BMO Financial Group is launching a contest that gives Canadians the opportunity to create and share their own virtual dream retirement for a chance to win $25,000.

“We know from our clients and ongoing research that retirement is changing. The next generation of ‘retirees’ has different expectations and, as a result, retirement is being reinvented,” says Kris Vikmanis, head of Retirement Market, BMO Financial Group. “This interactive contest is a way for us to continue to gain additional insights into what boomers want to do in retirement so that we can help make those dreams a reality. We are encouraging Canadians to define their own version of retirement, share it with others and, most importantly, move from thinking about it to making it happen.”

Canadians can log onto www.dreamworld.bmo.com until November 16, 2007 to create their own virtual retirement “DreamWorld” by choosing a combination of landscapes, such as mountains or a lake; a home including a villa, condo or cottage and retirement activities such as volunteering, starting a business, or travelling.

Once complete, participants are asked to provide a brief description of their worlds. Their worlds are then launched into the DreamWorld universe, where they can be seen by other contest participants.

The random draw will take place on November 23, with the winner receiving $25,000 and financial planning sessions with an investment professional from BMO Financial Group.

To promote the contest, BMO asked Canadian celebrities to create their dream retirement.

Brian Orser, Karen Kain, Pamela Wallin and other well-known Canadians designed their virtual retirement DreamWorlds.

Two agencies have been involved with the development and implementation of this contest. Tribal DDB was responsible for developing and implementing the creative web design, functionality and rich online media supporting the contest. APEX Public Relations developed the conceptual platform and is conducting public relations.