CIBC partners with Aboriginal community to create new job opportunities

    CALGARY, April 4 /CNW/ - The first eight Aboriginal students to pass
through CIBC's six-week Job Readiness Training Program received diplomas today
and full-time job placements to work in the Analyst and Transaction Processor
roles at CIBC's Global Operations & INTRIA. The graduates of the program are
'job ready' with the tools, skills and knowledge to begin work immediately.
    "CIBC has a long tradition of supporting Aboriginal communities,
businesses and individuals," said Art Mannarn, Executive Vice-President,
Global Operations & INTRIA at CIBC. "I am proud of the work we are doing and
the relationships we have built within the community."
    The career access program, known within the bank as Job Readiness
Training (JRT), is a free, unpaid six-week program provided in partnership
with the Community Futures Treaty 7, Métis Employment Services, Aboriginal
Futures Career and Training Centre, and JVS Toronto.
    The event marked the completion of the first of two JRT programs
scheduled in the bank's Global Operations & INTRIA division for 2008. The
second program will be in Toronto for persons with disabilities.
    Since 2005, the JRT program has placed 28 persons with disabilities into
full-time positions at CIBC. Of these, 25 are still working at CIBC. "We have
created a fair and inclusive workforce by building employee teams that reflect
the communities in which we live and do business," said Mannarn. "Together, we
are creating an organization where there are no borders and supporting a
vision of being a leader in client relationships."
    CIBC recently received two accolades for its approach to diversity and
employment equity. In October 2007, Canadian Immigrant magazine named CIBC as
one of Canada's "Top Employers for Workplace Diversity." CIBC was also
recognized in February 2008 as one of Canada's "Best Employers of New
Canadians" for having created a welcoming environment for newcomers to Canada,
which allows them to make the most of their skills, education and talents.

    CIBC 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, 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.