RONA Invests $240,000 to Refurbish Football Fields in Eight Canadian Communities

BOUCHERVILLE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 26, 2012) - RONA inc. (TSX:RON)(TSX:RON.PR.A), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, and the official presenter of the CFL's 100th Grey Cup Tour, has announced that it will support a major refurbishment of eight football fields through its Home Field Advantage program. RONA intends to invest $30,000 in each project, primarily in materials and labour, to help restore football fields in the communities where the eight CFL teams are based.

"As a partner of the CFL since 2001, RONA is proud to be the official presenter for this historic tour, which includes many celebrations across Canada throughout the 2012 season," said Karim Salabi, RONA's Executive Vice President, Marketing. "The Grey Cup is an integral part of our Canadian heritage, and this partnership creates a great sense of pride among our customers and employees across the country," he added. Mr. Salabi also noted that as a company deeply involved in the communities where it has a presence, it was entirely natural for RONA to partner with the 100th Grey Cup.

"RONA has a deep commitment to our league and our country and the communities that make them strong," said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.

"Its support for the Grey Cup 100 Tour shows RONA understands the power of the Grey Cup to bring Canadians together. Its Home Field Advantage program underlines the responsibility we all share to building stronger communities. And RONA's partnership is making the year of the 100th Grey Cup one Canadians will always remember."

Building the official train for the tour

In addition to refurbishing the football fields, RONA will provide $60,000 in materials to build the official train for the tour. Added to this are the hours of work donated by volunteer RONA employees, who are happy and proud to take part in these initiatives.

Touching the Grey Cup

During the 100th Grey Cup Tour, 14 RONA stores located near the official train stops will host celebrations for the people in each community. In addition to a day-long exhibit of the renowned Grey Cup, a wide range of family activities are planned for the enjoyment of football fans. "It's another way for us to celebrate this historic event and create a memorable experience for our customers. In a sense, we're giving them the opportunity to touch history," Mr. Salabi concluded. The names and locations of the participating stores, as well as the schedule of train stops, will be made public in the near future. The Canadian Football League's 100th Grey Cup Tour will be held from September 7 to November 17, 2012.

RONA also encourages fans to take part in the RONA CFL Pool. The winner receives two tickets to the 100th Grey Cup game on November 25. Fans can enter the contest online at www.rona.ca/poollcf.

It's worth noting that RONA has partnered with the CFL since 2001, and with the eight teams of the league since 2005.

About RONA

RONA (TSX:RON)(TSX:RON.PR.A), is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products. The Corporation operates a network of more than 800 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats under several banners. With more than 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every region of Canada, the RONA store network generates consolidated sales of more than $6 billion. For more information, visit www.rona.ca.