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The Rogers Pumpkin Patrol


    Company employees volunteer to keep local communities safe this Halloween

    TORONTO, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - Rogers Cable Communications Inc. announced today
that the Rogers Pumpkin Patrol will hit the streets again this Halloween. One
year shy of its 25th anniversary, the program has been going strong as a
result of over 1,000 Rogers employees across Canada who dedicate their time in
October to keeping Halloween safe and fun for all. Rogers employees are the
friendly eyes and ears that dedicate themselves to ensuring Halloween night in
Toronto is a treat. The Pumpkin Patrol's signature Halloween safety
presentations in the weeks leading up to the 31st, as well as patrolling red
Rogers vans in areas serviced by Rogers Cable on the night of, will ensure
little ghouls and goblins stay safe.
    "Halloween is an exciting time for children, but their safety is always a
concern for parents," says Sergeant Michael Matic of the Toronto Police
Service. "This is why the Toronto Police Service is proud to partner with the
Rogers Pumpkin Patrol. Together we can educate parents and their children on
how to stay safe, but still have fun, on the big night."
    Throughout October, Rogers employees and local police officers will be
sharing safety tips on everything from street safety to proper costuming with
grades two and three students in schools across Canada. Rogers also plans to
hand out over 175,000 Halloween safety loot packs to students from
coast-to-coast. Each package includes a reflective armband and a safety tip
flyer to take with them on Halloween.
    At www.pumpkinpatrol.com, parents and children can review safety tips,
play games and see the latest news about the Pumpkin Patrol in their
community.
    On the evening of the 31st, over 350 volunteers will be driving 175 red
Rogers vans around Toronto's neighbourhoods, acting as an extra set of eyes
for our young trick-or-treaters. This tradition started in 1984, when a few
dozen employees decided to patrol in their Rogers vans on Halloween. Twenty
four years later, over 1,000 Rogers employees across Canada will be out
teaching safety and patrolling.
    "The Rogers Pumpkin Patrol has 24 years of experience in educating
children about safety and in making sure streets stay safe and fun on
Halloween. This is an initiative that communities know and trust," says
Wayne Cramp, Regional President, GTA, Rogers Cable. "The Rogers employees who
volunteer for this program are truly ambassadors for safety. They're an
example of how we can give back to the regions we service."Here are a few Halloween safety tips for parents and children:

    -   Take your time: Tell your children to walk, not run from house to
        house and to stay on the sidewalk or at the side of the road, facing
        traffic. They should only cross the road at the corner and look both
        ways before crossing.

    -   Avoid costume catastrophes: Choose costumes that are loose enough to
        be worn over warm clothing, but not baggy enough that children trip
        over them.

    -   Don't be afraid to ask for help: If you are lost or in need of
        assistance go straight to a police officer or a red Rogers van.

    For more tips and information visit www.pumpkinpatrol.com.

    About Rogers Cable:
    -------------------Rogers Cable Communications Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rogers
Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), a diversified Canadian
communications and media company. Rogers Cable's advanced digital two-way
network passes approximately 3.6 million homes in Ontario, New Brunswick and
Newfoundland, with 64% basic penetration of its homes passed. Rogers Cable
pioneered high-speed Internet access and now 42% of homes passed by its cable
networks are Internet customers while 66% of its basic cable customers
subscribe to Rogers' high-speed Internet service. With 61% digital
penetration, Rogers Cable offers a leading selection of High Definition TV
programming, a complete array of Rogers On Demand services (including Video on
Demand (VOD), Subscription VOD, Personal Video Recorders and Timeshifting
channels), and an extensive line-up of sports and multicultural programming.
Rogers Cable now offers home telephone service (voice-over-cable) to
approximately 94% of its cable territory and, combined with its circuit
switched telephony subscribers, has over 1 million local telephony customers.
Rogers Cable is a national provider of voice communications services, data
networking, and broadband Internet connectivity to small, medium and large
businesses. In addition it operates over 450 Rogers Retail stores.
    Additional information on Rogers is available at www.rogers.com.