Students in Central Canada Equip Canadians with the Knowledge and Skills Needed to Create Financially-Secure Futures
(MISSISSAUGA) March 11, 2019: Students from Université Laval, Wilfird Laurier and University of Windsor have been named 2019 CWB Financial Education Regional Champions by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter Canadian Western Bank. Both teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 8, 2019 at the Enactus Canada National Exposition in Vancouver.
Université Laval students were recognized for developing HiFive, a special local currency that good samaritans can buy at local stores and give to homeless youth on the street. At the University of Windsor, students launched a social enterprise that provides victims of sex and labour trafficking in Canada with sustainable employment developing affordable sanitary menstrual health products for women living in poverty around the world. Students at Wilfrid Laurier University developed Mighty Hawks to empower and help adults living with developmental disabilities achieve their personal and financial goals.
“Canada has a financial literacy issue, with 57 per cent unable to pass a basic financial literacy test,” said Nicole Almond, President of Enactus Canada. “Through this challenge, Enactus students are addressing this directly, providing individuals with the knowledge and confidence to make responsible financial decisions. That’s life-changing.”
“Canadian Western Bank is proud to support Enactus students as they strive to improve financial literacy within and outside of their communities,” said Jeff Wright, a senior vice president at Canadian Western Bank. “Financial literacy is an essential life skill that many do not have today. Our younger generations need to actively participate in becoming more financially literate to prepare themselves to make smart financial decisions throughout their lifetimes.”
The CWB Financial Education Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach relevant financial skills. Over the past decade of this challenge, close to 10,000 students across the country have been involved in financial education projects, resulting in more than 800 financial education projects being delivered, and directly impacting over 100,000 individuals.
Student teams demonstrated the impact of their financial education projects to panels of business executives on March 8 in Mississauga as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Central Canada.
ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, a national charity and the country’s largest post-secondary experiential learning platform, is shaping entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 3,498 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 28,000 lives.
As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT CANADIAN WESTERN BANK (TSX: CWB): is a bank for business owners and individuals who want expert advice and specialized financial services for their business banking, personal banking and wealth management needs. Our relationship-based approach means we know our clients and their industries, and ask the right questions to provide the right financial solutions. Through our network of branches, offices and our mobile relationship teams in more than 50 communities across Canada, we’re helping our clients grow their businesses, manage their money and realize their financial potential. Get to know us at www.cwbank.com.