FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2024
BMO FUNDS BARRIER-FREE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT WITH $330,000 GIFT TO CALGARY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
This gift will enhance the delivery of mental health and wellness initiatives at Calgary Public Library by providing support for programming, resources, and staff training.
Calgary, AB – Calgary Public Library Foundation is excited to announce a $330,000 gift from BMO in support of wellness initiatives. This generous donation will enable Calgary Public Library to enhance their wellness programs and services for their 750,000 members.
The partnership with BMO and the wellness initiative demonstrates a shared commitment with Calgary Public Library, the Calgary Public Library Foundation and BMO to addressing mental health in our community.
“As a purpose-driven organization, BMO believes the mental health and wellbeing of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve across North America is essential to a thriving economy and we have committed more than $16,000,000 in funding to support mental health initiatives over the past eight years,” said Jeffrey Hillyard, Senior Vice President & Head, Commercial Banking, Prairies, BMO. “This partnership with the Calgary Public Library aligns with BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life and will help drive progress for an inclusive society by removing barriers to mental health support by providing education through welcoming and accessible spaces available for everyone in the city of Calgary.”
“Because of the Library’s reach and community presence, it plays a significant role not just in offering services that help people cope with their mental health and wellness struggles, but also in the scope of prevention. I am grateful to BMO for their generosity and for recognizing and supporting the Library’s ability to improve our community through these important initiatives,” says Tracy Johnson, CEO, Calgary Public Library Foundation.
With 21 locations across the city and more than 750,000 members, the generous gift from BMO will enhance the wealth of resources and services to support mental health and wellness. These free and accessible tools remove barriers to mental health support and education, reduce stigma, and connect individuals of all ages and backgrounds with resources to foster health and wellness and support loved ones.
“Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being. With so many factors affecting levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, the free and accessible mental health and wellness resources available at Calgary Public Library play an increasingly vital role in how we support our community,” said Sarah Meilleur, CEO of Calgary Public Library.
Donations in support of the Library’s wellness initiatives are gratefully accepted. Visit the Calgary Public Library Foundation website at https://libraryfoundation.ca/gift/wellness-resources-23/.
QUICK FACTS
- According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:
- One in five people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
- By the time they reach 40 years of age, one in two Canadians will have — or have had — a mental illness.
- Low-income Canadians are three to four times more likely to suffer from poor mental health compared to higher earners.
- Mental illness can cut as much as 20 years off of a person’s life expectancy.
- Calgary Public Library’s Wellness Desk served 489 people in 2023. For 60% of users, their first visit to the Wellness Desk is their first time ever accessing mental health support resources.
ABOUT CALGARY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
Through the support of our donors, Calgary Public Library Foundation enables Calgary Public Library and all of its members to dream, to transform, and to lead in access, connection, and literacy. Innovation starts at the Calgary Public Library, and donor support has the power to transform lives—in Calgary and beyond. Learn more and join us in this transformation as we invent the future of libraries, together. Visit us at libraryfoundation.ca.
ABOUT CALGARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Calgary Public Library, with 21 locations over 750,000 members and, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for 111 years. It is one of North America’s largest municipal library systems, with over 6.7 million annual visits and more than 17 million physical and digital items borrowed in 2023. To learn more, visit calgarylibrary.ca.
ABOUT BMO
BMO Gives. Good grows here.
Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2023, our social impact included more than $84 million donated to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations across North America to help drive progress by enabling individuals to thrive and communities to prosper. Our colleagues spent almost 62,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $31.2 million of donations through our annual employee giving program. For more information, please visit BMO.com.
About BMO Financial Group
BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.3 trillion as of January 31, 2024. 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 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.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Robin Grimstead, Director of Strategy and Marketing
Calgary Public Library Foundation
robing@libraryfoundation.ca
403-221-2002
