BMO Celebrating Women: BMO Recognizes Outstanding Women in Kitchener-Waterloo Through National Program

KITCHENER, ON, June 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Three women were honoured at the annual BMO Celebrating Women event in Kitchener for their remarkable contributions to business and the community in one of three categories: Innovation and Global Growth; Community and Charitable Giving; and Expansion and Growth in Small Business.

The program recognizes female leaders in local communities as part of BMO's commitment to drive the advancement of women.

The following honourees were recognized:

• Innovation & Global Growth: Christiane Thé
  Ms. Thé is the co-founder and Director of Software Quality of Lakes Environmental Software, a tech company supplying robust and easy-to-use software, training, and services to consulting companies, industry, governmental agencies, and academia.
  
  Started in 1995 by Ms. Thé and her husband, Jesse, Lakes Environmental is recognized internationally for its technologically-advanced software and exceptional expertise in the area of environmental science.
  
  Lakes Environmental developed the first commercial atmospheric pollution model for Windows OS, AERMOD View. The company is most prominent in Canadian and Latin American markets.
  
  Lakes Environmental was ranked one of the Top 25 Governance, Risk, and Compliance Technology Providers in 2017 by CIO Applications Magazine. Silicon Review listed the tech firm one of 50 Most Admired Companies of the Year in 2017.
  
  
• Community & Charitable Giving: Dianne Moser
  Ms. Moser is the former president of TireSupplier Distribution, Inc. (TDI), one of Ontario's leading tire distributors. Ms. Moser has held numerous leadership and volunteer positions in health care, education, and non-profit sectors.
  
  Ms. Moser teamed up with Marion Thomson Howell, CEO of Shaughnessy Howell Consulting, and Dr. Hazel Markwell's team at Toronto's Centre for Clinical Ethics to write the first Catholic Health Association Governance Leadership training modules.
  
  Ms. Moser's charitable attributes are described as "an inspiration to all". Ms. Moser has and continues to serve as a mentor to many charitable foundations, including Kitchener-Waterloo Big Sisters, St. Mary's General Hospital, St. Joseph's Health System, and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. She is a current board member of the Hospice of Waterloo Region.
  
  Ms. Moser was the recipient of both the 2013 Conestoga College Alumni of Distinction Award and the 2016 Mission Legacy Award by St. Mary's General Hospital.
  
  
• Expansion & Growth in Small Business: Chloe Hamilton
  Ms. Hamilton is the founder of Warm Embrace Elder Care, a support service company for seniors who wish to remain living in their own home for as long as possible.
  
  The service provides multiple homecare options across Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
  
  Ms. Hamilton was inspired to create Warm Embrace after seeing the lack of services available when her grandmother needed home care.
  
  Starting with four employees, the company has grown to a dedicated team of 35, filling a gap in the current support programs provided to our aging population.
  
  Ms. Hamilton was recently awarded the 2018 Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award (Young Professional of the Year).

"BMO Financial Group is a proud supporter of influential women leaders in communities across Canada ? including our honourees in the Kitchener-Waterloo area," said Janet Peddigrew, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Ontario Region at BMO Private Banking. "Our honourees dedicate their time and expertise to innovate, inspire and encourage their communities. BMO is committed to developing programs that support the advancement of women in cities and towns nationwide."

BMO has partnerships with organizations such as GroYourBiz, WBE Canada, Women Presidents' Organization and Catalyst. It has also developed products that address the needs of its female clients, including the recent Women in Leadership Mutual Fund ? the first impact investing mutual fund offered by a Canadian bank focused on gender diversity. It has also spearheaded studies around women entrepreneurs, such as Everywhere, Every Day Innovating ? Women Entrepreneurs and Innovation.

For more information about BMO Celebrating Women, please visit: bmoforwomen.com and join the social conversation using #BMOforWomen.

About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider ? the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $744 billion as of April 30, 2018, and a team of diverse and highly engaged 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, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group