/EINPresswire.com/ -- TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 07/19/16 -- As part of a long-standing commitment to helping the advancement of women, BMO has just completed its fourth annual national Celebrating Women Program, which honours exceptional local women for their remarkable contribution to business and the community in one of three categories: Innovation and Global Growth, Community and Charitable Giving or Expansion and Growth in Small Business.

What started as a single event in Vancouver in 2012 has grown to eight locations nationwide, and, according to Julie Barker-Merz, President of BMO InvestorLine and Co-Chair of the BMO for Women Strategy, these events complement the bank's other efforts to become the bank for women.

"These awards really spotlight remarkable women in each community, and reiterate why they are such an important and powerful group," said Ms. Barker-Merz. "We hope to continue to expand the schedule to include more locations, and help raise awareness of the amazing female leaders we get to work with and serve."

The Celebrating Women events follow the recent BMO sponsored launch of the report A Force To Reckon With: Women, Entrepreneurship & Risk, in partnership with Carleton University, which consolidates over two years of research to debunk myths surrounding female entrepreneurs and improve their interactions when looking to grow their businesses.

In addition to investing and engaging in these important conversations, BMO enjoys partnerships with organizations such as GroYourBiz, WBE Canada, Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), SheEO and Catalyst, and has developed products with the support of women in mind, like the recent Women in Leadership Mutual Fund.

For more information about BMO Celebrating Women, including updates for 2017, visit: http://bmoforwomen.bmo.com and join the social conversation using #BMOforWomen.

BMO Celebrating Women 2016: Summary of Honourees by location
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City       Honouree, Category, Business/Cause
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Montreal   Annie Lemieux, Community & Charitable Giving (fundraising for
           local children's hospital)
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           Caroline Bouchard, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Marche
           Centre-Ville Chicoutimi)
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           Emmanuelle Dunn, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Lingerie
           Emma)
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Kitchener- Jennifer Knapp, Innovation & Global Growth (Knapp Fasteners)
Waterloo
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           Linda Knight, Community & Charitable Giving (providing healthcare
           to third world countries)
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           Belinda Beaulne, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (DTI
           Logistics Canada Inc.)
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Halifax    Carole-Ann Miller, Innovation & Global Growth (CAMSA/Maple Trade
           Finance)
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           Elspeth McLean-Wile, Community & Charitable Giving (cultivating
           and retaining local talent for rural sustainability)
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           Phyllis Paton, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Maritime
           Dance Academy)
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Calgary    Heather Culbert, Community & Charitable Giving (philanthropist
           and fundraising for cancer)
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           Christine Silverberg, Expansion & Growth in Small Business
           (Silverberg Legal)
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           Lisa Vlooswyk, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Lisa
           Longball Golf Schools)
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Toronto    Sandra Pupatello, Innovation & Global Growth (Canadian
           International Avenues Ltd.)
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           Sue Bennett, Community & Charitable Giving (fundraising for local
           hospital)
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           Bev Lewis, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Positive
           Solutions Divorce Services Canada)
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Ottawa     Margaret Peters-Morris, Innovation & Global Growth (Glengarry
           Cheesemaking Inc.)
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           Annie Perrault, Community & Charitable Giving (Founder of Centre
           Carmen)
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           Marie Schruder & Maureen Hicks, Expansion & Growth in Small
           Business (Bonnechere Bakery and Bistro Fine Food Emporium)
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Winnipeg   Lee Meagher, Innovation & Global Growth (Scootaround)
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           Marjorie Danylchuk, Community & Charitable Giving (philanthropist
           and fundraising for local hospital)
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           Colleen Dyck, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Gorp)
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Vancouver  Madeleine Shaw & Suzanne Siemens, Innovation & Global Growth
           (Lunapads)
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           Diane McCurdy, Community & Charitable Giving (collecting and
           distributing donations for impoverished children globally)
           -----------------------------------------------------------------
           Marilyn Cobban, Expansion & Growth in Small Business (Blue Sky
           Clothing Company)
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About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services provider based in North America. With total assets of $681 billion as of April 30, 2016, and over 45,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail 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, Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

Contacts:
Media Contacts:
Michelle Agnelo, Toronto
(416) 867-3996
michelle.agnelo@bmo.com

Valerie Doucet, Montreal
(514) 877-8224
valerie.doucet@bmo.com

Internet: www.bmo.com
Twitter: @BMOmedia

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