TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - The workplace offers excellent potential to help Canadians become better money managers, according to Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada).
"The country's workplaces can serve as vital conduits of information," explains Cairine Wilson, vice-president, corporate citizenship, with CPA Canada. "Tapping into workplaces allows a vast and varied audience to be reached."
Capitalizing on that potential, the accounting organization has developed a financial education program specifically for the workplace. It is one component of an extensive grassroots effort involving 11,000 CPA Canada members who are giving back to their communities. Professional accountants across the country are trained and ready to give financial literacy seminars tailored to meet the needs of a variety of audiences. These sessions are held at various venues including workplaces, libraries and community centers.
Great-West Life is the national sponsor of CPA Canada's financial literacy outreach initiative. Later today, the company will be hosting a workplace session at its head office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to profile the CPA Canada program as part of Financial Literacy Month.
"We became the national sponsor of CPA Canada's outreach program to help meet the financial literacy needs of community organizations, new Canadians, Aboriginal Peoples, post-secondary students, and individuals of all ages," notes Jan Belanger, vice-president, community relations, Great-West Life. "Our commitment to the program extends beyond the sponsorship with professional accountants in our organization also volunteering their time and expertise. We are playing an active role in helping CPA Canada deliver and further develop its community support initiative."
Offering a financial education program in the workplace is a win-win situation for both employees and the employer. For employees, it can help them feel more in control of their finances, reduce anxiety and lower stress. Employers benefit by having a more engaged and productive workforce and lower benefit costs.
Jane Rooney, Canada's financial literacy leader, will speak to the Great-West Life employees just prior to the education session. Her role is to help coordinate and encourage collaboration among public and private sector and non-profit organizations to engage Canadians in financial literacy activities.
"I congratulate Great-West Life and CPA Canada for their leadership in the area of workplace financial literacy which provides an opportunity for employees to strengthen their financial well-being," says Rooney. "We know that to be effective, financial literacy efforts need to meet people where they are and that's why workplace financial literacy efforts, like this one here today, are so critical."
CPA Canada's Wilson adds: "Employers offering workplace programs strengthen the collective effort to improve the financial literacy of Canadians. We applaud Great-West Life for its vision and its commitment to help Canadians today prepare for a better tomorrow."
To learn more about CPA Canada's financial literacy program, visit: cpacanada.ca/financialliteracy
About CPA Canada
The new Canadian designation, Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), is now used by Canada's accounting profession across the country. The profession's national body, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), is one of the largest in the world with more than 200,000 members, both at home and abroad. The Canadian CPA was created with the unification of three legacy accounting designations (CA, CGA and CMA). CPAs are valued for their financial and tax expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership. CPA Canada conducts research into current and emerging business issues and supports the setting of accounting, auditing and assurance standards for business, not-for-profit organizations and government. CPA Canada also issues guidance and thought leadership on a variety of technical matters, publishes professional literature and develops education and professional certification programs. cpacanada.ca
About Great-West Life
Great-West Life, together with London Life and Canada Life, serves the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada. Year-round, the companies support a range of community priorities, including the need for greater financial literacy among Canadians. Take time to read more in our 2014 Public Accountability Statement.
SOURCE CPA Canada
Tobin Lambie, Principal, Media, CPA Canada, T: 416-204-3228, C: 647-302-3761, [email protected]; Diana Sorace, Manager, Media Relations, CPA Canada, T: 604-694-6700, C: 604-551-4487, [email protected]
Share this article