News Update

January 24, 2021

We recently received a letter from John Myers, Chicago, Illinois about one of his experiences at the LRDC.

“I have just seen your piece on the BMO data centres. I happen to have been the first Manager of the London RDC. You are correct we started with a cheque sorter in temporary premises in downtown London but soon moved into a purpose built building on the other side of the 401 from the city.

In the winter of 1977 we had the worst snow I have ever experienced. The 401 was closed for several days. The night staff in the RDC were trapped in the centre for a few nights (don't remember the exact number) but had no food other than the snacks in the dispensing machine. There were no cots or other sleeping material. Subsequently we acquired emergency supplies for just such a contingency but I don't think they were ever used before the data centre was closed.

The photo is of my wife Joan and her parents standing in front of the LRDC.”

Regards,

John Myers, Chicago, Illinois

If you have any comments regarding this letter, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you." 

January 21, 2021

Tom Mitchell, who is an Honorary Member of our website team and has a wide range of computer technology experience with BMO in many areas of the bank including the Montreal GENIE Centre during the 1960s, has suggested that we resurrect the film entitled, “Space Age Banking” from our archives for our members to view. The following is what Tom had to say.

"With the interest shown by many about Bank of Montreal's computer history, we have a movie clip produced around 1969 about the bank's plan to computerize banking. The film was used to inform bank employees about what the future holds for computers and how their job functions will be changing for the better. The film clip is called, "Space Age Banking".  To view Click Here 

Also in our Archives 2011 there is an article, “Memories of BMO Branch Mechanization - The Beginning” which you may like to read. In that story there is a compendium listing various bank communications regarding this topic. To read  Click Here 

If you have any comments regarding this letter, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you."

“The film entitled, "Space Age Banking" is the property of BMO Financial Group. No part of this material may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the BMO Financial Group. Send any enquiries about this film directly to BMO Cyber Pensioners website."

January 19, 2021

We recently received a letter from Lloyd Varner, Sackville, New Brunswick about the name GENIE. He sent us a snippet of information about how that particular name was chosen by the Bank of Montreal. You may find it interesting.

“When Bank of Montreal was preparing for the introduction of its first regional computer processing centres in the early 1960s they initiated a bank-wide competition for a name which would reflect its services. Any employee of Bank of Montreal would be eligible to submit proposed names and a cash prize would be awarded for the winning entry. As the campaign neared its close, Dick Filliter, Manager of the bank's Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Branch, made it known to his fellow bankers that after he had made two or three submissions he came up with a great name and had to rush its submission in order to meet the deadline for the campaign. His great idea was chosen as the winner of the contest and that is how Bank of Montreal's GENerating Information Electronically (GENIE) Centres got their name.”

Lloyd Varner, Sackville, New Brunswick

If you have any comments regarding this letter, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you." 

January 14, 2021

We recently received a request for a story about Bank of Montreal's data centres. So, we contacted BMO Corporate Archives to determine what they could share with us concerning this subject. They were able to provide us with some information such as: a list of the data centres, when they opened, a few photos as well as some information about the type of data processed and the complexity of the machinery. The birth of modern computing technology happened in the 1960s well into the 1970s and onwards. (*The world’s first general microprocessor, the Intel 4004, came out in November 1971.  The C programming language was developed early in the decade and the Unix operating system was rewritten into it in 1973. The 1970s was also the start of the video game era.) However, it was primarily in the 1960s when business began to widely employ this commercial computing technology e.g., the IBM 1401 replaced soon after by System 360. BMO moved into the business computing era in 1963 with the Montreal GENIE Centre. Due to the magnitude and speed of technology changes at this time Corporate Archives had difficulty capturing everything.  Corporate Archives also sent us a copy of the staff magazine, “MECH Concordia On-Line Supplement - 1976” which provides additional context.

