May 28, 2007/- BMO Bank of Montreal is marking its more than 160 year old relationship with Kingston’s university hospitals with a $750,000 donation to support hospital redevelopment and staff education. The gift, made to the University Hospitals of Kingston Foundation, the fundraising arm of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care (formerly Providence Continuing Care Centre), will benefit the 500,000 people in Southeastern Ontario who rely on the hospitals for their health care needs.

“I can think of no more steadfast supporter of our hospitals and the care they provide to the community than BMO Bank of Montreal,” said Roger Wright, Chair of the Foundation. “The redevelopment of our hospitals is the most important change in health care in the more than 160 years of service to this community. To have BMO Bank of Montreal – our banker and partner – support our plans with a major donation, means a lot to us.”

$500,000 of the gift will be invested in the redevelopment of the hospitals, which includes projects across all three institutions.

The KGH component is expected to begin in 2008 with the expansion of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario and construction of a new Inpatient Mental Health Unit. Other KGH components include redevelopment of Central Processing Services (which provides sterilization support to operating rooms), the relocation of the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, expansion of the Intensive Care Unit and medical/surgical inpatient capacity and expansion of the Dialysis Program.

The Providence Care component includes construction of a brand new hospital to replace the St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Mental Health Services sites.

Hotel Dieu Hospital’s plans will see the completion of work on creating Canada’s leading ambulatory health care centre. Some 36,000 square feet of existing space will be renovated into leading-edge ambulatory space that will provide highly specialized outpatient clinics in one location.

“Kingston’s outstanding hospital network is amongt the finest in the country and we at BMO are proud to support its ongoing efforts to expand and improve its health care services even further,” said Lloyd Fleming, District Vice President, East Central Ontario, BMO Bank of Montreal. “This year marks the 162nd anniversary of providing banking services to the hospital community in Kingston beginning with the opening of Hotel Dieu Hospital in 1845, and this announcement of our renewed partnership with Kingston’s three-hospital network reflects BMO’s longstanding commitment to supporting the communities in which we live and work.”

A further $250,000 will support the creation of the Bank of Montreal Awards for Health Care Excellence, which will ultimately generate six annual awards of $2,000 for hospital staff to attend international training sessions and conferences as well as to support their master’s and doctorate level studies.

“As this region’s teaching and research hospitals, staff education is very important. The Bank of Montreal Awards for Health Care Excellence will help us maintain the expertise and skills that help people across Southeastern Ontario,” said Denise Cumming, Executive Director of the Foundation.

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $356 billion as at January 31, 2007, and more than 35,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions. BMO Financial Group serves clients across Canada through its Canadian retail arm, BMO Bank of Montreal. BMO Bank of Montreal operates 5 branches in the Greater Kingston Area and 24 additional branches within the broader Kingston hospital network catchment area.

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation is the fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre. Created in 2005, the Foundation raises money for programs, equipment, education and research that benefit the 500,000 people in Kingston and Southeastern Ontario served by the three teaching hospitals.

To find out more about giving opportunities or to make a donation call 613-549-5452 or toll-free 866-549-5452 or go online to www.kingstonhospitalsfoundation.ca.

Contact:
University Hospitals Kingston Foundation
John Suart
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Phone: (613) 549-5452 Ext. 5908
Mobile: (613) 583-3062
Email: john.suart@uhkf.ca