Tablet commissioned at the end of WWI found in local backyard by landscaper

GUELPH, ON, Nov. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - A commemorative plaque honouring eight Guelph-area servicemen enlisted in WWI was returned to its home at the CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) St. George's Square Banking Centre today, thanks to a landscaper who unearthed it while working in the area. How the plaque measuring 2 feet by 2 feet, weighing 45 pounds and made of solid bronze got there is unknown.

CIBC  employees including the Archives team were able to trace the plaque back to its roots at St. George's Square.

"What a gift it is to now be able to trace our family history back to WWI," says Bill Hallett and Marnie Littke, distant relatives of one of the servicemen listed. "A special thank you goes out to CIBC for investing the time and effort into finding us and reminding us that it is important to remember those who served this country."

Those honoured on the tablet are:

Records indicate that the servicemen fought in Ypres, the Somme and Vimy Ridge. Of the eight men listed, all but one survived – Bernard Stuart Anderson, who was killed in action August 26, 1917 at the age of 21.

"Today we take the time to reflect and honour those who sacrificed to build this great nation," says Jonathon Dent, Senior Vice-President & Region Head, CIBC. "As the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge approaches we must remember that we are where we are today because of the foundation these brave men and women laid for us."

The plaque, made for The Canadian Bank of Commerce, is one of hundreds that CIBC commissioned at the end of World War I for every banking centre that had servicemen and women in the war. The tablets were installed in Commerce banking centres across the country – from Whitehorse, Swift Current and Moose Jaw, to Waterloo, Winnipeg,  Truro and Guelph. Many are still intact and displayed in banking centres, museums and other areas in their communities.

CIBC and its St. George's Square Banking Centre can trace its roots in Guelph back to 1840 when a small office was opened by the Hamilton-based Gore Bank. It was later acquired by The Canadian Bank of Commerce and became its main banking centre in Guelph. CIBC now has five banking centres in the area.

About CIBC
CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets - CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre/ or by following on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/cibc), Twitter @CIBC, Facebook (www.facebook.com/CIBC) and Instagram @CIBCNow.

SOURCE CIBC

Image with caption: "Of the eight men listed on the plaque, all but one survived - Bernard Stuart Anderson, was killed in action on August 26, 1917 at the age of 21. Photo credit: CIBC Archives (CNW Group/CIBC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161125_C3611_PHOTO_EN_825801.jpg

Image with caption: "The St. George's Square Banking Centre of The Canadian Bank of Commerce (now CIBC) circa 1890s. Photo credit: CIBC Archives (CNW Group/CIBC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161125_C3611_PHOTO_EN_825803.jpg