News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 18, 2013) - Canada is facing a fundamental shift in how it will meet future labour needs as an aging population retires from the labour pool. The Aboriginal population is projected to grow at double the pace of non-Aboriginals between now and 2031. Meanwhile the number of Aboriginal entrepreneurs is far outpacing their non-Native counterparts at a ratio of 4 to 1. There are many opportunities for Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals to benefit from this expected growth, whether it is by filling jobs in a booming Western Canada or working with companies on reserve land to form partnerships and efficiently extract resources.

To mark National Aboriginal Day on June 21 - which will celebrate the cultures and contributions of Canada's First Nations - BMO will host a panel to discuss the economic progress of the Aboriginal communities and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Media are invited to dial in to a panel conference call featuring experts from BMO and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business who will discuss a number of topics, including:

• How the makeup of funding for Aboriginal entrepreneurs and communities has evolved over the last decade;
• How unprecedented financial resources available through the First Nations Finance Authority are leading to infrastructure growth on reserves;
• Why companies should dedicate time and efforts to hiring, developing and retaining Aboriginal employees
• Which provinces are set to attract Aboriginal talent before others

WHO:

• JP Gladu, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
• Stephen Fay, Head, Aboriginal Banking, BMO Financial Group
• James McKay, Diversity Recruiter, Aboriginal Peoples, BMO Financial Group

WHEN:

Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. ET

WHERE:

• Dial in: (416) 641-2144 / (866) 696-5910
• Passcode: 3762253

To confirm your participation, please contact Alexis Brown at alexis.brown@bmo.com or (416) 867-3996.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $555 billion as at April 30, 2013 and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.