TORONTO, Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Tonight, CIBC (CM: TSX; NYSE) will announce its
7th annual CIBC Access Awards for Students with Disabilities at a reception in
Toronto. The awards are given to post-secondary students with disabilities to
help support their education and purchase support tools required to access
education opportunities. CIBC has committed more than $150,000 over the past
seven years to the awards program.
    "CIBC is pleased to be able to play a role in helping these students
achieve their academic goals and get started on a bright future," said Richard
Venn, Senior Executive Vice-President, CIBC, and CIBC's Diversity Champion.
"This year's Access Awards ceremony falls just after the International Day of
Persons with Disabilities, and the 60th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. The CIBC Access Awards are one of the ways that
CIBC embraces this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities theme
of dignity and justice for all of us."
    The 2008 CIBC Access Award recipients include two students from the
Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, four students from
the Schulich School of Business at York University, two students from Guelph
University and two students from Ryerson University. The scholarships are
valued at between $1,000 and $2,000 each.
    At the reception held to recognize this year's recipients, the students
will be joined by their families and representatives of CIBC, including
members of CIBC's Workability Employee Network, an advocacy group for
employees with disabilities, one of eight such employee community
representative groups at CIBC.
    CIBC was recently recognized as a "Top Employer for Workplace Diversity"
by Canadian Immigrant Magazine, which acknowledged CIBC's lengthy record on
diversity and employment equity and for its inclusive work environment. 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.