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BMO Financial Group places a high premium on social responsibility and attributes its success to the commitment of employees throughout the organization who have made it into a personal mission, President and CEO Tony Comper told an audience today as he accepted BMO’s award for Best Corporate Citizen of the Year, presented by Corporate Knights.

“I am extremely proud to be leading an organization professionally and objectively judged to be Canada’s Best Corporate Citizen of the Year,” said Mr. Comper. “Given the high premium we place on social responsibility at BMO Financial Group, it is especially gratifying — not just for me, but for many thousands of colleagues all across the enterprise.”

He explained the importance of this award is enhanced by the fact that the judging criteria are even more objective and transparent this year, and the indicators more measurable. Companies were evaluated based on thirteen performance indicators, including executive gender diversity, tax generation, executive retention rate, as well as board independence and diversity. For more information, visit www.corporateknights.ca.

BMO Financial Group’s Commitment to Good Corporate Citizenship
Since 1817, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. BMO Financial Group contributed more than $29 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in 2004, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada. BMO has committed $9.8 million over the next 10 years to universities and colleges across the country.

As one of Canada's largest businesses and as a responsible company that believes in the tenets of good corporate citizenship, BMO Financial Group has a key role to play in helping to ensure that Canada's regions, towns and communities remain strong and vibrant. BMO fulfills its responsibility by helping Canadians realize their financial dreams, contributing to Canada’s economic well-being and striving always to be a fair and equitable employer. BMO is committed to building trusted relationships with the communities where it does business and with all of its stakeholders.

Full text of Mr. Comper’s remarks is available at www.bmo.com.

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