Supporting Canadian Veterans, one village at a time
As a long-time supporter of the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans, BMO announced a $1.5 million donation to the Homes For Heroes Foundation this week at The Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto.
As the Official Bank of the Canadian Defence Community, BMO is proud to partner with the Homes For Heroes Foundation and help accelerate the Foundation’s National Veterans’ Villages program. This partnership is inspired by our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, and supports our commitment to a more inclusive society by expanding the social services and housing that help Veterans successfully transition back to civilian life.
Transition challenges can exacerbate homelessness among Veterans. Homes For Heroes estimates there are as many as 5,000 unhoused Veterans across Canada.
“We are thrilled to begin a partnership with BMO in support of our charity’s mission to end the issue of Veteran homelessness. BMO is a global company with a proven commitment to our military community, and this announcement goes a long way in helping us achieve our mission.”
– Brad Field
President and CEO, Homes For Heroes Foundation
“Veterans Affairs Canada has proudly supported the Homes For Heroes Foundation through the Veterans and Family Well-Being Fund, with over $1.7 million in support since 2019. This support helps Homes For Heroes’ Veterans’ Villages to deliver tailored and personalized services to Veterans, all while providing them with a safe and affordable place to call home. Working with our partners is one of the ways we can ensure the physical, mental, and economic well-being of Veterans and their families. BMO’s commitment shows that, through strong partnerships and collaboration, we can make a significant difference for Veterans and their families across the country.”
– The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Homes For Heroes Foundation operates Veterans’ Villages in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kingston, Ontario. Planning is underway for a fourth village in Winnipeg. A typical Veterans’ Village has 20 tiny homes, a resource centre, social worker offices, recreation space and community gardens.
The association between BMO and the soldiers who have defended this country is a long and historic one, which we honour with stories and exhibits on the BMO Heritage site. Every tiny home in a Veterans’ Village is named after a fallen servicemember. The Kingston Village has one dedicated to Corporal George Taylor, a BMO employee from Kingston who enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in October 1914. He was one of 1,414 BMO employees who served in World War I, and sadly, he was one of 230 colleagues killed in action.
In times of war and in times of peace, BMO stands by its Veterans, who have sacrificed so much for the benefit of all.
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.
