- BMO's $750,000 contribution
will help fund the expansion of Blackhurst's facilities and
community programming.
TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2023
/CNW/ - BMO today announced a $750,000 donation to the Blackhurst Cultural
Centre, in conjunction with the Centre's annual Emancipation Day
walk in Toronto. As the lead
partner of Blackhurst's capital campaign, BMO's donation will
support construction of a new Cultural Centre celebrating and
preserving Black history in Toronto's Mirvish Village. The donation also
supports an operating and endowment fund to help the Centre deliver
outreach programs such as youth arts programs and a business
e-course in partnership with the Schulich School of Business.
"This new Centre will help support financial progress, racial
equity, and inclusion for Black customers, colleagues, and the
community," said Stanley Julien,
Head, Special Accounts Management Unit, BMO. "Our Purpose, to
Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, inspires our
Zero Barriers to Inclusion strategy that's breaking down
systemic barriers and enabling access to opportunities for all. We
are excited for the benefits this Centre, and its programs, will
bring for our community."
"The Blackhurst Cultural Centre is proud to have BMO as a
partner in this new anthropological model of development, said Itah
Sadu, Managing Director, Blackhurst Cultural Centre. "Blackhurst
welcomes the community, government, and the corporate sector to lay
a foundation for a permanent and sustainable cultural
infrastructure in the historic Bloor and Bathurst neighbourhood. The ancestors who came
through the Underground Railroad and settled in this neighbourhood
must be cheering this new Canadian chapter."
For over 25 years, Blackhurst has operated as a Black-owned
bookstore, A Different Booklist. In 2025, the Centre will
move into one of the 24 conserved heritage buildings in the
revitalized Mirvish Village, expanding to four floors to house the
bookstore, Cultural Centre programming, and a drumming
studio. Blackhurst has dedicated space to showcase revolving
community-based vendors, artisans, and leading voices, all curated
to engage with the community for learning, sharing, and celebrating
the proud stories of African and Caribbean Canadians.
This announcement builds on BMO's commitment to an inclusive
society with zero barriers. The bank's support for Black Canadians
and Americans includes:
- Launch of BMO EMpower 2.0, pledged over $40 billion supporting organizations in
communities across the United
States focusing on advancing homeownership, growing small
businesses, strengthening communities, and creating a more
equitable society.
- BMO committed $100 million to
launch the Business Within Reach: BMO for Black
Entrepreneurs lending program.
- Zero Barriers to Inclusion 2025 commitment to increase
BIPOC employee representation at all levels in Canada and the U.S., including increasing
representation of People of Colour in senior leadership roles to 30
per cent or greater in Canada and
U.S., respectively.
- Creation of the Black and Latino Advisory Council (BLAC),
focused on employee experience, advancement, and engagement of
Black and Latino talent through dedicated taskforces and
partnerships with BMO's Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
- Launch of BMORE, a workforce development program, with
Chicago non-profit Cara to recruit
individuals from underserved and diverse communities into financial
services careers.
- Establishment of BMO's Black & Bold series, a series
of interviews that highlight trendsetting Black women
entrepreneurs.
About BMO Financial Group
BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of
$1.25 trillion as of April 30, 2023. Serving customers for 200 years
and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees
providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth
management, global markets and investment banking products and
services to over 13 million customers across Canada, the United
States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single
purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO
is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making
progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future and inclusive
society.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group