TransAlta and Friends of Kananaskis Country Team Up for Trailcare in 2012

CANMORE, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 18, 2012) - Trail care in Kananaskis Country received a big boost this spring as TransAlta has recently sponsored the Friends of Kananaskis Country's long-running Trail Care program with a $30,000.00 contribution for 2012. To announce this sponsorship and demonstrate support, TransAlta employees and retirees will participate in a Trail Care Day on Friday, June 22, 2012 from 10am - 3pm starting at the Canmore Nordic Centre.

"TransAlta has had hydroelectric facilities in the Bow Valley since the early 1900s. As part of the fabric of this community, we are pleased to help support organizations like Friends of Kananaskis Country in their efforts toward providing programs and services that educate, build community, and reduce pressure on the environment," says Lora Brenan, TransAlta's Director of Hydro Operations.

The Friends of Kananaskis Country, a federally-registered charity supporting ecological stewardship, community engagement, and responsible recreational use of Kananaksis Country, manages an annual program of volunteer trail care activities throughout the region. It connects volunteers with trail care and trail maintenance projects, ranging from litter pickup to deadfall removal, bridge repair and trail surfacing. The Trail Care program provides learning opportunities for volunteers to understand the impact of human use on the various ecosystems of Kananaskis Country.

According to Joe Petermann, Vice-Chair of the Friends of Kananaskis Country, "With support from TransAlta we will be able to grow our Trail Care program and get more volunteers helping to make awesome trails in Kananaskis Country. Partners like TransAlta allow us to engage more people in volunteer trail care projects in Kananaskis Country. Volunteers leave with a greater sense of appreciation and value of the beautiful landscapes in our backyard."

"TransAlta is pleased to become the title sponsor of the Trail Care program," says Brenan. "We believe that educational and environmentally-focused programs such as this one play an important role in supporting the long-term sustainability of our communities."

ABOUT TRANSALTA

TransAlta is a power generation and wholesale marketing company focused on creating long-term shareholder value. TransAlta maintains a low-to-moderate risk profile by operating a highly contracted portfolio of assets in Canada, the United States and Australia. TransAlta's focus is to efficiently operate our geothermal, wind, hydro, natural gas and coal facilities in order to provide our customers with a reliable, low-cost source of power. For 100 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud contributor to the communities where we work and live. TransAlta is recognized for its leadership on sustainability by the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, the FTSE4Good Index and the Jantzi Social Index. TransAlta is Canada's largest investor-owned renewable energy provider.www.transalta.com

ABOUT FRIENDS OF KANANASKIS COUNTRY

The Friends of Kananaskis Country is a community-based non-profit organization that leads preservation and ecological integrity initiatives in Kananaskis Country. It focuses on educational programming, public engagement and creating volunteer opportunities that raise awareness and appreciation of this special natural place. Since 1996, the Friends of Kananaskis Country has enhanced opportunities for people to engage in programs, projects and events that benefit the natural and cultural environment of K-Country.

The Friends of Kananaskis is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is a registered charity. It relies on the generous support of individuals and corporate sponsors who share its passion and stewardship for Kananaskis Country. The Friends are grateful for all donations that help the organization support the natural and cultural heritage of Kananaskis Country. Donations can be made directly to the organization by mail or online through www.kananaskis.org.