Gold medalist skeleton racer Jon Montgomery to help CIBC celebrate the grand
opening of new Winnipeg branch

Guests can enter to win an LG 42" LCD HDTV or a $1,000 GIC; $5,000 donation to FortWhyte Alive

WINNIPEG, May 14 /CNW/ - Tomorrow, Saturday, May 15, Olympic gold medalist and FIBT World Championship silver medalist skeleton racer, Jon Montgomery, will help CIBC celebrate the grand opening of its new 6,100 square-foot CIBC Kenaston Common Banking Centre at Kenaston Boulevard and McGillivray Street in Winnipeg. To mark the occasion, CIBC will make a $5,000 donation to FortWhyte Alive.

Montgomery will be onsite from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to meet fans and guests can enter to win great prizes like an LG 42" LCD HDTV or a $1,000 GIC. Families can enjoy a variety of fun activities including face painters, a caricaturist, magician and bouncy castle as well as a barbecue, snacks and refreshments and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 1 p.m.

"We're thrilled to celebrate our investment in Winnipeg with so many of our clients and one of Canada's Olympic heroes," said Larry Tomei, CIBC's Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Central Canada. "Winnipeg is a vibrant community and our new branch will offer our busy clients even more convenience in their banking."

The hours of operation are:

    
           Monday - Wednesday:     9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
           Thursday - Friday:      9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
           Saturday:               9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    

The new full-service branch is barrier free with accessibility features such as sit down teller stations and two Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) installed at wheelchair accessible height with headphone jacks for audio access and grab bars for mobility assistance. The branch also offers a drive-thru ABM for added convenience.

To further mark the occasion, CIBC will make a $5,000 donation to FortWhyte Alive in support of their FortWhyte Farms youth program. FortWhyte Farms works with marginalized youth, using the practice of sustainable urban agriculture to build confidence and leadership skills and instil values of individual and community self-reliance. Participants are exposed to aspects of urban agriculture and receive hands-on experience in horticulture, pastured pigs and chickens, beekeeping and honey production.

"This most generous, unsolicited contribution by CIBC in support of FortWhyte Alive's leading environmental education programs for youth is so very much appreciated," said Bill Elliot, President and CEO of FortWhyte Alive. "Such investment in the future stewards of our planet will pay lasting dividends in their lives and the community as a whole. Hats off to CIBC and welcome to the FortWhyte neighbourhood!"

With 1076 branches, including 17 in Winnipeg, CIBC has one of the largest branch networks in Canada. CIBC clients also benefit from access to more than 3,800 automated bank machines, and 24/7 service by phone, online and through mobile banking.

CIBC (CM: TSX;NYSE) is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, and has offices in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

For further information: Media contact: Doug Maybee, Director, External Communications and Media Relations, [phone] or [email protected]