BMO Financial Group Announces Over $2.3 Million in Donations to Community Programs in Saskatchewan to Mark Bicentennial Year

• Donations will be granted to the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, Ronald McDonald House, University of Saskatchewan, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Wanuskewin Heritage Park and Remai Modern Art Gallery, among others
• As part of #BMO200, the bank invites Canadians to wish it forward in big and small ways at www.BMO200.com

SASKATOON, Oct. 3, 2017 /CNW/ - BMO Financial Group announced today that it is donating over $2.3 million to neighborhood programs throughout Saskatchewan to help celebrate the bank's 200^th year in business, including over $1.1 million in Saskatoon.

Several leading community organizations will benefit from the BMO donations in 2017 as a part of individual projects or multi-year pledges, including contributions to:

• Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan - $250,000 to support the building of the first-ever provincial children's hospital, designated towards the naming of the Quiet Room 1, located within Pediatric Outpatients
• Ronald McDonald House - $125,000 to the Saskatoon House
• University of Saskatchewan - $60,000 to the College of Agriculture and Bioresources
• Whitecap Dakota First Nation - $250,000 towards the construction of a new 55-seat Early Learning Centre for children

Continued support of local Arts & Culture includes:

• Wanuskewin Heritage Park - $750,000 for their capital campaign
• Remai Modern Art Gallery - $650,000 towards the naming of one of three large "marquee" gallery spaces in the new Remai Modern Gallery

"We are thrilled to announce our help to so many diverse local programs in Saskatchewan, that are sure to have a positive impact in our communities for many years to come," said John MacAulay, Senior Vice President Prairies & Central Canada, BMO Bank of Montreal. "These gifts are in good company with other initiatives and donations that BMO has made across the country, and are a reflection of our proud legacy of giving back."

Mr. MacAulay also noted the bank's support of stand-out individuals in the community to help mark the bicentennial, including Dr. Jim Smart, a Saskatoon resident who grows, harvests and donates thousands of crops to a local food bank.

"In addition to contributing to well-established organizations that share our vision for a better tomorrow and serve our neighbours and customers in Saskatchewan, we are so pleased to have local employees work intimately to help customers like Dr. Smart achieve that same goal," said Mr. MacAulay. "Recognizing his work, and other members of the BMO family paying it forward across the country, helps mark our milestone in a very meaningful way."

To add to the celebration, BMO will continue to grant wishes across a number of categories, such as Green, Togetherness, Legacy, and Community, until November 2017 through its BMO200 program. The bank is calling on individuals and organizations to wish it forward by visiting www.BMO200.com or by visiting one of the interactive BMO200 fountains.

To make a wish, please visit BMO200.com.
To learn more about Dr. Smart's story, please click here.

About BMO Financial Group
Established in 1817, and currently marking its 200th year of operations, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services provider based in North America. With total assets of $709 billion as of July 31, 2017, and more than 45,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

Web: www.bmo.com Twitter: @BMOmedia

SOURCE BMO Financial Group