Women in Capital Markets Announces the Winners of the 2010 Executive
Coaching Award Program

Five WCM members to receive expert career coaching

TORONTO, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - Women in Capital Markets (WCM), Canada's leading association for the advancement of women in capital markets, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 WCM Executive Coaching Award Program, sponsored by BMO Nesbitt Burns. Now in its third year, this innovative program provides career coaching and development services from Felix^® Global Corp. to qualified senior women working in the capital markets in Canada.

"The Executive Coaching Award Program is designed to support the development of women in senior leadership roles in the financial industry," said Martha Fell, Chief Executive Officer of WCM.  "Having a trusted executive coach helps these focused individuals harness their strengths and provides them with the confidence and self-awareness to achieve their business and personal goals. It's a win-win."

The 2010 Career Coaching Award winners are:

• Julie Card, Ascent Investment Management;
• Patricia Graham, RBC Capital Markets;
• Kathryn Smith, TD Securities;
• Camilla Sutton, Scotia Capital; and
• Sheryl Holmes, CIBC.

The five winners were chosen from applicants across a broad range of Canadian financial institutions. This unique program is directed at applicants with a minimum of 10 years' experience who have already achieved significant success in their careers. Candidates must be currently employed in Canadian capital markets, which includes the issuing, buying, selling or trading of securities, currencies and derivatives, and must demonstrate how the award would help them further their career goals in an environment still dominated by male professionals.

"BMO Nesbitt Burns is very proud to be a collaborative presenting sponsor of this important program. The WCM Executive Coaching Award Program is opening up significant opportunities for women in the workplace - ensuring competent and talented women succeed in the corporate world," said Charyl Galpin, Chief Operating Officer, BMO Nesbitt Burns. "BMO Nesbitt Burns is committed to being a leader in diversity and workplace equity and we firmly stand behind the advancement and growth of women in the Canadian financial services industry."

WCM announced Felix^® Global Corp. as its career coaching and development partner in August, 2010. 

"We are very pleased to partner with Women in Capital Markets on this exciting initiative," said Jim Graham, Chief Executive Officer, Felix^® Global Corp.  "At Felix^® Global, we are also very committed to the advancement of women in the marketplace and are proud to have a variety of unique leadership programs focused on this objective."

About Women in Capital Markets
Women in Capital Markets (WCM) is a non-profit organization that aims to support and advance female leaders in business, foster accountability for diversity in the industry, and recognize leaders who have contributed significantly to the advancement of women in the capital markets. Through innovative programming, WCM offers its members diverse and creative opportunities for networking, career growth and personal development, and mentoring and coaching of both students and professionals. More information is available at www.wcm.ca. 

About BMO Nesbitt Burns
BMO Nesbitt Burns and its predecessor companies have been helping investors meet their financial goals since 1912. In August 1987, BMO Bank of Montreal acquired Nesbitt Thomson—then one of Canada's oldest and most respected investment houses.  In 1994, Nesbitt Thomson and Burns Fry—also recognized as one of the largest worldwide dealers of Canadian equities and debt securities—merged.  BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. emerged as a member organization of BMO Financial Group, offering a broad range of wealth management and investment products and solutions.

Today, as one of Canada's leading full service investment firms, BMO Nesbitt Burns has an established reputation within the financial services industry.  With over 76 branches and approximately 1350 Investment Advisors (as of October 31, 2010) BMO Nesbitt Burns is committed to helping clients meet their wealth management objectives in the same tradition of professionalism, integrity and innovation.

About Felix^® Global Corp.
Felix^® Global Corp. is a dynamic, fast-growing human capital management firm with global reach that focuses on helping organizations gain competitive advantage through providing best-in-class business solutions which unleash the power of people. With more than 20 offices in North America, Felix^® Global helps business leaders assess, understand, and shape their corporate cultures to drive exceptional business performance. Whether one-to-one or enterprise-wide, Felix^® Global provides end-to-end holistic, integrated, full-service solutions.  Felix^® Global offers Strategic & Organizational Consulting for:  Career Solutions, Leadership Development & Consulting, Assessment & Measurement, and Recruitment & Outsourcing, including HR Managed Services. For more information, please visit the Felix^® Global Corp. website at www.felixglobal.com.

For further information:

For more information about WCM and the Capital Markets Coaching Awards Program, please contact:

Women in Capital Markets
Kerry Breeze 
416.829.1727 
[email protected]

BMO Financial Group:
Martha McInnis
416 867-3996
[email protected]

Internet:
www.wcm.ca
www.bmonesbittburns.com