TD brings a touch of green to Griffintown - Opens a second Griffintown location and donates $5,000 to local environmental initiative

MONTREAL, May 20, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Already firmly established in Quebec with a network of over 130 branches, TD Bank Group is continuing its greening of Griffintown by opening a second location in the area. To celebrate this, TD will donate $5,000 to support environmental initiatives spearheaded by the YMCAs of Quebec.

"Griffintown is a flourishing community and we are excited to grow here alongside our customers, says Sylvie Demers, Chair, Quebec Market, TD Bank Group. "In addition to providing our legendary customer service, we want to be actively involved in their community and build long lasting relationships with them."

TD at the Heart of the Quartier de l'innovation

Located at 185 Peel Street in Montreal, the new branch is open 7 days a week for a total of 67 hours. With 13 employees, the branch team will provide services in French, English, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Creole, Laotian and Punjabi, a true reflection of the area's dynamic and diverse population.

"My team and I are pleased to be able to contribute to the development of this burgeoning neighbourhood and to provide a comfortable banking experience to local businesses, workers and residents", says Tamara Piniach, Manager of both Griffintown locations. The new branch has two Green Machine ATMs and is wheelchair accessible.

With the new branch on Peel Street and the Help and Advice Centre on Notre-Dame West, Griffintown customers now have increased access to the financial services they need seven days a week. Combined opening hours of the two locations are Monday to Friday from8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A $5,000 donation to the community

As is the TD tradition with new branch openings, executives presented a donation to support a local environmental initiative on behalf of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. As such, the YMCAs of Quebec received $5,000 for urban farming initiatives in Griffintown and Little Burgundy.

These environmental and educational initiatives showcase urban farming with the creation of a self-serve vegetable garden, available to passersby, as well as the upgrading of two other gardens. The upgraded gardens are located at the Benedict Labre House, a homeless shelter, and Logifem, a women's shelter.

"We are proud to support these environmental projects which have many benefits, including the creation of a new public green space in the neighbourhood, raising awareness of local food production and biodiversity, fostering community interaction and providing opportunities for people to share in the harvest", explains Piniach.

The project's main goal is to increase the accessibility of food in the Griffintown and Little Burgundy neighbourhoods. "I am delighted with TD's involvement in the community. With the help of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, we are able to support organizations and individuals who are committed to improving their living environment", added Pascale Fleury, Regional Coordinator of the YMCAs ofQuebec.

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
From schoolyard naturalization and energy conservation, to tree plantings and environmental education, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) is proud to provide funding to help sustain an incredible array of grassroots environmental programs across the country. In 2015, TD FEF supported over 1,000 projects with $4.6 million in funding. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis, and TD Bank Group contributes $1 million annually. TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated funds environmental projects in the community in which the donation was made. For more information on how to donate and get involved in your community, visit tdfef.com.

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves more than 24 million customers in three key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Retail, including TD Canada Trust, TD Auto Finance Canada, TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank ®, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in TD Ameritrade; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 10.4 million active online and mobile customers. TD hadCDN$1.2 trillion in assets on January 31, 2016. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

SOURCE TD Bank Group

Image with caption: "Tony Capotosto, District Vice President, TD Canada Trust, Tamara Piniach, Branch Manager, Pascale Fleury, Regional Coordinator and Laura Handal Lopez, Petite-Bourgogne Coordinator, The YMCAs of Québec. (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160520_C6840_PHOTO_EN_695888.jpg