Laurie Campbell Credit Canada

Third Annual Credit Education Week a Big Success
By Laurie Campbell, Executive Director, Credit Canada

Credit Education Week 2009 marked many highlights. The event is growing in popularity and importance, attracting financial gurus and public policy makers alike, including Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Ontario Education Minister Kathryn Wynne, whose remarks on the vital issue of financial literacy in Canada were encouraging and uplifting.

Big news came with Minister Wynne's announcement that her department is exploring ways to "weave" financial literacy programming into the school curriculum from JK to Grade 12. To this end, the Ontario Ministry of Education has set up a provincial task force to review the issue. Meanwhile, Minister Flaherty spoke of the serious need for financial literacy for Canadians of all ages and backgrounds and remarked on the Federal Task Force that has been deliberating on this issue since July. Its report is due in a year's time.

While news from Ministers Flaherty and Wynne helped launch Credit Education Week Canada (CEWC) with a bang, advice from a panel of financial gurus provided the week with more bang for the buck, so to speak. Panel members provided diverse perspectives on money matters, the importance of sound investment and open communication regarding financial issues. Participants in the panel discussion included Alison Griffiths from the financial show, ‘Maxed Out'; Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior Vice-President, TD Waterhouse Canada Trust; Jonathan Chevreau, Financial Post Columnist; Sean O'Shea, Investigative Reporter; Ellen Roseman, Columnist with the Toronto Star; and Pat Foran, Journalist with CTV.

Credit Canada and Capital One – along with the Credit Association of Greater Toronto and an array of other CEWC sponsors - teamed up for fabulous dinner gala at mid-week, which included a presentation by Ontario's Consumer Services Minister Ted McMeekin.

During the gala, 17 winners of this year's high school essay writing contest were presented with scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for efforts in describing "the dumbest thing" they ever did with their money. Meanwhile, gala keynote speaker Mike Holmes - of HGTV's Holmes on Holmes - hammered home some money-related points of his own. Kathy Milne, President of CAGT was the Master of Ceremonies.

CEWC events concluded with a wildly successful RAP Summit. In an event titled "What's Up with Your Loot?", a variety of rappers brought messages of financial literacy to a gathering of 600 students at the Jamaican Canadian Association in Toronto's Jane and Finch area. Toronto's own Blacus Ninjah hosted some of Canada's top hip hop artists including Sling Dadz, Frankie Payne, Capital V, Aloysius B, Nem.S.Iss and Baby Grhyme.

Some photos of the event.
(Mouseover the thumbnails to view larger image.)