OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2015. BMO Capital Markets teamed up with Variety Village on Saturday to unveil one of Toronto's largest playgrounds for children of all abilities.

Variety Village is a sport, fitness, education and life skills facility located in Scarborough, Ontario. Its goal is to create a level playing field without intimidation or obstacles. People of all abilities are encouraged to reach their potential and feel comfortable participating in activities alongside their peers.

Nearly 500 of BMO Capital Markets' most senior leaders, representing ten countries on four continents, spent three hours at Variety Village building a state-of-the-art accessible playground, as well as additional pieces of accessible equipment which will be installed in Toronto parks in the coming weeks.

Darryl White, CEO of BMO Capital Markets, Variety Village President and CEO John Willson, along with Toronto Mayor John Tory and Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure, Hon. Brad Duguid, joined BMO employees in hosting a barbeque with the families of 100 children of all abilities to "reveal" the new playground.

"For Variety Village, BMO Capital Markets' gift of this accessible playground means it is as easy as possible for everyone to play, regardless of ability. There should be no barriers to play," said Mr. Willson.

"BMO is proud of its long-standing relationship with Variety Village. We're delighted to extend this association and partner with them on this initiative, which will provide their members with access to a great facility that can be enjoyed by children of all abilities," said Mr. White.

The playground is a first for Variety Village and includes six pieces: an Oddie Swing, an Omni Spin, a Sensory Wall, a Sway and Fun Ramp, a WeeSaw and a Sandtable.

"Variety Village has been a leader in our city, providing an educational and athletic space for people of all abilities," said Mayor Tory. "I'd like to thank BMO Capital Markets for sponsoring the new state-of-the-art playground and providing a safe and accessible place for all children to enjoy."

"Inclusive, welcoming communities are what make Ontario such a special place in which to live, raise a family, or grow a business," said Minister Duguid. "I'm pleased that BMO is showing true leadership and contributing to a high-quality, accessible facility for people of all abilities. Variety Village does great work for our community, and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow and positively impact the lives of people of all ages and abilities."

About Variety Village

Variety Village is a sport, fitness, education and life skills facility. Variety creates a level playing field without intimidation or obstacles. People of all abilities are encouraged to reach their potential and feel comfortable participating in activities alongside their peers. For over 65 years, Variety Village has trained individuals, school groups, corporations and community groups in inclusive participation.

About BMO Capital Markets and BMO Financial Group

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider. With more than 2,300 employees operating in 30 locations, including 16 in North America, BMO Capital Markets offers corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with more than 46,000 employees and total assets of CDN \\\$672 billion at January 31, 2015.