News Releases
BMO Financial Group and Skate Canada announced today that BMO will be renewing its skating sponsorship for an additional six years, taking it to 2011.
“BMO is proud to extend our sponsorship with Skate Canada, a partnership that is so closely aligned with our commitment to contribute to the communities in which we do business,” said Michael Beckerman, Chief Marketing Officer, BMO Financial Group.
“BMO’s passion for figure skating involves much more than title sponsorships of events. Whether we’re helping to develop young skaters first starting out, or elite skaters competing at the international level, BMO is committed to supporting recreational skaters and athletes through their hard work, love of the sport and unwavering dedication.”
"Our extended contract with BMO Financial Group is one of the longest standing partnerships in amateur sport," said Pam Coburn, Chief Executive Officer, Skate Canada. "Their contribution to skating goes beyond the financial support they have provided for rights fees, broadcast agreements and leverage fees. It is BMO’s confidence in us that enables Skate Canada to focus on our goals of creating the best environment for our members to thrive."
In 1996, BMO first entered into an agreement with Skate Canada to become the title sponsor of the Canadian Championships and a sponsor of the National Team. This partnership has since grown to include the BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals, BMO Skate Canada Challenges, BMO Skate Canada Sectionals, and BMO Skate Canada Synchronized Championships which has provided the opportunity for nearly one million spectators to enjoy the country’s top figure skaters live.
BMO is particularly proud to be the presenting sponsor of the CanSkate Learn to Skate program, delivered through 1,475 clubs across Canada and taught by professional coaches. This program enables skaters of all ages to participate in recreational skating and provides them with the skills to enter into the competitive skating stream. Close to 700,000 young skaters have participated in the CanSkate program since its inception and the number of participants continues to grow every year.
“Figure skating has been a favourite sport in Canada for more than a hundred years. Interest in figure skating is at an all-time high, with more than six million Canadians – almost 25 per cent of the national population – skating every year. Many of our customers and employees are involved in skating as parents of skaters, members of skating clubs, recreational skaters or volunteers at BMO sponsored competitions,” added Beckerman.
The 2005 BMO Financial Group Canadian Championships in London, Ontario are expected to be one of the most competitive and widely watched athletic events of the year. More than 60,000 spectators are expected to attend, with an average of close to 1 million people watching the event daily during the national television coverage.
BMO Financial Group’s partnership with Skate Canada has developed into what is considered a leading example of corporate sponsorships. This was confirmed in 2002 when BMO received the Corporate Excellence Award for Program Development from the Canadian Sports Awards organization.
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