CONTACT:

Wendy McLean
The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC
Phone: 1-800-663-0437, Fax: 604-669-9260
wmclean@cle.bc.ca, www.cle.bc.ca

Register now - 1-800-663-0437

February 24, 2000

Toronto Seminar Presents Unique Listing Features of Canada’s Venture Exchange
March 3, 2000 – Sheraton Hotel, 123 Queen Street, 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.

Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX), in cooperation with the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLE), will be in Toronto for one day March 3 to introduce Ontario lawyers, accountants, brokers, advisors, and listed company representatives to the policies and practice of the new national stock exchange for small capitalization companies. The one-day seminar anticipates the opening of the CDNX Toronto office, scheduled for May 1, 2000.

CDNX president and chief executive officer William L. Hess, QC will be the keynote speaker at the seminar luncheon. Since taking the helm at CDNX, Mr. Hess has been a tireless advocate of the new venture market and its unique place within Canada’s capital market system. As chairman of the Alberta Securities Commission, he led that commission through significant changes, including its transformation to an industry-funded provincial corporation with significantly enhanced fiscal, managerial, and operational authority. Mr. Hess also worked to improve securities regulation at the national level, elevating Alberta to a leadership role in the development of the new Canadian Securities Regulatory System.

Tickets to the luncheon and Mr. Hess’ address can be purchased independent of the seminar by calling 1-800-663-0437 and specifying "lunch with CDNX only". The luncheon charge of $50 includes GST.

Registrants for the CDNX/CLE seminar will learn about CDNX policies and practice and how they provide new opportunities for small capitalization stocks. The seminar will describe CDNX operations on a national basis and of its role within the Ontario market. Registrants will learn from senior CDNX personnel the practical implications of having new regulation in this market and receive advice about dealing with the Exchange. Detailed reference materials are included in the seminar fee.

CDNX is partnering with CLE in the development and delivery of the seminar. CLE is a not-for-profit society with 30 years experience in education. The organization is widely respected for its legal and cross-professional education and is the winner of numerous international awards for educational courses, publications, and technology. CLE is proud to have the support of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario Branch) and the Law Society of Upper Canada for this seminar.

To register for the seminar and/or lunch, call 1-800-663-043.

CDNX Highlights:

Canadian capital markets restructuring jointly announced March 15, 1999 by the Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Alberta stock exchanges.

Restructuring designed to put Canada’s capital markets on a competitive footing with global markets through the consolidation of large-cap stocks on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the development of a world-class derivatives exchange in Montreal and the consolidation of venture class equities on a single national exchange founded on the merger of Alberta Stock Exchange (ASE) and the Vancouver Stock Exchange (VSE).

ASE & VSE merged November 26, 1999 under the name Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX).

CDNX opens for business November 29, 1999 with more than 2300 early-stage companies located in nine Canadian provinces (PEI excepted) and the nation’s three territories.

Day one trading volume of 62.3 million shares was 60% higher than combined average volumes for the predecessor markets.

Average daily trading November 29 – February 23 inclusive:

• Volume: 74.0 million
• Value: $92.6 million
• Transactions: 23,385 trades

Average daily trading for February 1 – 23 inclusive:

• Volume: 115.3 million
• Value: $156.3 million
• Transactions: 37,507 trades.

Thirty-eight early-stage companies have been listed in the first 60 days.

CDNX launched the IndexCDNX family of venture market benchmarks on February 15, 2000. The four indices, benchmarking technology, mining, oil & gas and the CDNX market overall have performed exceptionally in their first quarter can be viewed on the CDNX homepage (cdnx.com) as well as through quotation vendors such as Reuters, Bloomberg and StarData.

CDNX Toronto is scheduled to open May 1 with offices in the Exchange Tower, home of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

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