News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 29, 2011) -

Attention: Lifestyle and Sports Editors

Toronto's 16^th annual Pride and Remembrance Run, sponsored by BMO Financial Group, takes place this Saturday, July 2 at 10:00 a.m. The Run has hosted over 700 participants in recent years and raised more than $700,000 for a dozen Toronto charities. The Pride and Remembrance Run starts and ends at the corner of Church and Wellesley.

This year's proceeds will benefit the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and The Triangle Program - Canada's only high school program for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. A portion of this year's proceeds will also go towards the Pride and Remembrance Foundation, which provides financial assistance to registered charities within the LGBT community. The goal for this year's run is to break the all-time fundraising record of $100,000.

"The Pride Run is an important part of Toronto's Pride Week celebrations. It embodies the spirit of Toronto's LGBT community and brings Torontonians together in support of a wonderful cause," said Enza Anderson, Financial Services Coordinator, BMO Financial Group. "At BMO we draw our strength from the diversity of our people and our businesses. BMO partners with community and government agencies to recruit employees from diverse communities. We are proud to participate in this year's run as a sponsor and through our employee fundraising team, 'Team BMO'."

Spearheaded by BMO's LGBT affinity group, BMO Pride, the run will kick off with a stretching and yoga session with Enza at the 519 Church Street Community Centre stage.

For more information on the event, please visit priderun.org.

BMO Support for the Community

BMO embraces and proudly supports the diversity of people's social needs, ideas and interests. We distribute our contributions over a broad range of initiatives, including education, health care, arts and culture, community development and sports and athletics. In 2010, BMO contributed $54.3 million in donations, sponsorships and other support for charitable and not-for-profit organizations and programs in Canada and the United States.

BMO has been a long time supporter of the Toronto LGBT community. BMO has partnered with The 519 Church Street Community Centre, Fife House, Casey House, AIDS Committee of Toronto and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.