BMO Financial Group makes $2-million gift to support the Campaign for BC Children

    Largest gift in bank's history in BC directed to new Emergency Department

    VANCOUVER, May 12 /CNW/ - BC Children's Hospital Foundation announced
today that BMO Financial Group has made a $2-million donation to the Campaign
for BC Children to support the construction of a new Children's Hospital on
Oak Street in Vancouver. BMO's gift will support the construction of the
Emergency Department in the new hospital.
    "BMO Financial Group's gift to the Campaign for BC Children, the largest
in the bank's history in BC, is based on the belief that we have a key role to
play in helping to ensure that our communities remain strong and vibrant,"
said Rob Serraglio, senior vice president, BC & Yukon Division, BMO Bank of
Montreal. "Children are the building blocks of a successful society. We are
excited to be able to support the construction of the Emergency Department, an
area that literally saves children's lives on a daily basis."
    BMO Financial Group, with the help of its employees and customers, has
supported BC Children's Hospital for 20 years. Including the gift announced
today, BMO has contributed a total of $4.43 million to the hospital since
1988.
    "Since 1988, the actions of BMO employees - from participation in
BC Children's Hospital Foundation's fundraising events to serving on the
Foundation's Board of Directors - reflect a tremendous commitment to BC's
communities," said Sue Carruthers, president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital
Foundation. "BMO's gift today reflects a deep commitment to the children and
families of this province and a desire to help where the need is greatest."
    Priorities of the Campaign for BC Children include construction of a new
hospital - including an Emergency Department, Diagnostics and Imaging,
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Operating Suites and patient rooms; the
relocation of childhood development and rehabilitation services from Sunny
Hill Health Centre in East Vancouver to the Oak Street home of BC Children's,
and Child Health BC, a BC Children's Hospital initiative that is building
pediatric care capacity throughout the province.
    Construction of the new Children's Hospital will provide urgently needed
space for critical care. For example, the current operating rooms are
antiquated and do not have adequate space to accommodate the high tech
equipment required for complex surgical procedures. Patient rooms in the
existing hospital were not built to accommodate family members or provide the
healing environment children need for quicker recovery.
    On April 14, 2008, at the announcement of the Campaign for BC Children,
Premier Gordon Campbell announced provincial government support for the plan
to rebuild the hospital and relocate Sunny Hill. To date, BC Children's
Hospital Foundation has numerous contributions to the campaign, including
gifts of $20 million and $25 million from the Overwaitea Food Group and Teck
Cominco Limited, respectively.
    The Campaign for BC Children is calling on British Columbians to "Be a
Superhero" for BC's children by making a donation to the campaign. Donations
can be made online at www.beasuperhero.ca or by calling 604-333-5417 or
toll-free at 1-877-977-HERO (4376). More information on the campaign and its
priorities is available at www.beasuperhero.ca.

    About BMO Financial Group

    Since its founding in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group has
supported the principles of community reinvestment and corporate and social
responsibility to the communities it serves. In 2007, BMO contributed
$50.4 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada and
the U.S., supporting thousands of charities and not-for-profit organizations
and programs that help build and sustain healthy communities. With more than
35,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth
management and investment banking products and solutions. In British Columbia,
BMO Bank of Montreal has 142 branches; BMO Nesbitt Burns has six offices
outside of the Bank of Montreal branch network and BMO Harris Private Banking
has five offices.

    About BC Children's Hospital

    BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service acute care
hospital and serves the one million children living in BC and the Yukon. All
children who are seriously ill or injured are referred to Children's Hospital
and are either treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with
consultation from Children's specialists, in their home community. Last year,
more than 72,000 children were treated at Children's Hospital. BC Children's
Hospital Foundation received donations from more than 82,000 people last year
and had revenues of over $54.4 million. Funds raised by the foundation are
used to support BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children
and the Child & Family Research Institute.

For further information: contact BMO Financial Group or BC Children's
Hospital Foundation: Laurie Grant, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications,
BMO Financial Group, Phone: [phone], Cell: [phone]; Debora
Sweeney, Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, BC Children's Hospital
Foundation, Phone: [phone], Cell: [phone],
E-mail: [e-mail]; Stephen Forgacs, Director of Communications, BC
Children's Hospital Foundation, Phone: [phone], Cell:
[phone], E-mail: [e-mail]