April 6, 2005 -- CNtoday announced it will donate $300,000 to the Northern Medical Programs Trustto help train and retain physicians in northern BC.

The NMP Trust is a partnership betweennorthern communities and the University of Northern British Columbiadesigned to improve health care by educating physicians in the north. To date,some 25 communities have pledged to raise more than $4 million toward the totalendowment of $6 million. CN’s support will be credited to the pledges of Northern BCcommunities where the company operates. With the CN donation, fundraising forthe Northern Medical Programs Trust has surpassed $2 million.

“CN has operations in northern communitieslike Hazelton, Terrace, Williams Lake and Quesnel and we know how important it is tohave skilled medical professionals available to meet the needs of northernresidents,” says Peter Marshall, CN’s senior vice president, Western Canada.  “There is a chronicshortage of doctors in small communities and rural areas, and we hope that oursupport will help encourage them to build their practices where the need isgreatest.”

Mr. Marshall presented a cheque to Dr. CharlesJago, President of the University of Northern British Columbia at a reception and dinnerin Prince Georgeon April 6.  CN’s contribution will bepaid over five years.

“We are delighted that CN has become agenerous partner and a permanent member of the NMP Trust,” says Dr. Jago.  “Their gift will make a huge difference inour fundraising campaign, and ultimately in the quality of health careavailable to the people of the North.”

The Northern Medical Program has beenguided by a simple concept: if physicians are educated in northern BC, theywill be more likely to practice in northern and rural areas. The programintegrates state-of-the-art technology with a particular focus on trainingfuture doctors who have the skills and attitude to practice in northerncommunities.  The NMP is part of theexpansion of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and delivered in partnership withUNBC.

Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.