BEIJING
, October 14, 2010 – BMO Financial Group – Canada's first bank – has been recognized by the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) as the recipient of the 2010 Extraordinary Achievement Award.
BMO President and CEO Bill Downe accepted the award on behalf of the bank at the CCBC's Business Excellence Awards banquet in Beijing last evening. The Extraordinary Achievement Award is presented to a “CCBC member or to an individual that, in a private sector context, has made outstanding contributions to advancing the Canada-China relationship and demonstrated exceptional long-term commitment to, and visionary leadership towards, Canada-China relations and business growth.”
“We are truly honoured to receive this award from the CCBC on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada,” said Mr. Downe. “As a founding member of the CCBC, we are proud to work with their exceptional team, who have played a critical role establishing business and economic ties between Canada and China.”
BMO, which was nominated by Sun Life Financial Inc. and Agricultural Bank of China, received the award in recognition of being the first Canadian bank to receive approval for the opening of a locally incorporated bank, BMO ChinaCo, which officially opens today.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Paul Deegan, paul.deegan@bmo.com, (416) 867-3996
Ronald Monet, ronald.monet@bmo.com, (514) 877-1873
Laurie Grant, laurie.grant@bmo.com, (604) 665-7596
Teck CEO Don Lindsay presents BMO CEO Bill Downe with the Canada China Business Council's Extraordinary Achievement Award at an event in Beijing marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and China.