Shaw's Support of "A World of Smiles" Telethon Raises More than $360,000 for BC Children's Hospital Foundation

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 28, 2012) - Shaw Communications, BC Children's Hospital Foundation and members of British Columbia's South Asian community are proud to announce that the A World of Smiles telethon held on May 27 has raised $360,810 for BC Children's Hospital.

Funds will benefit BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute, supporting research, equipment and clinical care needs at the facilities. More than 200,000 children and their families rely on the hospital every year for specialized health care.

Hosted from Shaw's Coal Harbour studios in Vancouver, the A World of Smiles telethon was aired on the Shaw Multicultural Channel in Metro Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler and carried on local Shaw TV stations throughout British Columbia and on Shaw Direct channel 299.

"The generosity of those across the province is astounding - and will help tens of thousands of children and their families in getting the care they need, when they need it most," said Peter Bissonnette, President, Shaw Communications Inc. "We at Shaw are proud to give back to the communities in which we operate and are thrilled to have once again supported the BC Children's Hospital Foundation with this telethon."

The telethon featured homegrown music and dance performances, local celebrity guest appearances and the inspiring stories of youth and their experiences at BC Children's Hospital. Funds raised from the event support the most urgent needs of the hospital including essential services, critical research and advanced technology necessary to make leading pediatric care accessible to all of the province's children.

"We are grateful to the South Asian community and Shaw Communications for making this event such a success," said Teri Nicholas, President and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. "Their generosity and vision in supporting child health helps the hospital care for families throughout BC - from Port Hardy to Cranbrook and everywhere in between."

Funds raised through the A World of Smiles telethon will be presented at the 25th annual BC Children's Hospital Miracle Weekend on June 2 and 3 on Global BC.

About Shaw Communications Inc.

Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, high-speed Internet, home phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers through a reliable and extensive network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 18 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History Television and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About BC Children's Hospital

BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service acute-care hospital dedicated to serving the one million children living in BC and the Yukon. All children who are seriously ill or injured are referred to Children's Hospital and are either treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with consultation from Children's specialists, in their home community. Last year, more than 81,000 children were treated at Children's Hospital. Funds raised by the foundation are used to support BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute. For more information visit www.bcchf.ca and follow @BCCHF on Twitter.