Press Release

STaRS announces October 2002 Distribution
and Investment Update

STaRS Income Fund ("STaRS") is pleased to announce that a distribution of $0.075 per trust unit will be payable on November 15, 2002 to unitholders of record on October 31, 2002. This equates to an annual yield of 9% based upon a price of $10.00 per unit. As at October 16, 2002, the net asset value was $9.78 per unit.

STaRS is Middlefield’s third closed-end investment trust and the first combining the investment management experience of both Middlefield and Guardian Capital Inc., who act as Co-Advisors to the Trust, responsible for asset mix and security selection. The objectives of STaRS Income Fund are to provide unitholders with a stable monthly income stream of 9% per annum, as well as capital appreciation. The Managed Portfolio is being invested in a broadly diversified portfolio predominantly comprised of income trusts including oil and gas royalty trusts, REITs, business trusts, pipeline and power generation trusts as well as high yield debt.

The asset class weightings for the STaRS Managed Portfolio are:

The trust units trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol STZ.UN.

For further information contact the undersigned:

Nancy Tham
Vice President
(416) 362-0714 ext. 277

October 17, 2002

This press release contains forward looking information. Actual future results may differ materially. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results are described in the STaRS prospectus and other documents filed with regulatory authorities.