August 27, 2008 – Calgary, Alberta – Show jumping fan Jennifer Dawn Marschner of Calgary will ride with Canadian show jumping legend and Olympic Silver Medalist, Ian Millar after winning the BMO Financial Group Spruce Meadows contest that includes a riding lesson with the nine-time Olympian on Friday, September 5. BMO has sponsored equestrian sports for more than 20 years; Ian has been BMO’s corporate equestrian advisor and all-round ambassador since 1988.

Jennifer Dawn’s name was selected from among 3,102 entries received from across the country in this popular contest that was launched four years ago. “BMO recognizes that there are thousands of Canadians who love this sport and aspire to one day see Canada’s premier show jumping event, the BMO Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows,” said Dave Sprague, Vice President, Calgary District, BMO Bank of Montreal. “This contest is one way to make an equestrian dream come true,” he added.

A trip for two to the 2008 Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament from September 3 - 7, including two seats in the BMO Skybox during the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 6, is also part of the grand prize.

When Jennifer Dawn received the news that she had won the contest, she thought it was a friend playing a joke. “I had already booked the time off from work to go to the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament and when I realized I had really won the contest, it was pretty surreal” This is such an amazing opportunity to meet and learn from Ian Millar, and to congratulate him in person on his remarkable Olympic win and career.”

The 26-year old, originally from Cranbrook, BC, started taking riding lessons when she was 10-years old, joined a pony club at 14 and also worked at Spruce Meadows grooming horses. “I still spend some time at a local barn, helping to groom horses and riding from time-to-time. The lesson with Ian Millar will be a great way for me to get involved in the sport again,” said Jennifer Dawn.

As the founding sponsor of Spruce Meadows, BMO Financial Group has a long and proud history of supporting equestrian sport in Canada. Since 1977, BMO has sponsored the BMO Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows. This year’s $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup brings together teams from Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United States to compete in the richest team show jumping event in the world.
BMO Financial Group employs more than 2,500 people in Alberta who provide personal, commercial and corporate customers with a full-range of expertise in many areas, including agriculture, oil and gas, corporate banking, international finance and wealth management. BMO Bank of Montreal operates 111 branches in Alberta.