News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 2, 2013) -

Editors Note: There are four videos and one photo associated with this press release.

BMO Financial Group kicked off the third year of its highly successful nationwide youth soccer program, BMO Team of the Week. Thanks to some star power, this year will be the biggest year yet with Canadian National Women's Team stars Diana Matheson, Erin McLeod and Rhian Wilkinson acting as BMO Team of the Week Ambassadors.

For the past two years, BMO Team of the Week has gained momentum with thousands of kids and parents in communities across Canada taking grassroots soccer to new heights. Justine Fedak, BMO's Senior Vice-President of Branding, Advertising & Sponsorships, is excited to kick off this year with the three world class athletes, and she shares her thoughts here.

The contest, open to youth soccer players aged 7-12, recognizes 15 weekly winners who demonstrate team pride, spirit, community commitment and passion for the game. For the next 15 weeks, Canadian soccer coaches, parents and community members can nominate their favourite youth soccer team at BMOsoccer.com. Plus, individuals who submit a nomination get the chance to earn 200 Bonus AIR MILES reward miles.

BMO Team of the Week winners will be announced weekly starting on April 17^th, and will receive a celebration at their local BMO branch, $500, BMO Team of the Week tracksuits and a $500 donation to a local charity. Each of the winning teams will become finalists for the grand prize and vie for the title of BMO Team of the Week 2013 Champion, a title that is decided by the Canadian public through online daily voting at BMOsoccer.com from August 5-19, 2013.

Past BMO Team of the Week Champions:

Ladner Storm from Ladner, British Columbia, were selected as the BMO Team of the Week 2012 Champion. In addition to a Champion's weekend in Vancouver and a $5,000 donation to the BC Children's Hospital, the team's grand prize of $125,000 will be put towards a local field refurbishment project with a ground breaking ceremony later this month.

The inaugural BMO Team of the Week Champion, crowned in 2011, was the Glen Shields Sun Devils 2000, who have also put their prize to good use. In addition to raising money of their own, the team actively rallied the community and the City of Vaughan to help with a larger refurbishment of their local soccer field. They also gave the $5,000 donation from BMO to the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Glen Shields hopes to break ground on a new artificial turf field later this year.

About BMO and Soccer

BMO supports soccer across Canada from youth players in local neighbourhoods and communities all the way up to the professional level. Our deep commitment to 'The Beautiful Game' is evident from the beginning of the curve with our grassroots sponsorship of more than 1,000 youth teams nationally. The relationship continues with support of Canada's men's and women's national teams, our professional teams (Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Montreal Impact) and our soccer venue title sponsorship (BMO Field).

To view the videos associated with this release, please visit the following links:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bup0QpuFYMY&list=PL-eeq09nGW0L4hs4cme8V2-BqfJoJozuw&index=4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UUYQcvoRrg&list=PL-eeq09nGW0L4hs4cme8V2-BqfJoJozuw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Ta4blJOB0&list=PL-eeq09nGW0L4hs4cme8V2-BqfJoJozuw

To view the photo associated with this release, please visit the following link:

http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130401-bmo_teamoftheweek_apr02_e.jpg