News Releases

BMO Asks Former NHL'ers, Figure Skaters, a Ballerina and Broadcaster to Create Their Dream Retirement

While Canadian ballerina Karen Kain would like to chill out in a villa by the sea when she retires, hockey legend Johnny Bower hopes to live to over 100, move back to Saskatchewan and live on a farm spending his days golfing and fishing. Another NHL Alumnus, Mark Napier and figure skater Annie Bellemare both plan to spend more time with their families in a heritage house by a lake and veteran broadcaster Pamela Walllin would prefer to live in a condo in the heart of the city, with a cottage on the side. She would also like to start her own business in her retirement DreamWorld.

What do you want to do when you retire? For Canadians over 45, the answer is very personal and could be a far cry from the conventional notions of retirement. In fact, according to a BMO Financial Group-Ipsos Reid study, 87 per cent of boomers said the word retirement should be redefined because it doesn't mean today what it meant years ago.

World Champion figure skater Brian Orser, describes himself as being in "retirement in training" right now. “I have a cottage on a lake, but I'm working like crazy. I love my work, but I'd like to spend more time by the lake, golfing and with friends. I love teaching skating and I plan to continue that in retirement - to share the craft that I'm so passionate about.”

Recognizing that everyone's retirement dreams are unique, BMO Financial Group is providing Canadians with the opportunity to create and share their own virtual retirement “DreamWorld” for a chance to win $25,000.

“We know from our clients and ongoing research that retirement is changing. The next generation of ‘retirees' has different expectations and, as a result, retirement is being reinvented,” said Kris Vikmanis, Head of Retirement Market, BMO Financial Group. “This interactive contest is a way for us to continue to gain additional insights into what boomers want to do in retirement so that we can help make those dreams a reality. We are encouraging Canadians to define their own version of retirement, share it with others and, most importantly, move from thinking about it to making it happen.”

Canadians can log onto www.dreamworld.bmo.com until November 16, 2007 to create their own virtual retirement “DreamWorld” by choosing a combination of landscapes, such as mountains or a lake; a home including a villa, condo or cottage and retirement activities such as volunteering, starting a business, or travelling. Once complete, participants are asked to provide a brief description of their worlds. Their worlds are then launched into the DreamWorld universe, where they can be seen by other contest participants.

The random draw will take place on November 23, with the winner receiving $25,000 and financial planning sessions with an investment professional from BMO Financial Group. For more information and contest details, visit: www.dreamworld.bmo.com.

Two agencies have been involved with the development and implementation of this contest. Tribal DDB was responsible for developing and implementing the creative web design, functionality and rich online media supporting the contest. APEX Public Relations developed the conceptual platform and is conducting public relations.

To view some of the DreamWorlds that have already been launched into the DreamWorld universe, visit the links below:

Annie Bellemare: www.mondedereve.bmo.com/anniebellemare

Johnny Bower: www.dreamworld.bmo.com/johnnybower

Karen Kain: www.dreamworld.bmo.com/karenkain

Suzanne Laberge: www.mondedereve.bmo.com/suzannelaberge

Mark Napier: www.dreamworld.bmo.com/marknapier

Brian Orser: www.dreamworld.bmo.com/brianorser

Pamela Wallin: www.dreamworld.bmo.com/pamelawallin

To view the other DreamWorlds that have been created, visit www.dreamworld.bmo.com.

BMO Financial Group and the New Retirement
Recognizing that retirement is changing for most Canadians, BMO Financial Group is committed to helping clients understand the new issues and challenges they face heading into retirement, while providing flexible and personalized options for mitigating them.

BMO's Retirement Your Way web site, found at:
www.bmo.com/retirementyourway, provides an overview of the new realities to consider in the retirement planning process, supplemented with case studies and external resources that are updated on an ongoing basis. BMO has also launched a number of income-oriented and investment products and financial management services such as the Retirement Income Management Account, BMO Progressive GICs and BMO LifeStage Plus Funds to help clients prepare for the next phase of their lives.

In addition, BMO Financial Group has launched a podcast series examining emerging issues facing Canadian boomers. The podcasts are hosted by Pamela Wallin, a journalist for more than 30 years and a member of BMO Financial Group's Advisory Council on Retirement. They can be downloaded from BMO's retirement website.

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