News Releases

BMO Named One of Canada's Best Employers for New Canadians

TORONTO, April 2, 2009 – BMO Financial Group has today been named as one of Canada's best employers for new Canadians by Mediacorp Inc., the publishers of Canada's Top 100 employers. The award is a reflection of BMO's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which creates a workplace that respects and celebrates diverse backgrounds.

Combined with being named as one of Greater Toronto's top 75 employers for the third year in a row this past October, this award firmly reinforces BMO's position as one of Canada's top employers.

“To us, it's a business imperative – our diverse workforce mirrors the communities in which we do business and helps us understand our customers' needs,” said Rose Patten, SEVP, Head of Human Resources and Senior Leadership Advisor, BMO Financial Group. "We work hard to ensure an easier transition for new Canadians, and this recognition is a wonderful validation of our efforts in creating an inclusive workplace for all of our employees.”

Mediacorp presented the award to BMO for its efforts in:

Taking steps to reduce employment barriers for recent immigrants;
Assisting new employees who have foreign credentials in getting these qualifications formally recognized in Canada;
Providing internal coaching or mentoring; and
Providing training in cross-cultural issues or inclusiveness to both managers and employees to help create a welcoming and productive environment for employees who are recent immigrants.

“At BMO, we understand that embracing diversity of experience and culture leads to broader ideas and insights and more informed decision-making,” noted Patten. “Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is built into our corporate values and embedded within our recruitment and orientation programs and our managerial leadership training.”

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