BMO Financial Group

Bank of Montreal (which operates as BMO Financial Group) is the founding sponsor of the Canada's Best Diversity Employers competition, which is managed by Mediacorp Canada Inc. in partnership with the diversity consulting firm TWI Inc. This project recognizes organizations across Canada that have developed exemplary diversity and inclusiveness initiatives, with the goal of encouraging other organizations to follow their lead. As the project's exclusive sponsor, BMO has taken itself out of consideration for the competition and does not take part in the selection of winners, which is done by Mediacorp editors. BMO funds the costs of managing the annual competition as part of its unique commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. In the interest of fairness, Mediacorp editors have also reviewed BMO's own diversity programs so that readers interested in the competition can understand the key aspects of BMO's inclusiveness initiatives.

BMO partners with JVS Toronto to offer a special training program for job-seekers with disabilities, who have little or no work experience. Over the course of six weeks, participants obtain the experience necessary to succeed in permanent entry-level positions at the bank. The bank also established the "BMO Financial Group-Lime Scholarship and Internship Program" for post-secondary students with disabilities. Scholarship recipients can apply for a paid summer internship that leads to permanent employment at BMO in either a Financial Services Manager or Commercial Account Manager role.

BMO provides a scholarship and summer internship program for Aboriginal students. Interns work as Commercial Account Managers, Financial Services Managers or Private Banking Officers -- and are offered permanent roles once they graduate.

In a noteworthy initiative with the University of Calgary, BMO sponsored the launch of "Aboriginal Lynx", a website that connects Aboriginal post-secondary students at western Canadian universities with employers providing summer internships, co-op placments, or full-time job opportunities. Participating employers recruit from a pool of over 5,000 Aboriginal students currently attending or about to graduate from Western Canadian universities, including: the First Nations University of Canada; University of Saskatchewan; University of Regina; University of Manitoba; University of Winnipeg; University of Alberta; University of Calgary; University of British Columbia; and the University of Northern British Columbia.