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Blue Rewards, formerly known as AIR MILES, is running its first summer Shop the Block promotion since completing its rebranding in June 2026. From June 25 to July 8, 2026, enrolled members can earn up to 8,000 bonus points by completing qualifying actions with program partners, plus an additional 800 points when using a BMO Blue Rewards credit card. The total maximum value is officially announced at $50.
The promotion runs on progressive, non-cumulative tiers: only the highest tier reached is awarded, once per member number during the promotional period.
The promotional graphic says “shop at 4 brands.” The official terms are more flexible. A qualifying action can take any of these 6 distinct forms, and types can be freely combined:
In practice: one in-store partner purchase + one Card Offer at a different merchant + one Blue Receipts submission + one travel booking = 4 qualifying actions = 8,000 points. The top tier is easier to reach than it appears, without needing to visit 4 separate stores.
Holders of a co-branded BMO Blue Rewards credit card can earn an additional 800 points, awarded once, provided they complete at least one qualifying action with that card and earn a minimum of 1 point. The minimum spend to earn that first point varies by card:
If you do not yet hold a BMO Blue Rewards card, the current welcome offer can go up to 100,000 points at account opening.
The official Shop the Block page features several partner brands where you can earn Blue Points: Thaï Express, Manchu Wok, Mr. Sub, Mucho Burrito, Jugo Juice, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Sofitel, Novotel, Emblems Collection, Dollarama and Instacart.
This selection is not exhaustive. The complete list of eligible partners and each partner’s own spending threshold are available in the Blue Rewards app and on bluerewards.ca (login required).
1. Enroll first. Enrollment is mandatory and done only once. It has been available since June 18, 2026 in the Blue Rewards app or at bluerewards.ca. Without enrolling, no action will be counted.
2. Mix action types. There is no need to visit 4 stores if you can combine channels: an in-store partner purchase, a Card Offer online, a Blue Receipts submission and a travel booking are enough to reach 8,000 points.
3. Pay with your BMO Blue Rewards card. The 800 additional points are awarded once, but they represent approximately $5.33 in value for as little as $2 in spending.
4. Stack with other active offers. Shop the Block can be combined with other ongoing program offers. Check your app to identify offers that overlap with the Shop the Block window.
Forgetting to enroll. This is the main risk. If you have not yet registered since June 18, do so now in your app before July 8, 2026.
Relying on bonus offer points to validate a partner purchase. For action type 1, only base points count. Points earned through an active bonus offer at that partner do not validate the action on their own. Make sure you earn at least 1 base point.
Assuming tiers are cumulative. Only the highest tier reached is awarded, once. Completing 4 qualifying actions earns 8,000 points, not the sum of all three tiers.
Overlooking partner-specific spending thresholds. Each partner sets its own minimum purchase requirement. Verify the details in your app before confirming your purchases.
Blue Rewards is the loyalty program launched in June 2026 as a replacement for AIR MILES, operated under the BMO banner. Points can be redeemed at partner locations at a rate of 1,500 pts for $10, as well as for travel, gift cards and qualifying activities. For everything you need to know, see our complete Blue Rewards guide.
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