BMO’s Supplier Diversity Team Attends LGBTQ2 Supplier Diversity Trade Mission
BMO Financial Group’s (BMO) Supplier Diversity program is raising its profile in both Canada and the U.S. This past August, our team joined Hon. Jim Carr, minister of International Trade Diversification and Randy Boissonnault, special advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on LGBTQ2 matters, at the first-ever LGBTQ2 Supplier Diversity Trade Mission in Philadelphia.
BMO’s team was invited to attend the trade mission and participate in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s (NGLCC) International Business and Leadership Conference in partnership with the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), along with corporate delegates from across North America, Canadian-certified LGBTQ2 suppliers and Vincent Finn, trade commissioner at the Canadian Consulate in New York.
“This event paved the way towards building long-term relationships with diverse suppliers on both sides of the border, allowing us to serve our customers better across North America.”
This trade mission represents a part of the Canadian government’s progressive trade agenda, a set of policies and programs aimed at facilitating the participation of underrepresented groups in international trade. BMO’s participation affirms its commitment to diversity and inclusion and the crucial role they play in meeting the needs of the company’s shareholders, customers and the communities it serves.
Over the course of the three-day mission, the BMO team conducted outreach with a number of U.S. corporations to discuss how they can support supplier diversity in Canada, encouraged suppliers to get involved with BMO’s supplier diversity program and helped certified LGBTQ2 suppliers to open doors to promote cross-border business opportunities. BMO was also invited to a working session with Minister Carr and a small number of other Canadian businesses, where the group proposed and discussed different approaches to encouraging supplier diversity in Canada by embedding support for supplier diversity into government purchasing processes and practices.
“At BMO, we believe that diversity is our strength,” says Andrew Cieslak, global chief procurement officer, BMO Financial Group. “This strength positions us to attract top talent and more effectively meet our customers’ needs. I can think of no better proof of our continued success in the supplier diversity marketplace than our continued participation in high profile events like this one.”
David Casper, president and chief executive officer, BMO Harris Bank N.A. and group head, Commercial Banking, adds, “This event paved the way towards building long-term relationships with diverse suppliers on both sides of the border, allowing us to serve our customers better across North America.”
