News Releases

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - July 7, 2014) - BMO Bank of Montreal and the Calgary Stampede invite families to stop by the Grandstand Courtyard, Stampede Park for the ninth annual BMO Kids' Day celebration and free pancake breakfast on Wednesday, July 9, 2014.

The free pancake breakfast will kick off at 6 a.m. Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President, Alberta and NWT Division, BMO Bank of Montreal, will join 280 BMO volunteers and hundreds of families from across Canada for a good old-fashioned pancake breakfast, family-friendly activities and special performances throughout the morning.

"Since its introduction to the Calgary Stampede six years ago, BMO Kids' Day has had an incredible following among families and continues to grow in popularity," said Hayes. "This year, we are expecting our biggest crowd ever, with new events and perennial favourites such as BMO's free pancake breakfast. We invite everyone young and old to come to the BMO Kids' Zone following the breakfast."

The pancake breakfast and show will take place at the Grandstand. Admission is free from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for kids under 12 and accompanying adults. Free pancake breakfast is from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., while supplies last. The Grandstand variety show begins at 8:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. All other events take place at the BMO's Kid Zone, the Midway and BMO Centre which opens at 9 a.m.

This year, BMO Junior Reporters Olivia Walker, aged eight from Calgary, and Nicholas Lovett, aged eight from Calgary will be introduced on the Grandstand Stage. These two young aspiring journalists will interview media representatives, rodeo cowboys, chuckwagon drivers, entertainers and Stampede visitors and report live from BMO Kids' Day.

Olivia and Nicholas will receive a $2,500 BMO Intuition® RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan), Evening Show tickets, western outfits, midway-ride coupons and the opportunity to provide their schools, Christ the King School and Royal Oak School, respectively, with $1,500 cash for school supplies.

For more information, visit www.calgarystampede.com.

About the Calgary Stampede

The Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned 10-day Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We're Greatest Together; we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and promotes western heritage and values. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.

About BMO and the Calgary Stampede

BMO Bank of Montreal's ties to the Calgary Stampede are long and remarkable. The relationship between BMO and the Calgary Stampede is the oldest business relationship in Western Canada, dating back to 1884. BMO has been the banker to the Calgary Exhibition since 1899 when lands were christened at Victoria Park. The Agricultural Society had purchased 94 acres of land from the Dominion of Canada and built a race track, cattle sheds and an exhibition building. BMO continued as the banker in 1912 when the first rodeo took place and it became the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

The Calgary Stampede is a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and promotes western heritage and values. The Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through its world-renowned 10-day Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities. For more about the Stampede, visit www.calgarystampede.com.