Guests can enter to win a $1,000 GIC or a Weber Genesis Propane BBQ; $15,000 donation to the Jennifer Ashleigh Children's Charity to mark occasion

MARKHAM, ON, June 25 /CNW/ - This Sunday, June 27, CIBC will celebrate the grand opening of its new, seven-day CIBC McCowan & Bullock Banking Centre. The 8,300 square-foot branch, located at McCowan Road and Bullock Street, replaces CIBC's former premises in the neighbourhood and offers service in English, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Filipino, Italian, Greek, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil and Swahili. To mark the occasion, a $15,000 donation to the Jennifer Ashleigh Children's Charity will be presented.

Kids can meet *Kai-Lan™ who will be on-site from 12 to 3 p.m. and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Guests at the event can enter to win great prizes like a Weber Genesis Propane BBQ or a $1,000 GIC and enjoy entertainment including traditional lion and dragon dances and family fun including a face painter, caricaturist and DJ. Barbecue, popcorn, cotton candy and refreshments will be served.

"We're pleased to celebrate our investment in Markham with the community today. This new, larger branch will provide our clients with the convenience of seven-day banking and service in a wide variety of languages," said Larry Tomei, CIBC's Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Central Canada. "We know our clients appreciate the flexibility to bank any day of the week."

The branch hours of operation are:

Monday - Wednesday:     9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
        Thursday - Friday:      9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
        Saturday:               9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
        Sunday:                 noon - 4 p.m.

The new full-service branch is barrier free with accessibility features such as sit down teller stations and three Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) installed at wheelchair accessible height with headphone jacks for audio access and grab bars for mobility assistance. The branch also offers a drive-thru ABM for added convenience.

CIBC clients benefit from one of the largest branch networks in Canada, access to more than 3,800 automated bank machines, and 24/7 service by phone, online and through mobile banking.

On the occasion of the grand opening, CIBC will present a $15,000 donation to the Jennifer Ashleigh Children's Charity (JACC), an organization now in its twentieth year of assisting seriously ill, financially disadvantaged Ontario children with the expenses surrounding their illnesses and necessities of life. CIBC's donation will be focused specifically on emergency assistance and will enable JACC to reach out and help many more children than they are currently able to. Their Emergency Assistance Program helps with expenses like hospital and treatment costs and household costs, such as nutritious food.

"We can't say enough about what an incredible partner CIBC is. Together we have been able to assist children going through very tough times with what they need when they need it," said Jane Sleep, Executive Director, Jennifer Ashleigh Children's Charity. "We are truly thankful, because without CIBC's support many children would go without and as a consequence their struggle would be made that much more difficult."

CIBC (CM: TSX;NYSE) 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, and has offices 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.

*Costumed character ©2010 Viacom