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OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 30, 2014) - BMO Financial Group is proud to continue its support of Canada's Veterans, along with serving military personnel and the RCMP through The Royal Canadian Legion's 2014 Poppy Campaign. Members of The Royal Canadian Legion will make poppies available by donation at more than 930 BMO branches across Canada. The campaign begins October 31 and runs until November 10, 2014.

Each year, The Royal Canadian Legion presents Canadians with the opportunity to honour and remember the fallen, those currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and RCMP through the annual Poppy Campaign, leading up to Remembrance Day. BMO is proud to be a part of this honourable Canadian tradition. Canadians wear Poppies as a symbol of Remembrance and to pay tribute to the sacrifices, deeds and accomplishments of the men and women who served and are serving to protect our freedoms.

"The Poppy Campaign is a natural extension of our proud history of supporting Canada's Defence Community," said Hugh McKee, BMO's Vice-President of Personal Customer Segment Management. "The outpouring of public support we've seen in the days since last week's tragic events in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-Sur-Richeliu has reminded all of us how important it is to stand behind these heroes. Wearing your poppy is a powerful way to show solidarity at this important time of remembrance and reverence, while raising funds to support Veterans, serving personnel and their families."

BMO is proud to be the official bank of Canada's Defence Community since 2008. All donations received from the Poppy Campaign will be held in Poppy Trust Fund Accounts with Legion branches, and are only used to support Veterans, serving members and their families in need.

"The Royal Canadian Legion is grateful to have the support of BMO during the Poppy Campaign," said Tom Eagles, Dominion President of the Legion. "Extending the reach of the Poppy Campaign to Canadians through BMO branches will give Canadians a chance to make a real difference in the lives of Veterans all across Canada," added Eagles.

About BMO and the Canadian Defence Community

BMO has a long history of supporting national defence efforts. During the First World War, BMO established temporary branches to pay troops at various encampments throughout Canada, and overseas Canadian men and women in uniform were paid through the bank's Waterloo Place office in London. During the Second World War, BMO's president George Spinney headed the National War Finance Committee, which oversaw the sales of Victory Loan bonds. During the post war years when Canada had forces stationed in Europe, Bank of Montreal branches on the bases provided banking services for Canadian servicemen and -women and their families. BMO Bank of Montreal is the official bank of the Defence Community in partnership with Canadian Defence Community Banking (CDCB). CDCB is specifically designed for the Defence Community and offers cost-effective banking plans with unique features tailored to the military lifestyle and needs. For more information, visit http://www.bmo.com/cdcb.

About the Poppy Campaign

Each year the Royal Canadian Legion is able to offer financial assistance and a number of other services and programs to Veterans and their families thanks to the money raised during the Poppy Campaign. Through the generous donations of Canadians everywhere, the Poppy Trust Fund continues to help those we acknowledge through Remembrance.

Approximately 18 million poppies are distributed by Legionnaires, Veterans and Cadets across the nation annually. The proceeds are placed in trust to be used for the benevolent support of Veterans and their dependents. Through these Poppy Fund donations, the Legion provides financial assistance to serving and former Canadian Armed Forces members and their families who are in financial distress.