/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Are Small Businesses Ready for H1N1?/

• Press Release
• Source: BMO Bank of Montreal; BMO Financial Group; International Centre for Infectious Diseases
• On 7:00 am EDT, Thursday October 29, 2009

<< Panel of BMO, ICID and business experts discuss strategies for closing the preparedness gap >>

TORONTO, Oct. 28 /CNW/ - Members of the media are invited to attend a roundtable discussion on the potential impact of H1N1 on Canadian small businesses. The panel discussion will be held on Thursday, October 29 at the Hilton Hotel on 145 Richmond St. West in Toronto.

A Harris/Decima survey released in June found that 82 per cent of Canadian small businesses do not have a health-related continuity plan. The panel will review the barriers entrepreneurs face in developing contingency plans and discuss strategies that these businesses can adopt to close the gap in their preparedness.

The panel will be moderated by Cathy Pin, Vice President, Commercial Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal, and will include:

	      -  Wendy Schettler, Director Public Health Programs, International
	         Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID)
	      -  Mike Cuma, VP Human Resources and Labour Relations, Legacy Bowes
	         Group (on behalf of ICID)
	      -  Alan West, Lawyer, Gowlings LLP
	      -  Cynthia Speranza, Coordinator, Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement
	         Area

	    Details:

	    When:     Thursday, October 29
	              12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. ET

	    Where:    Varley Room, Hilton Hotel
	              145 Richmond St. West
	              Toronto, ON
	    

Media interested in attending can RSVP by contacting Peter Scott: 416-867-3996, PeterE.Scott(at)bmo.com

Those unable to attend in person can dial in to the meeting via teleconference.

	    Dial-In Numbers: 416-443-4516 or 1-866-386-7641 (Toll Free)
	    Pass Code:       8756972 followed by the number sign
	    

For further information

Media Contacts: Peter Scott, Toronto, (416) 867-3996, PeterE.Scott@bmo.com, Internet: www.bmo.com

Buzz up!