Breezewood Forest Products Launches its “Green Leaf Environmental Initiative” for its Proprietary Brands Tillsonburg, ON., May 12, 2006 - In an effort to provide consumers with a better understanding of the origins of its products, Breezewood Forest Products Ltd. has developed the “Green Leaf” program for distributors and retailers of its various private label, solid hardwood flooring products. Featuring the tag line “Think Globally….Buy Locally!”, the program will involve a POP Kit which identifies Breezewood products in its customer’s various displays, and refers the consumer to an information piece attached to the displays. Breezewood Forest Products, is a division of Townsend Lumber Inc. which operates several sawmills and kiln drying facilities, and manages forestry operations in Southwestern Ontario. Breezewood is one of the few flooring manufacturers in Canada that actually manages and harvests the timber that ultimately is manufactured into hardwood flooring. The forests and woodlots in this part of Ontario are mostly privately owned. As such, they are governed and regulated under Regional Tree Bylaws, which make them some of the strictest and most closely monitored forests in Canada. According to David Townsend, President and Owner, “we have not had an infraction in over 30 years of operating in these woodlots - and they watch the industry very closely.” Townsend adds, “Having to comply with such rigorous guidelines is very expensive and takes a lot of time and resources. When I see pre-finished hardwood flooring, of the same or similar species to our own, coming in from overseas, that is cheaper than the cost of our raw lumber….well, I have to wonder where that timber is coming from, and what kind of regulations are being followed in those jurisdictions!” Townsend is also closely involved with a number of Woodlot Improvement Associations, who actively lobby various regional governments to continually improve and strengthen the tree cutting by-laws. With the current attention being paid by the media and environmental groups, to the rampant illegal, or unsustainable harvesting practices taking place in many overseas countries, the company feels the time is right to make the consumer aware of the damage being done to the earth’s forests. At the same time, the company is urging retailers and consumers to spend their dollars wisely, on hardwood flooring products that come from sustainable and well-regulated sources, right here in North America.