News Releases

An army of more than 600 BMO Financial Group employees from 43 BMO branches across the GTA will join Mayor Miller's 20 Minute Makeover initiative to give public spaces in their local neighbourhoods and communities a thorough spring cleaning on Friday, April 18, 2008.

Last year, the 20-Minute Makeover attracted more than 200,000 registered participants. This year, BMO employees will take up brooms, shovels, rags and mops to spruce up everything from parks to parking lots in Oakville, Mississauga, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Pickering and Ajax.

“We are thrilled to have such a large contingent of BMO employees demonstrating their civic pride in such a meaningful way,” said Alex Dousmanis-Curtis, SVP Greater Toronto Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. “Participating in the GTA makeover is a small effort that we hope will make a big difference to the appearance of our communities and the enjoyment of our neighbourhoods.”

“Our employees are such a large part of BMO's commitment to a cleaner and greener environment,” said Jim Johnston, Director of Environmental Sustainability, BMO Financial Group. “We are building awareness around what we can do better with regards to the environment and giving our employees the proper support to make that happen. It's very gratifying to see them take this commitment to heart in so many ways, including their enthusiastic support for the twenty-minute makeover.”

BMO has been very active in efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. It is part of the bank's environmental policy to encourage a green workplace through programs that promote energy efficiency, recycling and waste minimization. In 2007, the bank recycled 3,282 metric tonnes of recyclable materials from branches and offices across the country and has implemented a very successful technology disposal program that safeguards the privacy and confidentiality of customers and employees while minimizing the environmental impact from the disposal of unwanted equipment. In 2007 alone, 241 metric tonnes of technology equipment were donated or disposed of in an environmentally friendly fashion.

BMO was also one of the first financial institutions to finance the development of wind power generation in Canada. In 2007, BMO partnered with Bullfrog Power in order to create sustainable development with the purchase of green electricity. By the end of 2008, up to 53 BMO Bank of Montreal branches will be bullfrogpowered, which will ultimately reduce BMO's overall carbon emissions by more than 3,000 tonnes per year, making BMO a leading financial institution on the bullfrogpowered Green Index.

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BMO sweeps through GTA – More than 600 BMO employees hit the streets of Metro Toronto during Mayor Miller's 20 minute makeover today. Andrea Hazell, manager of BMO Bank of Montreal's East YorkTown Centre branch leads her team in a spring cleanup on the Overlea Blvd. median near the branch.