BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk in support of Kids Help Phone raises over $3.5M and counting!
On May 7, more than 12,000 people rallied together for the BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk in support of Kids Help Phone, the largest community event in Canada for youth mental health, raising over $3.5 million and counting for the #FeelOutLoud campaign.
From coast to coast to coast, more than 12,000 kids, adults, community organizations and corporations came together in person and virtually to take part in Canada’s largest walk supporting youth mental health and well-being. The $3.4 million fundraising goal this year was surpassed, with communities and BMO employees raising $3.5 million – and counting! – for the expansion of Kids Help Phone services.
This year, a record number of Team BMO members participated, with nearly 10,000 employees, family and friends taking part, representing an incredible 80 per cent of the total registrants for the Walk. Funds raised were also up 27 per cent from 2022, the highest ever since BMO started participating in 2013.
“We are inspired by our communities who came together this weekend to raise awareness and funds for mental health support services for young people. BMO’s commitment to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life and continue making progress for an inclusive society aligns with our long-standing partnership with Kids Help Phone. Participation in this Walk helps send the critical message to young people across the country that their well-being is important. Thank you to the organizers, volunteers and participants who helped make this walk such a success from coast to coast to coast.”
– Cameron Fowler
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, BMO
BMO has been a partner of Kids Help Phone since its founding, and continues to support its mission to transform Canada’s youth mental health ecosystem. Since 1989, BMO and our employees have raised more than $40 million for Kids Help Phone. Earlier this year, BMO pledged $15 million to the Kids Help Phone #FeelOutLoud campaign, a historic national movement anchored by a fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $300 million to expand access to e-mental health services for young people in every corner of Canada by 2024.
BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk and our recent investment in the #FeelOutLoud campaign reinforces the bank’s mission to keep Boldly Growing the Good in business and in life.
“It’s incredible to see families, friends and colleagues come together all across Canada and rally the much-needed support for youth mental health. There is a crisis for youth and mental health right now and this event galvanizes a country in support of young people, as the demand for youth mental health services increases every single day. Thank you, Team BMO and participants across Canada, for ensuring there’s a place for young people to feel out loud about any issue, and any feeling, no matter how big or small, without judgement.”
– Katherine Hay
President and CEO, Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 multilingual, national e-mental health service offering professional counselling, live chat, volunteer-led text-based support as well as information and referrals for young people. KHP has many different free and confidential access points and platforms for young people to reach out, as young as 5-27, including professional phone counselling available now in over 100 languages. The donations raised from the Walk are crucial to maintaining this valuable service and ensuring every young person can access the support they need, in the way they need it most.
Find out more about employee giving and community giving at BMO.
If you or someone you know needs support call 1-800-668-6868 or visit Kids Help Phone online.
To donate to the BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk and #FeelOutLoud campaign, visit the Kids Help Phone: BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk page.

