The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) announced a partnership with the government of Alberta to launch free resources for young people to learn financial literacy.
The Building Futures in Alberta program is designed to improve financial literacy for young people and ensure they can make informed financial decisions.
“Research also shows a strong link between financial health and physical and mental health,” a CFEE media release said. “The importance of improving financial capability and literacy will enable a generation of young people to stay in control of their finances, avoid stress and anxiety, and develop practical tools to help lead to happier, healthier lives.”
The partnership between the CFEE and Alberta government with support from financial institutions within Canada, such as the National Bank, IG Wealth Management, CIBC, and Fonds de solidarité will give teachers access to learning framework, learning map, and lesson plans.
The Building Futures in Alberta program will give teachers and students access to learning tools such as live-hosted videos and animations, quizzes, reading booklets, and webinars.
“Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring students have the practical skills and knowledge they will need to navigate financial decisions. Through partnerships with organizations like CFEE, students will study important financial concepts such as costs, interest, debt, investing, insurance, and how the economy affects their lives,” Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange said.
“The importance of improving financial capability and literacy goes beyond calculating interest, using an ATM properly, and picking the right credit card. Research is clearly showing a strong link between financial health and physical and mental health. Prolonged periods of financial stress and anxiety are significantly impacting the lives of many Canadians,” the release said.
Adding, “In contrast, making financial decisions that enable one to stay in control of their finances, avoid stress and anxiety, live within their means, set goals, make plans to achieve them, and establish a strong sense of self-confidence and self-efficacy, all help lead to happier, healthier lives – mentally and physically.”
The goals of the Building Futures in Alberta program are to ensure youth can make informed financial decisions, know how to stay in control of their financial lives, know where their money is going, work within a budget, set goals, and live within their means while setting manageable debt limits.
The CFEE is commending all the efforts by teachers to improve financial literacy in youth in Canada.
“We are particularly proud to be launching the new “Building Futures in Alberta” program with funding, in part, from the Government of Alberta and our other partners, we believe this program will help teachers make a significant contribution to helping Alberta youth to build happy, healthy financial futures,” the release said.
“CFEE is extremely pleased to have been selected by the Government of Alberta as one of the organizations to receive support to assist the government’s efforts to improve the financial literacy of Alberta youth,” President of CFEE Gary Rabbior said.
Adding, “CFEE has been working for many years to improve financial literacy in Canada and we have the experience, expertise, resources, and programs to support Alberta teachers in their important work. We believe the wide range of resources and programs available through the Building Futures in Alberta program will help address the varying needs of teachers who are teaching different grades, different subjects, and in different situations.”
