CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE PLATES BENEFIT SENIORS

With just under two months before the start of Saskatchewan's 100th year as a province, residents and expatriates are being encouraged to take their centennial spirit and provincial pride to the streets and leave a lasting gift to the people who built the province.

Premier Lorne Calvert unveiled the Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 commemorative licence plate and announced a legacy trust fund for seniors. Five dollars from the sale of each plate will support programming to be delivered by the Saskatchewan Seniors' Mechanism.

"Saskatchewan owes a great deal to the forward-thinking pioneers who built our province," Calvert said. "These people built and characterize a province with 100 years of heart."

The plates will retail for $15 each or two for $25. Additional commemorative items are on the way as the province-wide celebrations approach.

"As more people purchase their centennial plates, the value of the trust fund to support seniors will grow as well," Centennial Chair and Moose Jaw North MLA Glenn Hagel said. "Through the sale of these plates, we are honouring our first century as we look toward a promising second century."

The centennial plates, which provincial residents are encouraged to display after Saskatchewan Government Insurance announced that front licence plates are no longer required on registered vehicles, are manufactured by Signal Industries in Regina.

"We're very excited to create the official centennial commemorative plate," Signal Industries general manager Scott Kirk said. "By buying these plates, you are also supporting Saskatchewan businesses and keeping valuable jobs in the province."

Saskatchewan's expansive network of credit unions will sell and distribute the limited-edition plates. Two dollars from the sale of each plate will support a not-for-profit organization selected by the participating credit unions.

"Credit unions have been a major part of Saskatchewan's history," Credit Union Central CEO Sid Bildfell said. "We're happy to extend our strong tradition of supporting communities, and our province, through this program."

Additional information on Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 is available online at www.sask2005.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Chris Shauf Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 Regina Phone: (306)787-1254