TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2013 – York University announces a $1.25 million gift from BMO Financial Group to Glendon College, coinciding with the inauguration of the BMO Financial Group Skyroom, BMO Financial Group Lecture Hall and L. Jacques Ménard – BMO Financial Group classroom on November 28.
“We are very grateful to BMO Financial Group for this visionary gift, which will have an incredibly positive impact on Glendon College and York University by helping us to advance research and teaching on public and international affairs and to provide the highest quality of innovative bilingual and professional development programming to our students,” says York University President and Vice-Chancellor, Mamdouh Shoukri.
The Glendon School of Public and International Affairs will receive $750,000 of this donation towards the development of public affairs programming, and $500,000 to fund visiting professorships.
“The support of the BMO Financial Group has played a critical role in enabling the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs to pursue its unique mandate of preparing a new generation of fully bilingual leaders for Canada's public life,” says Kenneth McRoberts, Principal of Glendon College.
The inauguration recognizes the continuing and long-lasting support BMO Financial Group provides to Glendon College and particularly to the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs, the first bilingual graduate school in Canada.
“In keeping with BMO’s longstanding and overarching commitment to learning, we are proud to support Glendon College’s innovative public affairs programming that links Canada’s two main languages and cultures, and provides a unique learning experience for tomorrow’s leaders,” says L. Jacques Ménard, Chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns and President of BMO Financial Group, Quebec. “We are pleased that the name of our organization will be associated with these facilities that will be the site of Glendon’s thriving distinguished speaker series, executive programming, special events and community outreach programs,” adds Ménard.
The opening of the three spaces in the Centre of Excellence at Glendon will represent the latest in the ongoing expansion and enhancement of the campus, including the state-of-the art language labs, open study spaces, and an amphitheatre.
To learn more about the country’s only bilingual liberal arts college, visit Glendon College website.
York University
York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York’s 11 faculties and 28 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York's community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 250,000 alumni.
BMO Financial Group
Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $549 billion as at July 31, 2013, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.
Media Contacts:
Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca
Ronald Monet, Corporate Communications, BMO Financial Group, 514 877 1873, ronald.monet@bmo.com
Erin Marranca, Media Relations, BMO Financial Group, 416 927-3862, erin.marranca@bmo.com
