News Releases

VANCOUVER, BC, October 14, 2009 – BMO Bank of Montreal extends its congratulations to the town of Gibsons, British Columbia, for being named the best place in the world to live, among communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. The International Awards for Liveable Communities, which is endorsed by the United Nations, recognized Gibsons' commitment to healthy living and environmental sustainability.
“ On behalf of the BMO employees in Gibsons, we are privileged to serve the citizens of this lovely and friendly community,” said Rob Serraglio, Senior Vice President, BC & Yukon Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. “At BMO Financial Group, we are also making great strides on the environmental sustainability front – in certain areas we are leading the pack among Canadian financial institutions.”

BMO has established an enterprise-wide Carbon Footprint which includes all of the energy consumption used across its worldwide portfolio of owned and leased facilities, as well as the emissions associated with air and ground travel for business purposes. BMO announced in 2008 its intent to be Carbon Neutral as an enterprise for energy and travel emissions by 2010.

Branch Manager Debra Carson is proud that BMO is involved in the local community and extends an invitation to customers to come in for a 20 minute conversation on ways to save money with the BMO SmartSteps program. “I would like to invite Canadians everywhere to come and visit us, and see for themselves why Gibsons has received this award.”

Bank of Montreal opened a sub-agency in Gibsons on December 9, 1946, in a small frame building that had formerly been a garage. According to historical documents, the appointments were somewhat primitive but the residents were appreciative to have banking service under any conditions. At the time the seaside village of Gibsons Landing had just celebrated its 60th anniversary.

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