SAINT JOHN, NB, June 27, 2019 /CNW/ - The annual BMO Celebrating
Women event in Saint John, N.B.
honoured three women for their remarkable contributions to business
and the community.
The program honours female leaders in local communities as part
of BMO's commitment to drive the advancement of women and
recognizes contributions in one of three categories: Trailblazers
& Innovators; Community & Charitable Giving; and Expansion
& Growth in Business.
The following honourees were recognized:
- Trailblazers & Innovators: Victoria Clarke. As Executive Director of
Discover Saint John, Ms. Clarke leads the not-for-profit with a
mission to increase city revenue through marketing and unique
tourism experiences. Created in partnership with the City of Saint John and the Saint John Hotel
Association, Discover Saint John has over 500 members from the
local tourism industry. Ms. Clarke's love for the community and its
people motivates her to use her marketing and campaign leadership
skills to promote the city and its attractions. Through her
#SaintAwesome campaign, local citizens are empowered to showcase
their city's character and charm using the hashtag on social media
platforms.
- Community & Charitable Giving: Robyn Tingley. As founder and CEO of
GlassSky, Ms. Tingley works with major employers to support equity,
diversity and inclusion strategies with a focus on women and young
leaders. Since 2011, she has funded scholarships and supported over
200 women across 50 countries thorough micro-loans. She has raised
thousands of dollars for women's events and charities including
Power of the Purse, Phenomenal Women Awards, Big Brothers/Big
Sisters, Elizabeth Fry, Hestia
House, Sophia Recovery Centre, and the YWCA. Last year,
$50,000 was raised at THRIVE 2018, a
fundraiser presented by GlassSky for Women in politics. For her
work supporting women in the workforce, Ms. Tingley was named to
the Women Worth Watching list of top female executive trailblazers
in Europe and North America and was selected as one of the
20 Most Powerful & Influential Women in California. She was also named by WXN as one
of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful
Women.
- Expansion & Growth in Business: Dominique Leger. Ms. Leger is the founder
and owner of In Pursuit Mobile Boutique. Studying Fashion Marketing
and Merchandising at International Academy of
Design & Technology in Toronto, she has been involved in management
and visual merchandising during her 15 year retail career.
After a brief career change, Ms. Leger began missing the dynamic
nature of retail and the street fashion she witnessed during her
travels. During a summer trip to Boston, she encountered a mobile retail store
which led to Ms. Leger's inspiration for her own mobile store
format that travels across New
Brunswick to meet new customers. In Pursuit Mobile Boutique
provides a vehicle experience for shoppers looking for clothing,
pet apparel, accessories, jewelry and more. Ms. Leger also launched
an ecommerce store and plans to launch a second truck, In Pursuit
Gifts and Stationary, later this year.
"Through exceptional innovation and ingenuity, our Saint John honourees have become role models
for communities across the province," said Aaron Naccarato, Regional Vice President,
Western New Brunswick, BMO Bank of
Montreal. "Each year, BMO is proud
to recognize remarkable women leaders who exemplify these
qualities. These dedicated programs are part of the BMO's Purpose
to Boldly Grow the Good in Business and Life and the bank's
commitment to the advancement of women entrepreneurs across
Canada."
BMO has developed products to address the needs of its female
clients, including the recent Women in Leadership Mutual Fund – the
first impact-investing mutual fund focused on gender diversity to
be offered by a Canadian bank.
For more information about BMO Celebrating Women, please visit
bmoforwomen.com and join the social conversation using
#BMOforWomen.
About BMO for Women
BMO is committed to supporting
initiatives that empower women within its workforce and the
communities the bank serves. BMO has partnered with organizations
such as the Women's Presidents Organization, GroYourBiz,
#movethedial, and Women Get On Board to provide expertise,
leadership, knowledge, and opportunities for women to network and
learn. In 2018, BMO announced it is making $3 billion in capital available over the next
three years for Canadian businesses owned by women. Through the
only bank-owned recognition program for women in North America – BMO Celebrating Women – BMO
celebrates successful women who have given back to their
communities or achieved success in business. Since 2012, BMO
Celebrating Women has honoured more than 100 women in communities
across Canada and the United
States.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group