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Media Advisory Toronto Plays Host to Canada’s Top Graduating Art Students Thirteen artists from across the country showcase their award-winning work as part of the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition

What:	The creative and diverse work of the 13 winning artists will be on display at the opening reception for the BMO 1^st Art! Exhibition. As the only national graduating artist competition, the BMO 1^st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition is a celebration of the artistic excellence and diversity of Canadian art students and recognizes the work of student artists chosen from more than 100 post secondary institutions across Canada.
Who:	Winners of the BMO 1^stArt! Invitational Student Art Competition National winner: Tomas Svab, Vancouver, BC; Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design Regional winners: Kyle Dickau, Richmond, BC; University of British Columbia Jason Mosher, Strathmore, AB; University of Lethbridge Jason Thiry, Regina, SK; University of Regina Maegan Hill-Carroll, Winnipeg, MB; University of Manitoba Laura Mills, Markham, Ontario; Ontario College of Art & Design Pierre-Yves Girard, Montreal QC; Universite du Quebec a Montreal Sonia Simard, St.-Thomas-de-Kent, NB; Universite de Moncton Beth Letain, Halifax, NS; Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Ellery Richardson, Charlottetown, PEI; Holland College Darren Whalen, St, John’s NL; Memorial University of Newfoundland Pootoogook Noah, Iqualit, Nunavit; Nunavut Arctic College Jesse Wolfe, Teslin YK; Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture Selection Committee members, Gilles Ouellette, President & CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group and Deputy Chair, BMO Nesbitt Burns and Dawn Cain, BMO Financial Group Curator, will make a presentation to the artists
When:	Wednesday, October 5, 2005 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where:	First Canadian Place Gallery 100 King Street West

Background:
Deans and instructors of studio art programs were invited to select three students from their undergraduate level graduating classes, whose ability and imagination placed them first among their peers. The students’ entries were then adjudicated by a distinguished selection committee.

The national winner receives $2,500 and regional winners each receive $1,000 for their submission. The winning artwork will be displayed in BMO offices from coast-to-coast, joining a distinguished corporate art collection that includes the work of well-known historical and contemporary Canadian masters such as Kenojuak Ashevak, Emily Carr, Tom Forestall, Marc-Aurèle Fortin, Lawren Harris, and many others.

The BMO 1^st Art! winners' work will be on display in the First Canadian Place Gallery in Toronto until October 14, 2005. The 13 winning pieces can also be viewed on BMO Financial Group’s website at: http://www2.bmo.com/content/0,1263,divId-7_langId-1_navCode-4094,00.html.

Photos of the winners and their artwork will be available after the reception.

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