KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada - June 17, 1996 - The Bridges Initiatives Inc. (ASE:BIT), one of Canada's foremost providers of career and life skills information via the World Wide Web, today announced that it has launched its U.S. Career Explorer Online pilot project in three American school districts. The Career Explorer OnlineÔ information service, available on the Internet at http://careerexplorer.com, features up-to-date resources that help young people and adults in transition prepare for the future. Sixteen different types of articles are updated daily and focus on career information, self-assessment, skill development and the labor markets. The on-line service provides the most current information about emerging employment opportunities and the necessary skills required to access the opportunities.

"Access to information is essential to help promote personal professional growth and development, especially for educators and professionals who are increasingly involved with helping students develop school-to-career goals and objectives," said Michael S. Martin, vice president, sales and marketing, The Bridges Initiatives Inc. "Career Explorer Online provides educators and professionals with a gamebook of plans that guides users through the career-planning process, and makes navigating the Internet and the vast resources available truly simple."

The school districts participating in this unique pilot project are the Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida; Hacienda La Puente School District, Los Angeles County; and the Oakesdale School District #324, Whitman County, Washington.

The U.S. Career Explorer Online pilot began in April with the selection and in-depth, on-site training of 45 high school teachers and educators from the three districts. The career counsellors were trained to use Career Explorer Online in the classroom, while teachers learned how to use the service and integrate it into online career education curricula. Teachers were also taught how to use Netscape Navigator 2.0Ô, so they can teach students how to use the online service.