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The Brick’s Comrie to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Will be honored by the Retail Council of Canada

Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2008

TORONTO – Bill Comrie, founder of what is now the Brick Group Income Fund, will be honored with the Retail Council of Canada’s Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala to be held June 2 during its upcoming annual conference.

“Dr. Comrie is a true Canadian business icon, said RCC President and CEO Diane Brisebois. “Over the course of his distinguished career, Bill's combination of ingenuity, business acumen, work ethic and kindness have and continue to leave an indelible mark on the Canadian retail landscape.

“A promising hockey player in his youth, Bill directed that passion and drive to succeed into retail at a young age, and the entire retail industry in Canada has been the better for it.”

The award honors “retailers who dedicate their lives to the betterment of retail in Canada,” the council said. Nominees have at least 25 years of consecutive service at an executive position in the retail sector and are selected by a panel of current and former retail executives as well as representatives from the financial, academic and consulting communities.

After the sudden death of his father, Comrie ended a promising hockey career at age 19 to care for his mother and brothers and take over his father’s furniture store.

At the time, the 3,000-square-foot store had only one employee. He sold the business, giving all the proceeds to his mother. He then borrowed $8,000 and started Bill Comrie’s Furniture in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, which is now known as The Brick.

The Brick went public in July 2004, becoming the Brick Group Income Fund. Prior to the public offering, Comrie personally distributed bonus checks totalling C$43 million to all 6,000 of his employees in appreciation for their dedication and commitment. He then stepped down as chairman and CEO.

At the end of 2007, the Brick Group employed more than 7,000 people and had sales in excess of C$1.6 billion. Operating under four banners – The Brick, The Brick Mattress Store, The Brick Superstore and United Furniture – the company is the largest retailer of furniture, mattresses, appliances and electronics in Canada. It operates more than 200 stores across the country and eight buying offices in Asia. It sources product from more than 20 countries.

During the course of his career, Comrie also has been deeply involved in charity work, including chairing the capital campaigns for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton, Alberta where the Brick Group is headquartered.

Other winners of the RCC’s Lifetime Achievement Award include Walter Hachborn of Home Hardware Stores, which also operates Home Furniture.

More information about the RCC’s Store 2008 conference can be found on its Web site at www.storeconference.ca.

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Comrie receives Lifetime Achievement Award

May 25, 2008

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