To read "Bank of Montreal's Data Centres". Click Here 

We know some our members have worked in BMO’s data centres and are calling on them to send us their memories and/or stories which will provide a personal perspective of the work that was done in these centres. If you have had experience working in one of BMO's data centres, or jobs that were involved or connected to these processing centres, we would like to hear about them.  Please email us at: cyberpensioner@gmail.com

(*) = from the internet

“Material and images are the property of BMO Financial Group's Corporate Archives. No part of the material or photographs may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the Corporate Archives. If you have any comments regarding this story, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you."  

December 31, 2020

Linda (Aspland) Zumm, Port Moody, British Columbia, has written a very interesting story about how she got into international banking in the UK.  The story also gives us a glimpse of some of the out-dated practices in the work place during this time. Additionally, it touches on England's history with the IRA.  We know you are going to enjoy Linda's story.  This is Linda's second story she has sent to us.  In 2011, she wrote and submitted, "Best Annual Historic Motor Racing Event at Goodwood Revival 2011, West Sussex, England" which is in our Archives if you would like to read it as well.  Click "Working at Bank of Montreal, Aldwych House, London, UK 1974-1976" to read the story.

If you have any comments regarding this story, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing about your BMO memories.

December 21, 2020

Bob Smith, who lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia has written a very amusing story about how he got into international banking. Bob submitted his story in response to our request for members to send us their tales on this topic in the last installment of, "A Journey into Bank of Montreal's International Banking Subsidiaries, Branches and Offices" dated December 1, 2020. At the end of his story, Bob also throws out the challenge to the rest of our members to tell us their BMO memories. We hope to hear from you.To read, "The When and Why of How I Got Into International Banking".Click Here 

If you have any comments regarding this story, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing about your BMO memories.

1971 Bob as a Young Man

December 14, 2020

Sharon Gerger, Waterloo, has written a story which nobody wants to have happen to themselves. However, despite a very frightening experience, she has used a good dose of humour to tell the tale. There are so many things that affect an individual's psyche and becoming trapped in an elevator is top of the list.  Elevators are not air tight and suffocation in a stuck elevator isn't going to happen. However, the fear of elevators is common. To read "Stuck in an Elevator". Click Here 

If you have any comments regarding this story, please contact the BMO Cyber Pensioners News team at cyberpensioner@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you."

December 10, 2020

To say the least, 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, requiring significant adjustments to almost every facet of our daily lives. But despite that, for the most part many people have demonstrated adaptability and resilience.

I suspect few would have imagined that we would become so expert at baking bread; ordering by phone or through the Internet for home delivery or curb-side pick-up; searching for out-of-stock items or lining up for those routine purchases we normally just slip in a store to buy.

We have learned to read facial expressions behind often colourful home made masks, tried not to be offended when someone gives us a wide berth, displayed patience waiting for supermarket equipment to be sanitized and understood definitions for 'zones, supply chains, lockdown, physically distancing, bubbles and curves'.

There are many familiar things we miss of course and have learned to adjust. But perhaps the most difficult has been giving up being with those people who matter most -  family and friends. Platforms like FaceTime, Zoom and Facebook together with phones and email have helped to close the gap and I suspect have been used to enable even more regular contact than before, but it is not the same.

We hope in some way our offerings on Facebook and website have helped and that members have been able to use our extensive cyber network to stay in touch. We are constantly looking for ways to increase that membership although most pensioner luncheons, which have traditionally been our largest source of new members, were understandably cancelled.

Nonetheless, referrals from friends have thankfully remained constant year over year. We  welcome all those new members, yet remember at the same time all those who have sadly passed away.

As we move towards what we all hope will be a brighter New Year, on behalf of the BMO Cyber Pensioners News Team I would like to wish our readers and their families the best for the upcoming holiday season.

Please stay safe.

Dave Harmer, Editor

December 2, 2020

The latest BOMPA BC Lower Mainland Newsletter is now available.

Go to the Association Newsletters webpage to read the latest issue. 

Thanks to Ron Gillies for sharing.

December 1, 2020