Bell inaugurates Quebec’s largest-ever fundraiser for mental health

        --  Bal des Lumières to raise funds for Hôpital Louis-H.
            Lafontaine, Douglas Institute, and the Mental Illness
            Foundation
        --  George Cope joined by co-chairs Serge Godin, Geoff Molson and
            Louis Vachon
        --  Bell Centre to host "An evening of enlightenment and hope"
            March 20, 2013

MONTREAL, Aug. 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ – Bell today announced it will be
presenting the largest-ever fundraising event for mental health in
Québec. Bal des Lumières, to be held March 20, 2013, at the Bell Centre
in Montréal will raise funds for the Fondation de l’Hôpital Louis-H.
Lafontaine, the Mental Illness Foundation, and the Douglas Mental
Health University Institute Foundation.

“Bal des Lumières will set a new standard for mental health fundraising
in Montréal and Québec,” said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and
Bell, and Chair of the event. “I’m very pleased to be joined by some of
Québec’s most distinguished business leaders in building on the
progress of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative and the fight against the
stigma of mental illness.”

Joining Mr. Cope as co-chairs of Bal des Lumières are Serge Godin,
Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, CGI; Geoff Molson, Owner,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Club de hockey Canadien, Bell
Centre & evenko; and Louis Vachon, President and CEO, National Bank.
These leaders of Québec industry and culture have joined to shine a
spotlight on mental health and raise funds for three of Montréal’s most
important mental health organizations.

“The last two years have seen major progress in highlighting mental
health while breaking the stigma of mental illness,” said Mr. Godin.
“Collectively we are committing to making the next leap in converting
awareness of mental illness – which after all affects 1 in 5 of us -
into much needed funding for these three leading organizations in
Québec mental health.”

Bal des Lumières is the first external charitable gala to be held at the
Bell Centre in over five years. Some 700 guests will enjoy an evening
of exquisite dining and inspiring entertainment in this unique venue.

“We are very happy to make the Bell Centre available for Bal des
Lumières, working together as a team to inspire hope and support the
incredible work of Louis-H. Lafontaine, the Douglas and the Mental
Illness Foundation,” said Mr. Molson. “This issue touches us all and
there can be no better expression of the commitment of our four
companies to dedication and commitment of those on the front lines of
mental health care here in Québec.”

“National Bank is proud to join with Bell, CGI and the Canadiens to not
only raise awareness of mental health but raise funds for those at the
forefront of research and care in Québec,” said Mr. Vachon. “With
mental health issues the leading cause of workplace disability, costing
our economy $51 billion every year, I look forward to seeing every
business leader in Québec on March 20.”

About Bell Let’s Talk

The Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative is a $50-million charitable
program based on 4 action pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access,
research, and workplace best practices. To learn more about Bell Let’s
Talk, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Bell is honoured to be named the recipient of the 2012 Freeman
Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation for the Bell
Let’s Talk mental health initiative. The prestigious international
award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) was
presented to Bell in March in Vancouver.

Bell in Québec

Bell is committed to the Québec community, employing more people,
spending more on Québec infrastructure and R&D, and contributing more
to charities (led by the Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative) and
community events than any other communications company. Bell employs
more than 17,000 team members in Québec and invested over $900 million
in Québec infrastructure and R&D in 2011 alone – including the rollout
of the next-generation Bell Fibe network that is already ramping up
competition and choice in TV and Internet services for consumers in
Québec.

Bell offers Bell Mobility wireless, Bell TV, Bell Internet, Bell Home
Phone and Bell Business Markets services across Canada, and is wholly
owned by Montréal’s BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more information,
please visit Bell.ca.

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent
information technology and business process services firms in the
world. CGI provides end-to-end services with approximately 31,000
professionals located in offices and global delivery centers in Canada,
the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. As at June 30, 2012, CGI’s
annualized revenue was approximately $4.3 billion and its order backlog
was approximately $13.6 billion. CGI shares are listed on the TSX
(GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in both the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index. Website: www.cgi.com.

About National Bank of Canada

With $176 billion in assets as at April 30, 2012, National Bank of
Canada (www.nbc.ca), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada’s leading
integrated financial groups, and was named among the five strongest
banks in the world by Bloomberg Markets. The Bank has close to 20,000
employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities
are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank’s
activities via social media and learn more about its extensive
community involvement at clearfacts.ca and commitment.nationalbank.ca.

SOURCE BELL CANADA