

To view the photo associated with this release, visit the following web link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/jacrp.jpg.

Contacts:JA Canada(TM)Ross MaundPresident & CEO(416) 622-4602 ext. 232Email: rmaund@jacan.orgJA Canada(TM)Matthew SardinaVP Sales & Marketing(416) 622-4602 ext. 222Email: msardina@jacan.orgWebsite: www.jacan.orgMedia Relations Contact:Warne Marketing + CommunicationsScott Warne(416) 927-0881 ext. 209Email: scott@warne.com