AOL CANADA CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS ONLINE

OFFERING MEMBERS ENDLESS WAYS TO PERK UP THE FESTIVE SEASON

Join Santa, Ozzie the Elf and the Whole North Pole Crew for a Live Chat

Only on AOL Canada, December 15th

Catch Ozzie the Elf, the Host Of AOL’s Santa’s Homepage,

as He Makes His TV Debut on CBC Television on December 19th

Toronto, Canada – December 11, 1997 – Shopping, wrapping, turkey, tinsel, shoveling snow. Every year you search for ways to inject new excitement into the holiday routine. AOL Canada offers endless ways to perk up your holiday season. By visiting AOL Canada’s holidays area, members can check out the latest happenings at the North Pole, download holiday songs by popular musicians, e-mail a gift list directly to Santa, send holiday greetings instantaneously to friends and family around the world and much more.

"AOL Canada has something for everyone this holiday season. For children, Santa’s Home Page brings to life the wonder of the festive season as seen through the eyes of Ozzie the Elf. On the International Holidays area, members can explore how others around the world celebrate holidays at this time of the year. For a more humorous look at the festive season, AOL Canada members can visit the Holidays Survival Kit to learn how to stay sane amidst the holiday madness," said Stephen Bartkiw, managing director, AOL Canada.

You better watch out ... Santa Claus and Ozzie the Elf on AOL Canada

Santa’s Homepage will keep kids and parents entertained for hours of holiday fun. With the help of Ozzie the Elf, kids can e-mail their personal gift list directly to Santa on AOL (Santa Claus@aol.com) and receive a personal response. Last year, Ozzie and Santa’s Homepage quickly became one of the most popular areas during the season, logging over a million visitors with over 50,000 children around the world sending e-mails to Santa Claus on AOL, and each one of them received an answer.

Ozzie the Elf shares daily secrets from the North Pole and shows kids how easy it is to make holiday gifts and decorations. There are chat rooms and message boards to get the latest news about the North Pole and the holidays, including who’s on Santa’s naughty and nice lists. Kids can play interactive holiday games and even decorate a virtual tree.

Hear Santa laugh and Ozzie's witty humour on AOL Live

Ozzie will be in the chat room every Wednesday at 8 p.m.(EST) leading up to December 25 to tell you more about his Homepage. Then, on December 15th at 8:00 (EST) join thousands of other kids from around the world for a special chat with Santa, Ozzie and the whole North Pole crew! Through AOL Radio, you'll be able to hear Santa laugh and Ozzie's witty humour... and you'll be able to ask them anything and hear their response.

Moms! Dads! Go to keyword: AOL Live, and make sure you get the AOL Radio tools so your family will be ready to hear Santa and Ozzie. And, don't forget to let the kids stay up for this special occasion! (Event keyword: Santa's Homepage or AOL Live)

Follow the Online Adventures of Ozzie the Elf on CBC TV

Ozzie the Elf makes his television debut in an animated special on CBC TV, December 19 at 7:30 p.m.(EST). Find out how this determined little guy plans to upgrade Christmas. This 30-minute animated special marks the first time a character originating online has been brought to television.

Much Merriment with MuchMusic

On MuchMusic’s musical greeting area, members can download audio and video greetings from a range of famous artists and bands, including Beck and Sonic Youth. These ‘gift riffs’ are updated weekly and can be sent to friends with a holiday greeting - a unique gift for a music lover.

Chanukah: The Festival of Lights

Jewish Community Online Canada (keyword: Chanukah) offers an area for the festive season that celebrates Chanukah and Jewish heritage with information, images and sounds. Members will find chat rooms and message boards where they can share family traditions and recipes, as well as an interactive area on Chanukah crafts to make and enjoy at home.

Cyber Shopping

Holiday shopping is bound to keep even the most enthusiastic holiday revelers busy. On AOL Canada’s Shopping Channel (keyword: Holiday Shopping), it’s possible to shop for everyone on your gift list without leaving your home or office computer.

The Shopping Channel offers some uniquely Canadian gift suggestions. Members can view gift ideas from the Canadian Geographic Boutique - books, clothing, outdoor equipment and holiday specials, and then order that perfect gift for the avid reader or outdoor enthusiast on their list. For those learning to play the Canadian sport, the Don Cherry Hockey Starter Kit includes everything a beginner needs to shoot pucks like an expert. MuchMusic has its own online shop with T-shirts, sweatshirts and caps for fans.

Shopping online on AOL Canada is easy, convenient, safe and secure, and all AOL certified merchants offer return/refund policies backed by AOL’s unconditional money-back guarantee of satisfaction. To simplify the process even further, AOL Canada offers gift reminders and a shopping countdown so you won’t forget anyone on the list.

Chicken Soup for the Holiday Soul

Story tellers are invited to share their best stories, poetry and thoughts as part of AOL Canada’s Chicken Soup for the Holiday Soul contest. The AOL member who submits the best story to generate holiday spirit will win a Whistler Ski Vacation for two. The contest continues until midnight (EST) on December 31. Check out Keyword: "ChickenSoupContest" for details.

AOL Canada: A Unique Gift

An AOL Canada membership is a unique and useful gift idea. AOL Canada members join a dynamic international community of over 10 million members worldwide. Not only can members access the most up-to-date information on any subject through AOL Canada’s 13 channels including the Internet, but they can apply easy-to-use tools, such as parental controls, for the most enjoyable and safest online experience. In addition, they can also communicate around the world immediately using e-mail and instant messages. Imagine the phone bill savings!

"The holiday season is one of the best times to become a member of AOL Canada. An AOL account opens a new world with a range of entertainment and educational content and numerous communities of interest. On AOL Canada, you can monitor your finances, access breaking news from around the world, chat online with Don Cherry about the world of hockey, chat with members about topics that interest you, communicate with friends and family and much more," said Stephen Bartkiw. "And for those AOL members traveling over the holiday season or for snowbirds making their annual trip to Florida, they never have to feel out of touch," Bartkiw added.

About AOL Canada:

AOL Canada was officially launched on January 31, 1996 by America Online Inc. Personal computer users can obtain AOL Canada software by calling 1-888-AOL-HELP (1-888-265-4357) or by downloading from http://www.aol.ca.

AOL Canada partners currently include Beaty & Co.; Beavers; Canadian Geographic; Don Cherry; Fundata Canada; Canada Trust; Green Line Investor Services; LCS Hockey; MuchMusic; NTN Canada; DISCscribe, GlobalMedic; Reuters Canada; Canadian Press; Agence France-Press; and The Weather Network. Announcements of new Canadian partners continue to be made.

America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world’s leading Internet online service, with more than 10 million members worldwide. AOL, founded in 1985, offers its subscribers a wide variety of services including electronic mail, conferencing, software, computing support, interactive magazines and newspapers and online classes, as well as easy access to services of the Internet.