TORONTO, Sept. 11 /CNW/ - Last night CIBC (CM: TSX; NYSE) announced its
annual CIBC Diversity Award winners, recognizing employees' contributions
toward building a fair and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities
and clients that CIBC serves. At the reception, Gerry McCaughey, CIBC's
President and CEO, and CIBC Diversity Champion and Senior Executive
Vice-President, Richard Venn, were joined by Dr. Roberta Jamieson, President
and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, in congratulating
more than 60 employees on fostering diversity.
    Fifteen team and individual awards were handed out to employees at the
event. The awards recognized wide-ranging activities and achievements,
including:-  Raising awareness through the organization of employee forums and
         advocating for access and accommodation for persons with
         disabilities;
      -  Demonstrating leadership as chair of the CIBC Black Employee Network
         and raising awareness through high profile events including Black
         History Month and a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the
         abolition of the slave trade;
      -  Learning a new language to help make clients who are newcomers to
         Canada feel welcome; and
      -  Celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture through
         the organization of employees' participation in the Halifax, NS
         Pride parade."CIBC has embraced employment equity and diversity for many years," said
Richard Venn. "Each individual and team that was recognized with an award has
made a real difference to enhancing our culture of diversity. It's important
for us to thank our employees who work hard each day to make clients feel
welcome in our branches and who help build a team at CIBC that celebrates our
differences."
    The efforts of CIBC's Diversity Award winners and others at CIBC have
helped CIBC be recognized as one of Canada's:-  "Top Employers for Workplace Diversity" by Canadian Immigrant
         Magazine, which acknowledged CIBC's lengthy record on diversity and
         employment equity and for its inclusive work environment;
      -  "Best Employers for New Canadians for 2008" for leading its peers in
         creating a workplace that welcomes new Canadians and allows them to
         make the most of their skills, education and talents. The winners
         were selected by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers and the
         Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC).In addition, CIBC's support for employment equity and diversity extends
beyond CIBC and into the community. In the past year CIBC has donated more
than $1.4 million to organizations that support women, visible minorities,
Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and other diverse groups.

    About CIBC

    CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11
million personal 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. For more
information about CIBC visit www.cibc.com.