Manitoba Aiming for National Leadership in Financial Education and
Literacy
WINNIPEG, March 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning
Minister, the Honourable James Allum, joined representatives from the
Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) and Investors Group
today to launch the Building Futures in Manitoba Program. The program, a partnership between the Manitoba government and
CFEE, will better prepare Manitoba students to deal with the
increasingly complex areas of economics and finance in today's global
economy and help ready Manitoba youth to undertake their financial
roles and decisions with confidence and competence.
The minister was joined by CFEE President and CEO Gary Rabbior and
Investors Group President and CEO Murray Taylor to launch the "Building
Futures Project" at a luncheon event at the Inn at the Forks in
Winnipeg. Investors Group is providing the financial support for the
project.
"CFEE approached Manitoba to take the lead on the Building Futures
project because of our commitment to providing high quality economic
and financial education to children and youth," said Minister Allum.
"We're delighted to be part of this partnership that will result in new
resources for students, professional development for teachers and a
complement to our school curriculum that will reflect a rapidly
changing marketplace."
Manitoba is the lead province to work with CFEE on Building Futures in Canada. The province of Saskatchewan is preparing for its
participation and Alberta is considering joining the program.
Discussions are now underway with British Columbia and the provinces in
Atlantic Canada.
"Most students know they will have to deal with debit and credit cards,
but may not have thought as much about bank loans, investments,
mortgages, leases, taxes, etc.," said Investors Group President and CEO
Mr. Taylor. "Ensuring students develop financial literacy will equip
them with the knowledge and skills they need to be confident consumers
who can build a successful future."
The Building Futures in Manitoba project helps teachers to integrate a
basic economic and financial education into the grade 4-10 school
curriculum. Building Futures does not add any new learning outcomes to
teacher's workload. Rather it links the targeted areas of learning to
existing outcomes. Building Futures provides a website to support
teachers - providing a Learning Framework, detailed Teaching Units,
links to helpful resources and organizations, and much more. The
website provides everything that teachers will require to integrate
financial education into a range of subject areas over grades 4-10. The
program is not compulsory. The goal is to encourage and support schools
and teachers with implementation over the next 2-3 years with the
objective that most or all schools will choose to participate by the
end of that period. Workshops will be organized across the province to
support awareness and implementation.
"CFEE is honoured to work with the Manitoba government and Investors
Group in efforts to help Canadians build a successful future," said
CFEE President Mr. Rabbior. "Our goal is to work with our partners to
help prepare as many Canadians as possible to make sound economic and
financial decisions. There is no more important place to start than
with our youth in our schools where the priority is to prepare young
people for the future."
CFEE has been working in collaboration with Manitoba Education and
Advanced Learning, Manitoba educators, and Manitoba-based organizations
to develop the program and the resources that support it. Information
and resources that have been developed to support the program can be
seen at www.buildingfuturesinmanitoba.com Work is currently underway with the French-language team to have all
program elements available in both languages. Work is also underway to
make adaptations to the resources for use in Aboriginal and First
Nations communities. Program enhancements will be ongoing and
additional resources will continuously be developed.
Working in collaboration with Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning,
the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education will be leading the
Building Futures Project. Activities will include continuous
enhancement and expansion of resources and the support website,
professional development opportunities for teachers including local
workshops, and a conference for educators on financial literacy and
education. The province has previously partnered with CFEE and
Investors Group on the publication "Money and Youth: A Guide to
Financial Literacy" - a basic learning tool for high school age
students. Last year the province was able to provide a free copy of
Money and Youth to all grade ten students in the province.
About CFEE:
CFEE is a federally chartered, non-profit, non-partisan organization,
founded in 1974, that works to improve economic and financial literacy
and enterprising capability. CFEE works collaboratively with ministries
and departments of education along with school boards, schools,
educators, and teacher associations. CFEE also engages in activities to
support and assist newcomers and past immigrants to Canada, and the
general public including print resources, videos, workshops, and online
resources. Overall, CFEE aspires to help Canadians of all ages be
better prepared to undertake their economic roles, responsibilities,
and decisions with confidence and competence.
About Investors Group:
Investors Group, founded in 1926, is a national leader in delivering
personalized financial solutions to Canadians through a network of
approximately 4,600 Consultants located throughout Canada. In addition
to an exclusive family of mutual funds and other investment vehicles,
Investors Group offers a wide range of insurance, securities, mortgage
and other financial services. Investors Group is a member of the IGM
Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM) group of companies. IGM Financial is one of
Canada's premier financial services companies with approximately $132
billion in total assets under management as of December 31, 2013.
SOURCE Investors Group Inc.
