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The Fondation de l'Universit� du Qu�bec en Outaouais (UQO) is pleased to announce a major donation of $100,000 from BMO Financial Group as part of the foundation's Imaginez L'UQO fundraising campaign.

“Our donation will be used to help meet UQO's priority needs,” said Fran�ois Hudon, Senior Vice-President, Quebec and Atlantic Provinces Divisions, BMO Bank of Montreal. “It speaks loudly of our commitment to supporting graduate studies and academic excellence in the Outaouais.” Mr. Hudon also mentioned that the growth and prosperity of regions like the Outaouais and all of Quebec depend on the entrepreneurial spirit, ability to innovate and knowledge of the young people who are now enrolled in institutions of higher learning, such as UQO.

BMO Financial Group has chosen to earmark its donation to support students through the creation of a scholarship fund.

“One of the goals of the Fondation de l'UQO is to raise $3 million to be used in creating scholarship programs for the university's students,” explained campaign chairman Daniel Gagnon, who is also Manager, Human Resources, at Hydro-Qu�bec Distribution. “The foundation's scholarship program enables those who, like BMO management, believe in higher education to take part in the development of UQO and its students. Besides benefiting the entire community, donors' commitments are an integral part of a solidarity movement that will help several generations develop their full potential and that would not exist without donors' generosity. Accordingly, the foundation is working to diversify its scholarship programs to be able to encourage an ever larger number of students to excel.”

Since 1817, BMO Financial Group has supported the principles of reinvestment in and corporate responsibility to the communities it serves. In 2005, BMO Financial Group contributed $29.5 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations across the country.

The Fondation de l'Universit� du Qu�bec en Outaouais launched its Imaginez l'UQO fundraising campaign in March of 2006 to support UQO's growth. The focuses of investment are closely linked to the strategic objectives that UQO has set for the coming years.

Grouped under four main development axes, the priorities of the foundation's fundraising campaign are to increase access to and success in university-level studies; support research and development in existing areas of excellence and the creation of new areas of excellence; help fund the construction and renovation of the university's infrastructure; and develop regional programs.

For more information or to make a donation to the Fondation de l'UQO, please call 819 595-3915, send a message to fondation@uqo.ca or visit the website www.uqo.ca/fondation.

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