CNSC 2008 Press Release

(As posted on Canada NewsWire)

Attention News/Assignment Editors:

World's most popular word game turns S-I-X-T-Y!

    Scrabble(R) celebrates it's Diamond Anniversary with 3 Back-to-Back
    Events in Toronto

    TORONTO, March 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Tuesday April 1st through to Monday
April 7th - designated SCRABBLE Week in Toronto - features three unique events
to commemorate the anniversary of the classic word game. Beginning with
Frontier College's fourth annual SCRABBLE Corporate Challenge literacy
fundraiser, followed by the 6th Canadian National SCRABBLE Championships and
ending with Performing Arts Lodge's annual SCRABBLE with the Stars charity
event.
    On April 3rd, Frontier College's SCRABBLE Corporate Challenge, presented
by TSX Group, takes place at the Design Exchange in Toronto. Bay Street law
firms, investment firms, financial institutions and blue chip corporations
play SCRABBLE and compete against each other for the coveted TSX Cup. Teams
cost $5,000 and consist of four players and four guests who get to meet and
mingle with Canada's top executives, bid on terrific silent auction items,
enjoy great food and lots of competitive fun. Proceeds from the Corporate
Challenge are used by Frontier College to offer literacy programs for
children, youth and adults across Canada.
    On April 4th - 7th, a full deck of 52 SCRABBLE experts from across the
country meet in Toronto for the biggest ever Canadian National SCRABBLE
Championship. Among them will be the winners of all five past events, three
past World Champions, players from seven provinces (and two states) from
Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, big names from the growing
subcult of serious Scrabble players.

    <<
    - Adam Logan is the defending champion, the only two-time champion, and
      has also held the U.S. and World titles. He's a 32-year-old
      mathematician currently working at the University of Waterloo
      and one of the fastest
      minds on the planet.

    - David Boys is a past Canadian and World Champion, and has mellowed
      since his appearance as a "streetwise hustler" in the documentary film
      "Word Slingers", but this second-seeded 44-year-old computer programmer
      is out to show he still has what it takes.

    - Joel Wapnick, also a past Canadian, U.S. and World Champion
      and veteran of Scrabble documentaries, is a 61-year-old music
      educator from McGill University. His depth of experience is
      surpassed only by his total command of the tournament lexicon.

    - Robin Pollock Daniel, the top-ranked female competitor, identifies
      herself as a mother and psychotherapist, often represents Canada in
      international play, and lives in Toronto.
    >>

    Longtime CNSC Director John Chew organizes one major tournament each
month, anywhere from Mumbai to Orlando, and produces exciting web coverage
including interactive games that put the viewer right in the champion's seat
for the finals.
    This year's event begins Friday with a one-day early bird tournament that
will be attended by some top players as well as many lower-ranked players
competing for one of two wildcard berths available to the main event, one
being reserved for under-18 players. The main event runs Friday night,
Saturday and Sunday, and then the top two finalists compete for the
championship on Monday morning.
    And to complete the week long event, mingle with the stars at the Fourth
Annual Performing Arts Lodge's SCRABBLE With The Stars charity event taking
place on the evening of April 7th at The Suites at 1 King West. The event will
be hilariously co hosted by Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath. Other faces
familiar to film, TV. and stage audiences will include Gordon Pinsent, Peter
Kent, Michael Burgess, R.H. Thomson, Marilyn Lightstone, Jeanne Beker and
Jackie Richardson. There will be a silent auction followed by wine and dinner,
then out come the Scrabble boards with a celebrity at each table of four.
    Magnificent prizes include first class Via Rail travel, luxurious stays
at Novotel and a huge surprise package of luxurious goodies courtesy of
Scotiabank. The proceeds raised will help pay for the much needed part time
services of a health care professional so that ailing and enfeebled PAL Place
residents can continue to live with dignity in their own apartment, among
their fellow pros.

    For more information on Frontier College, visit
www.scrabblenightincanada.ca or call 416-923-3591, ext. 335.

    For more information on the 6th Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship
and to follow along as it takes place please visit
http://www.scrabblecanada.com or call John Chew at 416-876-7675.

    For more information about PAL Toronto's unique fund raiser, SCRABBLE
With The Stars, visit www.scrabblewiththestars.ca or phone 416-777-9674.

    About Hasbro

    Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure
time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture
and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both
internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER
BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the
highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

For further information: about Hasbro Canada Corporation: Marisa
Pedatella, HASBRO CANADA CORPORATION, (905) 238-3374 ext. 282,
mpedatella@hasbrocan.com

HASBRO is the owner of the registered SCRABBLE^® trademark in the United States and Canada. © 2008 HASBRO. All rights reserved. "SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game" is the proper way to refer to this unique group of word games and related properties marketed by HASBRO. "SCRABBLE" is not a generic term. To use it as such is not only misleading but also does injustice to the company responsible for the trademark's longtime popularity. All we ask is that when you mean SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game, you say so. 

The SCRABBLE^® trademark is owned by J.W. Spear and Sons, PLC, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. outside of the United States and Canada. 

For more information about SCRABBLE or the NSA, or to comment on or correct the contents of this page, please e-mail: info@scrabble-assoc.com 
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