News Releases

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 29, 2011) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

The University of British Columbia welcomes a $2.2 million donation from BMO Financial Group to support education and outreach for successful family business as well as innovative research and education to benefit dairy farms - most of them family-run.

The Business Families Centre (BFC) at UBC's Sauder School of Business is receiving $1.95 million to establish a new Family Enterprise Program. The program will further academic research and innovation in areas that include succession planning, family dynamics and governance. The BFC will also set up a new national database - the first in Canada - to advance research in this field while giving entrepreneurial families the necessary tools and information to flourish. In today's economic landscape, only 30 per cent of family businesses survive into the second generation.

As well, BMO Financial Group is providing $250,000 to develop new classroom space at UBC's Dairy Education and Research Centre located in the Fraser Valley at Agassiz. As part of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, the Centre is renowned for pioneering research that considers sustainable food production along with animal health and welfare. The Centre hosts many international students and researchers, and offers frequent seminars for industry and the public.

"We are delighted that BMO Financial Group sees strong value in the vital work that the Sauder School of Business is doing to ensure the continued health of family businesses," says UBC President Prof. Stephen Toope. "We are also very grateful for BMO's investment at our Dairy Education and Research Centre, which is known globally for research that produces evidence-based recommendations for the dairy industry in Canada and around the world."

"Many Canadian industries, including the dairy industry, succeed because of the shared talents, energy and knowledge among family members," says Joanne Gassman, Senior Vice President, B.C. and Yukon Division, BMO Bank of Montreal.

"BMO has a long and proud tradition of support for UBC, through scholarships, fellowships, research grants and capital building campaigns," says Ms. Gassman. "Given such outstanding research and education initiatives, we were very pleased to come alongside UBC as a major supporter of UBC's campaign. This is also historical for the Bank, since it is the largest single donation ever made in B.C."

In September, UBC launched its start an evolution campaign, which has set twin goals of raising $1.5 billion and doubling the number of alumni involved in the life of the university annually to 50,000. This is the most ambitious fundraising and alumni engagement campaign in Canadian history. To date, UBC has raised $777 million to enhance student learning, expand research capacity and extend its community engagement initiatives. For more information, visit: www.startanevolution.ca.

BACKGROUND

Family enterprise forms the backbone of the Canadian economy, with families owning or controlling an estimated 80 per cent of all businesses and representing the largest form of enterprise worldwide. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Statistics Canada surveys from 2009 show that businesses with fewer than 50 employees represent almost 98 per cent of total businesses in Canada, generate 45 per cent of Canada's GDP and employ 55 per cent of workers.

Business Families Centre, Sauder School of Business

The BFC was initiated in 2001 with more than 30 founding families, including those of Brandt Louie, Gordon and Leslie Diamond, Peter Bentley and Charles Young. A leader in the field, the BFC is known for its comprehensive research and academic programs, addressing issues such as succession planning, wealth management, family dynamics and governance. The BFC also serves families by educating professional advisors working with families. http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/bfc

UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre

The Centre is the largest dairy cattle research facility in Canada and one of the largest in the world with state-of-the-art equipment designed to continuously monitor and record animal feeding and other behaviors. Interdisciplinary research teams investigate ways to improve animal health, nutrition and welfare as well as to reduce the environmental impact of intensive dairy cattle production systems. Findings are applied directly to the industry to improve its sustainability and to provide the scientific basis for national codes of practice for care and handling of dairy cattle. http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/dairycentre/

BMO - Canada's First Bank

BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services organization that includes BMO Bank of Montreal, BMO Nesbitt Burns, BMO Harris Private Banking, BMO Capital Markets and BMO Harris in the U.S. Since its founding in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group has been committed to corporate and social responsibility and the principles of sustainable development. BMO remains one of Canada's largest corporate benefactors. In 2010, BMO contributed $54.3 million in donations, sponsorships and events to support charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada and the U.S.

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