Bank of Montreal
BC Soccer is proud to announce “BMO Girls Play BC!”, a new initiative, in partnership with BMO, that will develop gender equity and empowerment in sport through in-person training, coaching development, festivals, and learning opportunities.
“BMO Girls Play BC!” will launch in the summer of 2024, extending an invitation to over 40,000 self-identified girls and women from BC Soccer member organizations and affiliated clubs across the province to participate in and create long-lasting positive soccer experiences.
BMO is committed to growing the game of soccer through community impact-driven partnerships like BMO Girls Play BC!, Girls Play Los Angeles (GPLA) and Ontario Soccer. Since 2005, BMO has invested over $25 million to engage, develop and cultivate youth soccer at every level of competition across Canada, supporting over 1 million youth athletes in the sport.
“On behalf of the BC Soccer Board of Directors and our members, we thank the Bank of Montreal for this valuable contribution and welcome them as our newest partner! Together, we commit to encouraging and empowering girls and women to participate in our sport to help foster a more inclusive and equitable soccer landscape in British Columbia. This partnership and initiative reinforce our strategic commitment to increase soccer interest and participation.” Said Gayle Statton, former President of BC Soccer.
BMO is partnered with big names in Major League Soccer such as the Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC, CF Montreal, and Los Angeles FC, as well as the National Women’s Soccer League team Angel City FC.
"BC Soccer extends a warm welcome to BMO as our newest partner within the Soccer community in British Columbia," expressed Gabriel Assis, BC Soccer's Chief Executive Officer. "We believe our sport provides unique opportunities for girls and women to enjoy and excel on and off the field. This partnership, well aligned with our strategy to grow female participation, will only enrich the experience for players in BC.”
“As The Bank of Soccer, and inspired by our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is investing deeply in partnerships that grow the game of soccer across North America and eliminate barriers to inclusion,” said Catherine Roche, Chief Marketing Officer, BMO. “We’ve been supporting soccer for nearly two decades, from the grassroots to professional levels, and BMO continues to grow the game, unifying diverse communities and creating inclusive pathways and programs that help youth, self-identified girls and women make progress in sport and in life.”
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.
