Next Generation of Canadian Artists Shine in 14th Annual BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 4, 2016) - BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) today announced the winners of the 14^th annual BMO 1^st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition. Presented annually, the competition recognizes visual arts excellence in post-secondary institutions from across Canada.

Winners were selected from 248 submissions. The national winner receives $10,000 and each of the 12 regional winners receives $5,000 in recognition of their accomplishments. All of the BMO 1^st Art! winning works will be displayed at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto, from November 17 to December 17, 2016.

"Congratulations to the winners on their outstanding achievements in visual art," said Gilles Ouellette, Group Head, BMO Wealth Management. "As longstanding supporters of the arts, BMO is proud to celebrate the wealth of present and emerging talent in this country."

"We are thrilled to exhibit the exceptional selection of works by the 2016 BMO 1^st Art! winners," said Dawn Cain, Curator, Corporate Art Collection, BMO Financial Group. "Each year, the competition presents a unique platform through which promising Canadian artists have an opportunity to showcase their artistic vision. We look forward to sharing these works with the greater community."

Deans and instructors of undergraduate certificate, diploma, and degree arts programs from colleges and universities across the country were invited to select three outstanding graduating students from each of their studio specialties to make submissions to the competition.

The 2016 BMO 1^st Art! winners are:

National Winner

Nathan Levasseur, University of Alberta

Regional Winners

Alberta: Joel Warkentin, Alberta College of Art & Design

British Columbia: Elizabeth Villalva Granda, University of British Columbia

Manitoba: Zahra Baseri, University of Manitoba

New Brunswick: Jennifer McInnis-Wharton, New Brunswick College of Craft & Design

Newfoundland & Labrador: Lucas Morneau, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Nova Scotia: Jordan Blackburn, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University

Nunavut: Alookie Alikatuktuk, Nunavut Arctic College

Ontario: Rouzbeh Akhbari, OCAD University

Prince Edward Island: Dylan McQuaid, Holland College

Quebec: Alexandre Ménard, Université du Québec à Montréal

Saskatchewan: Kristen Auger, First Nations University of Canada

Yukon: Tyler Anderson, Yukon School of Visual Arts