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BMO Bank of Montreal announced today that it will join with other major partners, including Groupe LSR, Gaz M�tro, Brault & Martineau and the City of Laval, to create the 2007 edition of the Dream House (La Maison de R�ve). Over a five-year period, previous Dream House projects raised more than $6.5 million for non-profit organizations in Quebec, most notably ones that assist sick and underprivileged children.

Valued at $850,000, the 2007 BMO Bank of Montreal Dream House will be built by Construction D'Astous, in the Villas-sur-Rive development, one of Laval's largest residential construction projects. The model home will be open to visitors between June 1 and September 30, 2007. Nearly 700,000 persons visited earlier Dream Houses.

The 2007 BMO Bank of Montreal Dream House will be given away in a draw to one of the buyers of the approximately 330,000 tickets to be sold for $10 apiece. A total of $150,000 in secondary prizes will also be awarded.

“We are proud of our commitment and look forward to actively supporting this philanthropic project that will raise more than $1 million for not-for-profit organizations that work in various fields, in particular with sick and underprivileged children,” said Fran�ois Hudon, Senior Vice-President, Quebec and Atlantic Provinces Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. Mr. Hudon also mentioned that the not-for-profit organizations that sell tickets for the 2007 BMO Bank of Montreal Dream House draw will retain 50% of the total value of the tickets they will have sold --- a very attractive source of funding for these organizations.

The 2007 BMO Bank of Montreal Dream House is the largest lottery in Quebec, excluding Loto-Qu�bec's. Thanks to the generosity of the various partners, the house will be completely furnished and decorated, and will include a spa. The future owner will also enjoy a holiday from municipal taxes and not have to pay for heating, telephone, cable television or Internet service for five years.

“As a partner in the five previous editions of the Dream House (1999–2003), we are proud to join in the relaunch of this project with companies that share our commitment to the community and our desire to help provide financial assistance to underprivileged children and organizations that work with people in need,” said Annie Lemieux, Vice-President of Groupe LSR.

Built in an beautiful residential development supplied with natural gas, the Dream House will allow the winner to enjoy the many advantages of “life in blue,” including the comfort and energy efficiency of a Novoclimat™-certified blue house. Indeed, the home will provide the ultimate in comfort due to its natural gas appliances and construction that complies with the highest energy-efficiency standards, at least 25% higher than those for conventional new homes. The Dream House will also have a green roof, shower-water heat reclaimers and energy-efficient appliances. “The construction of the Dream House is a great example of the support and concerted effort that Gaz M�tro is pleased to be part of,” said Sophie Brochu, Executive Vice-President, Gaz M�tro. “It will also be a source of inspiration for professionals and consumers who are concerned about achieving energy efficiency without compromising comfort.”

“As in previous years, our team will furnish this high-profile home and take part in the sale of tickets that will enable us to redistribute more than $75,000 to the community,” said Guy Brouillette, Vice-President, Sales and Purchasing, at Brault & Martineau.

As with the five earlier editions, well-known designer Johanne Morency is doing the interior decoration of the Dream House. “I want to give this outstanding house designed by architect Alan Bellavance a warm and functional ‘feel good' character,” Ms. Morency said, emphasizing the generosity of the supplier partners who have agreed to support her in the process.

For her part, France Boisclair, president of the Fondation de l'�cole Jean-Piaget, which serves mentally or physically disabled students between the ages of four and 21 from the Laval, Laurentian and Lanaudi�re areas, explained why the foundation decided to take part in this fundraising activity. “While for some the Dream House draw is an opportunity to dream of a wonderful home, for us it represents the dream of seeing our children develop to the best of their abilities, since it will help the Jean Piaget School to provide them with specialized services that favour their learning and growth,” she said.

Martin Beauchamp, chair of BMO Fountain of Hope, BMO Financial Group Employees' Foundation, has committed BMO Bank of Montreal and its employees to selling some 50,000 tickets, noting that most of the funds raised will be donated to the three children's hospitals in Quebec.

Tickets for the draw will be sold in all Quebec branches of BMO Bank of Montreal, Brault & Martineau and Jean Coutu Group as well as through the 2007 BMO Bank of Montreal Dream House transactional website. Ticket sales will take place from mid-December 2006 to the end of September 2007. The first in the series of draws will be held in March 2007.

The media partners of the 2007 BMO Bank of Montreal Dream House are La Presse and Rock D�tente, with the support of Astra M�dia's television and outdoor advertising platforms.

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