Sunopta Inc. Hosts Industry Experts and a Special Screening of An Inconvenient Truth to Educate Youths on Sustainable Practices
TORONTO--April 24, 2007--SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL)(TSX:SOY) is bringing the sustainability message to more than 800 Halton area students during Earth Week with two special screenings of Al Gore's Academy Award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. SunOpta Chairman Jeremy Kendall will be joining environmental educator and author Skid Crease and Peter Love, Chief Conservation Officer of Ontario at Burlington Central High School to engage in dialogues with area students about conservation, sustainable agriculture and energy efficiency. The event has drawn a capacity crowd of students and educators from local schools. SunOpta has also donated 60 copies Al Gore's film and book to the Halton Public and Catholic School Boards and has funded the development of a teachers' package designed to educate students on sustainable principles and practices.
According to Ron Ballentine, Coordinator of Science and Technology and Environmental Education for the Halton District School Board, the invitation to the screenings drew an unprecedented response when it was first announced. "The event was oversubscribed within days of receiving the invitation from SunOpta. Having a company, such as SunOpta, with its array of environmental products and services, acting as a community partner to provide financial support emphasizes the importance of issues such as climate change and assists schools in promoting sustainable practices with our committed and interested youth." He adds that some area schools that were unable to attend are eager to receive the DVDs provided by SunOpta so that they can show the movie to all of their students.
"As a company that is strongly committed to healthy and sustainable living, we believe that educating our youth in this all important area is integral to our future," says Kendall. "Working with the Halton Boards to promote learning in this area is consistent with our own commitment to environmental leadership in all facets of our business and building partnerships to encourage excellence in environmental stewardship. We're especially delighted to see such an exceptional interest from the students. It shows without a doubt that today's youth are strongly committed to making this world a better place to live."
A second screening event - which is also fully booked - is scheduled for May 23 at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown.
About SunOpta Inc.
SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food, supplements and health and beauty markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group (soon to become SunOpta BioProcess Inc.) which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and food processing industries. Each of these business units has proprietary products and services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to references to business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, capital expenditure plans, business and operational growth plans and references to the future growth of the business. These forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its interpretation of current conditions, historical trends and expected future developments as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstance. However, whether actual results and developments will agree with expectations and predications of the Company is subject to many risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to; general economic, business or market risk conditions; competitive actions by other companies; changes in laws or regulations or policies of local governments, provinces and states as well as the governments of United States and Canada, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Consequently all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized.
CONTACT: SunOpta Inc.
Jeremy N. Kendall, Chairman
Steve Bromley, President & CEO
Joseph Riz, Executive Vice President
John Dietrich, Vice President & CFO
Susan Wiekenkamp, Information Officer
Tel: 905-455-2528, ext 103
susan.wiekenkamp@sunopta.com
Website: www.sunopta.com
or
Investment Community Inquiries:
Lytham Partners, LLC
Joe Diaz
Robert Blum
Joe Dorame
Tel: 602-889-9700
diaz@lythampartners.com
SOURCE: SunOpta Inc.