News Releases

TORONTO, May 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Kids Help Phone's Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO is back for another year of fundraising and awareness. The annual Walk is scheduled to take place on May 6 in 39 communities across Canada.

Each year, thousands of children, adults, schools, community organizations, and corporations come together to take part in Canada's largest walk in support of emotional health and well-being for young people. Last year, more than 8,000 BMO walkers raised more than $1.9 million for Kids Help Phone.

"BMO is honoured to be the presenting sponsor for Kids Help Phone's Walk so Kids Can Talk once again," said Joanna Rotenberg, Group Head, BMO Wealth Management. "Our support helps give young Canadians access to Kids Help Phone's crucial counselling and support services and a safe place to talk to someone when they need it most. Every child deserves to be heard, and helping those in need is at the core of who we are at BMO."

"Kids Help Phone's partnership with BMO is a true testament of the resiliency of a community – it takes courage for a young person to reach out and it takes courage for the community to support them, in a way they need it most," said Katherine Hay, President & CEO, Kids Help Phone. "The Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO is our single largest annual fundraiser to support young people's emotional well-being by enabling our charity to always be open for young people. Together, we are champions to the hundreds of kids who reach out every day in any moment of crisis or need."

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 national service offering professional counselling, information and referrals for young people. Its free, anonymous services are available in both English and French. The donations raised from the Walk are crucial to maintaining this valuable service and ensuring every young person in Canada can access the support they need, in the way they need it most.

BMO Financial Group is a founding partner of Kids Help Phone; to date, BMO and its employees have raised more than $18 million for the charity, helping it grow into a leading Canadian and world-renowned frontline youth counselling service.

For those who are interested in making a contribution or signing up for this year's Walk, please visit www.walksokidscantalk.ca to register or donate, and join the social conversation using #WalksoKidsCanTalk.

Locations

WHEN: Sunday, May 6, 2018

*All times local

Virtual Walks

Alberta: Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer
British Columbia: Prince George
Manitoba
Newfoundland and Labrador
New Brunswick: Saint John
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Ontario: Brantford, Burlington-Milton, Huntsville, Sudbury, Thunder Bay
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
U.S.A

About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8^th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $728 billion as of January 31, 2018, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

About Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 national service offering professional counselling, information, referrals and volunteer-led text-based support (available nationwide by the end of 2018) for young people. Kids Help Phone's free, anonymous services are available in both English and French. Kids Help Phone is a registered Canadian charity, and we raise the majority of our revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community fundraising.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group