News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 17, 2014) - BMO Bank of Montreal announced today leaders from Canada's professional and national soccer teams that will be judges for the coaches component of the bank's new soccer program, 'BMO Ready, Set, Goal!'

Parents of youth soccer players are invited to upload their teams cheer and nominate their child's coach for special recognition. They are encouraged to describe how their coach exhibits the qualities of a good leader, instils a love of soccer with everyone on the team and reinforces a vision for coming to the pitch. Coaches and teams can enter until September 26, 2014 at www.bmosoccer.com.

Twenty-six winning coaches will be selected by the following panel of judges to win $1,000 for their teams:

• Greg Vanney - Head Coach, Toronto FC
• Mauro Biello - Assistant Coach, Montreal Impact
• Gordon Forrest - Assistant Coach & Head of High Performance, Vancouver Whitecaps
• Rhian Wilkinson - Defense, Canadian Women's National team
• Erin Macleod - Goal Keeper, Canadian Women's National team
• Diana Matheson - Midfielder, Canadian Women's National team
• Tony Fonseca - Technical Director, Canadian Soccer Association

About 'BMO Ready, Set, Goal!'

The program, which kicked off earlier this summer, encourages youth soccer teams from coast-to-coast to upload a video of their team's cheer. Coaches and parents are invited to submit their kid's team cheer video to BMOSoccer.com before September 26th, 2014.

Submissions can be shot from smart phones or home video cameras and should focus on team spirit, rather than video production. Parents and coaches are encouraged to enter the contest for youth team, available to children aged 7-12, from any team at any level.

Each entrant will receive a special offer to open a BMO kid's account. Over the duration of the program, up to 100 teams each week will be randomly drawn to receive a $75 gift card that can be used to help buy equipment or defer travel expenses. In September, one team will win a grand prize of a trip for all players and coaches to attend an MLS game.

The program also includes the opportunity for 26 coaches to win $1,000 for their teams.

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 our grassroots sponsorship of more than 1,000 youth teams nationally, to our 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).

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services organization based in North America. The bank offers a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers. BMO Financial Group had total assets exceeding $586 billion and approximately 47,000 employees at July 31, 2014.