Canada’s Financial Literacy Month Poised to Begin With Vigor

Financial Literacy Month begins next week in Canada, with initiatives planned throughout the country to help educate Canadians regarding their personal finances, money management and overall financial planning.  While financial literacy programs, information, tools and resources have become more widely available in Canada in recent years, Financial Literacy Month is designed to make Canadians more aware of the existence of these resources so that the nation’s individuals and families can become more financially empowered.

This national initiative comes at a critical time for Canada, as the weak and volatile global economy has put greater burdens on Canadians and as consumer debt in Canada has reached an all-time high.  The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is working to mobilize organizations throughout the nation to participate in Financial Literacy Month in order to impact the greatest number of people in terms of both their knowledge and confidence in making important financial choices.  This year’s initiative will be launched on November 1st under the theme “Financial Literacy Across Generations.”  The national kick-off will be in Ottawa, where well-known author and financial planner David Chilton will deliver remarks, which will be followed by a panel discussion among experts who will discuss ways in which various activities of financial literacy networks in the nation can improve the financial literacy of Canadians across the age spectrum.

Similar events are planning in other regions of Canada as well.  In Alberta, credit counseling agency Money Mentors will host financial information events, including talks with financial experts Bruce Sellery and Kelley Keehn. These events are designed to help individuals and families gain more control over their financial matters and, in many cases, recover from financial crisis.  From teaching topics like budgeting, saving, debt and credit, to training and resources for improved retirement planning, Financial Literacy Month should result in better financial decision-making and a more vigorous financial literacy dialogue throughout Canada.