News Releases

BMO Nesbitt Burns launched its 2005 United Way Employee Campaign today with a pancake breakfast on its trading floor in the heart of Toronto's financial district.

“Our employees have a proud tradition of supporting United Way through fundraising, volunteer work and individual donations," said Yvan Bourdeau, President and Chief Operating Officer, BMO Nesbitt Burns. “In addition, many of our employees are active volunteers within their communities and I want to thank them for giving generously of their time and energy.”

Also on hand to launch the campaign were:

Wendel Clark, former Toronto Maple Leaf
Farley Flex, Music Producer and Canadian Idol Judge
Jake Gold, Music Producer and Canadian Idol Judge
Susan Hay, Global TV
Amanda Lang, ROB-TV
Alannah Myles, Recording Artist

Last year, the firm's 2,100 Toronto-area employees raised a record $2.2 million for the United Way during the three-week campaign. In addition to this United Way campaign, BMO employees support the United Way through BMO Fountain of Hope, the organization’s charitable foundation of Canadian employees and pensioned employees.

“The support of BMO Nesbitt Burns employees will help us reach our record goal for the community and help strengthen neighbourhoods across the city,” said Frances Lankin, United Way President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toronto.

United Way of Greater Toronto helps strengthen neighbourhoods and people through a network of 200 health and social service agencies in Toronto that support children, youth, homeless and disabled people, abused women, newcomers, seniors and people in crisis. United Way of Greater Toronto’s 2004 fundraising goal for the community is $88.5 million.

BMO Nesbitt Burns is a leading full-service investment bank offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a broad range of products and services including investment and corporate banking, treasury services, market risk management, institutional investing and research.  BMO Nesbitt Burns is a member of BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO). For more information, please visit www.bmonb.com.

Note: A photograph will be available later today on the Canadian Press photo network.

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BMO Nesbitt Burns kicked off its United Way employee campaign with a celebrity pancake breakfast.  From left to right: BMO’s Yvan Bourdeau; Recording Artist Alannah Myles; ROB-TV’s Amanda Lang; BMO’s David Hyma and Eric Tripp; Global TV’s Susan Hay; former Toronto Maple Leaf Wendel Clark and Jake Gold, Canadian Idol Judge and Music Producer.