News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 12, 2016) - BMO Financial Group and NBA Canada, in advance of the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto, today announced the winners of the BMO National Junior Reporter contest.

Leanne Portuza from North York and Hussein Weid from Edmonton were named the winners of the BMO Junior Reporter Contest, and were chosen from submissions received across Canada. The contest invited youth ages 8-13 to submit a unique news story, written as though they were a reporter at NBA All-Star.

Leanne and Hussein will serve as BMO's official Junior Reporters throughout NBA All-Star 2016, and will have the exciting opportunity to report on activities at NBA Centre Court, the Bell NBA All-Star Challenge presented by AIR MILES and the Gatorade Invitational Finals. These young reporters will also have a chance to interview BMO Player Ambassadors Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Ennis, NBA VIPs and fans enjoying BMO All-Star Park located at NBA Centre Court at the Enercare Centre.

The winners will receive $1,000 towards a BMO Intuition® RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan), tickets to NBA All-Star 2016 events and an autographed basketball.

"We're thrilled to congratulate Leanne and Hussein, our winners of the BMO Junior Reporter Contest - we hope both of them have the experience of a lifetime this weekend," said Connie Stefankiewicz, Chief Marketing Officer, BMO Financial Group. "As the official bank of NBA Canada, BMO is committed to supporting the game of basketball, and providing Canada's youth with the tools and opportunity to help build skills both on and off the court."

"The NBA would like to welcome Leanne and Hussein to All-Star 2016 in Toronto," said NBA Canada Vice-president and Managing Director Dan MacKenzie. "These talented young journalists will have an opportunity to participate in and chronicle an important milestone for basketball in Canada and the first All-Star ever held outside of the United States."

About BMO and Basketball

In March 2015, BMO Financial Group and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced a multiyear partnership that made BMO the Official Bank of NBA Canada and the first ever Canadian Bank to partner with the NBA. BMO is also the Official Bank of the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, and proud sponsor of NBA players Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Ennis. BMO is the Official Exclusive Founding Partner of Raptors 905 and an associate partner of the NBA Canada Series. BMO is further committed to fostering basketball and empowering youth across the country as founding partner of the Jr. NBA in Canada as well as partner of the BMO NBA All-Star Kidsfest and NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto.

About NBA All-Star 2016

NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league's history for a global celebration of the game. The 65^th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place Sunday, Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre, will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game in the U.S. for the 14^th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 31^st year of All-Star coverage. The Air Canada Centre will also host the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 12 and State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 13. Other events at NBA All-Star 2016 include the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Mountain Dew and the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire.