DUC and BMO Financial Group Team Up to Invest in Canadian Youth

Fredericton, N.B. – Today, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and BMO Financial Group announced an exciting funding partnership for wetland education in Canada and recognized the innovation of Fredericton High School students. Over the next five years, Canada’s oldest financial institution will donate $300,000 to educate and inspire tomorrow’s decision makers through DUC’s national Wetland Centres of Excellence program.

“BMO has three guiding values: innovation, learning, and collaboration,” says Nada Ristich, director of Community Giving at BMO Financial Group. “With these values at the core of the Wetland Centres of Excellence program we are proud to support this initiative and be part of a team that’s helping youth across Canada discover their passion for conservation.”

“The Wetland Centres of Excellence is a transformative and inspirational program that has already helped 100,000 young Canadians build a deep understanding of the importance of our environment. The Centres serve to foster invaluable leadership and collaboration skills. We’re excited to partner with Ducks Unlimited to help ensure even more young people can benefit from the program,” adds Ristich.

Merebeth Switzer, DUC national manager of education, is happy to have BMO Financial Group’s help to show young people the power they have to take action and create change. “We’re overjoyed to have BMO Financial Group join us in this effort,” she says. “For 80 years DUC has been leading in wetland conservation, and we’re happy to be a catalyst for young people to engage with their community. The students we meet are truly exceptional and bring innovative approaches to conservation challenges. We look forward to them taking on the role of much-needed wetland ambassadors.”

The announcement was made at DUC’s Conservation Centre in Fredericton where students from Fredericton High School, a designated Wetland Centre of Excellence, were on hand to demonstrate and discuss environmental action projects they undertook through the program.

For more information on BMO Financial Group’s funding partnership and Wetland Centres of Excellence in general, visit ducks.ca/stories/education/duc-and-bmo-financial-group/ or contact:

Contact Information

Mariane Bolla
National Education Coordinator,
Ducks Unlimited Canada
204-467-3273 or 1-800-665-3825 (toll-free)
m_bolla@ducks.ca

Chelsea Murray
Communications Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
902-292-2506
c_murray@ducks.ca