Optimum West

  Media Advisory

Trevor Linden, Wendel Clark & Ian White lead Midnight Madness events in Toronto &Vancouver

(Toronto, ON/Burnaby, BC) September 9, 2009 - In addition to millions of Canadians waiting for the puck to drop on the start of the 2009-10 hockey season, gamers and fans are also looking forward to scoring a copy of EA SPORTS NHL 10, the number one selling console videogame in Canada*.  Future Shop, Canada’s largest retailer and etailer of consumer electronics, has teamed with EA SPORTS to celebrate the launch of its highly-anticipated NHL 10 videogame at “Midnight Madness” launch parties in Toronto and Vancouver on Monday, September 14. Hundreds of fans are expected to participate in a party atmosphere to play NHL 10 on Xbox 360, meet current and former NHL stars Trevor Linden (Vancouver), Wendel Clark and Ian White (Toronto), and be among the first to receive NHL 10.

What:                   Midnight Madness launch events celebrating the release of EA SPORTS NHL 10 at select Future Shop stores in Toronto and Vancouver.

When:                  Monday, September 14, 2009

Toronto event

• o 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. - Ian White
• o 10:00 p.m. - 11:45 p.m. - Wendel Clark

Vancouver event

• o 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. - Trevor Linden

• Stores are open from 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Where:                Toronto - Future Shop, 325 Yonge St. (at Dundas)

                              Vancouver - Future Shop, 798 Granville St. (at Robson)

*According to NAPD.

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About NHL 10

NHL®10 delivers a new, physical brand of hockey to match the physical and emotional intensity real-world players endure in pursuit of the Stanley Cup®. The franchise that has won 19 sports game of the year awards since 2007 begins a new era with gameplay innovations that include first-person fighting, all-new board play, post-whistle action and spectacular new ways to score. NHL 10 is available for the Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION®3. It is rated 10+ by the ESRB.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS^TM, EA^TM, EA Mobile^TM and POGO^TM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is http://www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com/.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier video game and entertainment system. It is home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of standard- and high-definition movies connected to the television - with music coming this fall. The digital center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the largest online social network connected to the television in the 20 million members on Xbox LIVE to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. With the addition of currently code-named “Project Natal,” Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play - no controller required. More information about “Project Natal” and Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-CA/live/projectnatal/ and http://www.xbox.ca/.

About Future Shop

With 142 stores across the country and the nation’s premier web store (http://www.futureshop.ca/), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada’s largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. Future Shop and its more than 10,000 employees are dedicated to providing customers with expert advice about home and entertainment technology both in-store and online.  The company hosts an online community forum for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (http://www.futureshopforums.ca/). To help keep used electronics out of the landfills, Future Shop has an in-store recycling program for seven types of products (see www.futureshop.ca/green). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profits organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (see www.futureshop.ca/community).

A Forum for Digital Marketing Thought Leadership

Part of Vancouver Digital Week, Convergence 09 is a gathering of leading experts in digital marketing and communications from across North America. This year the focus is on digital branding through social media.

Cossette West invites editorial media, bloggers and podcaster covering digital marketing and communications to attend Convergence 09. This exciting and informative day will provide participants with the opportunity to listen to world-class business leaders and industry experts, participate in practical easy-to-apply workshops, and define the best digital strategies for the coming year. Attendees will learn innovative ways to stay competitive in the ever-changing digital world.

DATE Monday, May 11, 2009
TIME 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
LOCATION Vancouver Exhibition and Conference Centre (expansion site)

KEY NOTE SPEAKER
Obama’s Unsung Hero
DAVID PLOUFFE
Campaign Manager, Obama for America

Additional details on the agenda and confirmed speakers are available at http://www.cossettewest.com/convergence2009/

Media interested in attending Convergence 2009 should complete and return the attached form to Brendan Bailey at brendan.bailey@cossette.com or fax to 604.662.4503 by no later than May 1, 2009.

Please note that to qualify as media, you must cover the digital media industry, business or marketing sectors, or are press local to Vancouver. Because of space constraints at the venue, Cossette West reserves the right to limit the number of editors / writers representing a single outlet and the number of spaces available for media accreditation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

BRENDAN BAILEY OPTIMUM PR
D  604.647.2985

Download Media Accreditation Form.

Top-ten finish for Canadian Chef David Wong at global culinary showdown
Title sponsor Moxie’s Classic Grill congratulates Team Canada on a job well done at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or

Calgary, AB, January 29, 2009 - Moxie’s Classic Grill is proud to announce that Chef David Wong and the Canadian Bocuse d’Or team achieved success placing in the top ten at this year’s Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France. With a ninth place overall finish for Bocuse Team Canada, Chef Wong’s apprentice Grace Pineda won top honours for “Best Commis (Apprentice).” Their participation at the most prestigious culinary competition in the world has helped foster worldwide appreciation for the quality and character of Canadian cuisine. This rewarding experience for Team Canada is a culmination of years of hard work from Chef Wong and months of support from title sponsor, Moxie’s Classic Grill.

“On behalf of the entire Moxie’s family, I’d like to congratulate Chef Wong and his team for their performance at this year’s Bocuse d’Or,” said Laurids Skaarup, President of Moxie’s Classic Grill. “We’re a fiercely proud Canadian company and these are fiercely proud Canadian competitors. At Moxie’s, we have always known that Canada is blessed with tremendous culinary talent, evidenced in David’s top-ten placement and Grace’s award for “Best Commis.”

Leading up to the 2009 Bocuse d’Or, Chef David Wong spent the past six years training to perfect his craft. After winning the Canadian Bocuse d’Or nomination in 2007, David put his instructor duties at The Art Institute of Vancouver on hold to prepare full time for the Bocuse d’Or competition.

“This has been an incredible journey, and it was truly a privilege to represent Canada at the Bocuse d’Or. The competition is unbelievably fierce, and the opportunity to compete at this level is something I will never forget,” said Chef Wong. “Moxie’s dedication gave us advantages no other Canadian competitor in the history of Bocuse has enjoyed - we were able to train full time in the months leading up to the competition, work with young Moxie’s chefs across Canada, and share our story with Canadians.”

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