Northwestel and Latitude Wireless have entered into a $50,000.00 sponsorship agreement to benefit Mount Sima. The new sponsorship was announced today at a news conference held jointly with the Great Northern Ski Society, a non-profit organization which runs the downhill ski and snowboard facility. Under the terms of the five-year agreement, the two companies will together contribute $10,000.00 per year toward the operations of Mount Sima.

“Mount Sima is a great outdoor facility that promotes a fun, healthy and active lifestyle,” said Paul Flaherty, Northwestel President and Chief Executive Officer. “It provides fantastic recreational and educational opportunities for the community as a whole. At Northwestel, we are proud to do our part to help Mount Sima reach its full potential and serve Yukoners, tourists and other visitors.”

“Latitude Wireless believes in supporting the communities that we serve,” said Brian MacDonald, Director of Dakwakada Development Corporation, which is a partner with Northwestel in Latitude Wireless. “We are very pleased to join with Northwestel to support this excellent recreational facility, which so many people enjoy throughout the winter. Mount Sima helps to make the Yukon a better place to live and visit, and we are happy to be a part of that.”

“We are delighted that Northwestel and Latitude Wireless have chosen to sponsor Mount Sima over the next five years,” said Craig Hougen, President of the Great Northern Ski Society. “This is the largest direct sponsorship in our history and such a huge contribution helps us to ensure that Mount Sima will continue to be a great place for people to ski and play in the outdoors. The long-term nature of the sponsorship allows us to provide a higher level of service overall and demonstrates the tremendous commitment that both Northwestel and Latitude Wireless have to the community.”

Mount Sima has been open since 1993. During the winter season, hundreds of Yukoners use the hill on a daily basis, including students who visit as part of school programming. During the 2008-2009 season, Mount Sima had 17,000 visitors.

Mount Sima opened for the 2009-2010 season in early December, and beginning today, it will be open every day until January 3^rd, except for Christmas Day, for skiing and snowboarding, with snow camps scheduled over the Christmas Break. New programming this season includes ice climbing provided through Equinox Adventure Learning and a snowshoe rental program operated by the Sportslife Rental Shop at Sima.

“Mount Sima is receiving very strong support from the business community this year,” added Hougen. “Sponsorship plays a crucial role in helping us provide a great service to Yukoners and visitors. We are very grateful to sponsors such as Northwestel, Latitude Wireless, Air North, White Pass and Yukon Route, Whitehorse Beverages, Yukon Brewing Company and many others. They all contribute enormously to our success.”

In 2008, Northwestel contributed more than $670,000 in cash and in-kind donations to many northern community groups, including the 2008 Arctic Winter Games. Throughout its history, Northwestel has played a key role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North. Northwestel is recognized as a key contributor to the well-being of northern communities through its community investment program and the volunteer contributions of its employees.

Latitude Wireless is a partnership between Northwestel and the Dakwakada Development Corporation, the business investment arm of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Launched in 2006, this successful joint venture provides digital cellular service in all Yukon communities. Northwestel provides complete telecommunications solutions and entertainment services in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, northern British Columbia and High Level, Alberta. The company’s operations span nearly 4 million square kilometres of the most remote and rugged areas of Canada.