GRDC Member News and Kudos

West Group Named to AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50 List
Recognition for commitment to workers over 50 is the first for a Minnesota business

West, a Thomson business (TSX: TOC; NYSE: TOC), has been named to the "AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50" list for 2003. The award is the only one of its kind in the country, and West is the first Minnesota business to receive the honor.

West Group was recognized for its best practices and policies for valuing the mature worker at an annual awards dinner in New York City on September 24, 2003

This award is the latest in a series of workplace honors for West. West was also honored by Working Mother magazine as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." And West was recently named one of the "Best Places to Work in IT" [information technology] by Computerworld magazine.

"West and The Thomson Corporation believe that people, culture and business are interdependent," said Thomson Legal & Regulatory President and CEO Brian Hall. "Our success lies in how we value people throughout the company, and we are committed to providing services and programs to help employees deal with the complex issues associated with mid-life and retirement."

These initiatives include an employee assistance program (EAP) that addresses legal matters, emotional well being, resources for seniors, financial education, parenting and eldercare support. West's Benefits and Work/Life programs also provide seminars to help employees manage their finances and plan for retirement.

"More than 40 percent of our workforce is over the age of 40, and 15 percent are over age 50," said West President Mike Wilens. "Their expertise and their value to the company - and to our customers - cannot be overstated. That's why we honor their contributions by providing a work environment that understands their life circumstances." In addition to helping employees manage their time, West is committed to providing continuous learning and development opportunities. The company reimburses post-secondary education tuition and provides scholarship opportunities for employees' dependents. West also offers classes and training through Thomson University, an on-site learning facility, where employees can take classes ranging from beginning Spanish to.aspx computer programming.

Other amenities available to employees at West's Eagan, Minn., headquarters include an on-site convenience store where employees can drop off dry cleaning or pick up a gift. Employees can do their banking at the on-site credit union, and there also is a cyber café^© that includes Caribou Coffee, the coffee chain's first store built into a corporate headquarters.

"Congratulations to West on being recognized as a 2003 AARP Best Employer for Workers Over 50," said Deborah Russell, manager of Economic Security and Work at AARP. "West is ahead of the curve in recognizing the value of the mature worker." Twenty-five employers in 17 states made the "AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50" list for 2003. AARP said that each of the honorees excelled in many of the categories that were evaluated. The criteria included recruitment practices (including former or retired employees), continuing opportunities for advancement, flexible work schedules, and benefits for current and retired employees. AARP The Magazine will feature stories on the "Best Employers" in its November-December issue.

About West
Headquartered in Eagan, Minn., West is the foremost provider of integrated information solutions to the U.S. legal market. West is a business within The Thomson Corporation (TSX: TOC; NYSE: TOC) and was formed when West Publishing and Thomson Legal Publishing merged in June 1996. For more information, please visit the West Web site at west.thomson.com.

About The Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation, with 2002 revenues of $7.8 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges (TSX: TOC; NYSE: TOC).

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; engage in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; assist members in serving their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for our members. These include AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our quarterly newspaper in Spanish; NRTA Live and Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our Web site, www.aarp.org. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

11/03