CSA's 'Financial Fitness Challenge' offers Canadian youth a chance to win
$2,000 for demonstrating financial smarts

MONTREAL, Feb. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - Young Canadians are invited to increase their financial literacy by taking the Financial Fitness Challenge, a contest sponsored by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) to raise awareness among youth around concepts like budgeting, saving and investing.

The Financial Fitness Challenge, which runs February 15 to April 15, 2010, uses a new, interactive website to quiz Canadian youth on their financial knowledge. This year, visitors to the annual Challenge website (FinancialFitnessChallenge.ca) will find the site has a fresh look and many interactive tools and simulations.

"It's important for youth to learn about money matters, especially those between the ages of 15 and 21, who are about to start earning money and making some of their own financial decisions," said Jean St-Gelais, Chair of the CSA and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec). "The Financial Fitness Challenge is a great way to engage youth in financial education."

The Financial Fitness Challenge website features exciting online activities where participants can compete with their friends or with other youth at a local and national level. The site also features its own Facebook page where young Canadians can exchange ideas and tips about managing money.

While anyone can visit the site, the bilingual contest is open to Canadians ages 15 to 21 with a quiz featuring financial literacy questions and facts. Thirteen entries - one from each province and territory - will be randomly selected from eligible participants to win a notebook computer, and a national grand prize winner will be awarded $2,000.

Teachers are also encouraged to use the Financial Fitness Challenge as a fun and informative learning tool to support the development of good financial behaviour among their students.

"We encourage youth, teachers and parents to visit our entertaining and instructional site," said St-Gelais. "Saving, budgeting and investing may seem like uninteresting subjects, but the Financial Fitness Challenge allows participants to learn, compete and have a good time."

Teachers can go to FinancialFitnessChallenge.ca/Formations to check out the Teacher Resource Centre and download classroom materials, including complete lesson plans.

The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

    
    For more information:

    Sylvain Théberge                  Wendy Connors-Beckett
    Autorité des marchés financiers   New Brunswick Securities Commission
    514-940-2176                      506 643-7745

    Robert Merrick                    Ainsley Cunningham
    Ontario Securities Commission     Manitoba Securities Commission
    416-593-2315                      204-945-4733

    Ken Gracey                        Natalie MacLellan
    British Columbia                  Nova Scotia Securities Commission
    Securities Commission             902-424-8586
    604-899-6577

    Mark Dickey                       Barbara Shourounis
    Alberta Securities Commission     Saskatchewan Financial Services
    403-297-4481                      Commission
                                      306-787-5842

    Linda Peters                      Doug Connolly
    Office of the Attorney General    Financial Services Regulation Div.
    Prince Edward Island              Newfoundland and Labrador
    902-368-4552                      709-729-2594

    Fred Pretorius                    Louis Arki
    Yukon Securities Office           Nunavut Securities Office
    867-667-5225                      867-975-6587

    Donn MacDougall
    Securities Office
    Northwest Territories
    867-920-8984
    

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For further information: Sylvain Théberge, Autorité des marchés financiers, [phone]; Wendy Connors-Beckett, New Brunswick Securities Commission, [phone]; Robert Merrick, Ontario Securities Commission, [phone]; Ainsley Cunningham, Manitoba Securities Commission, [phone]; Ken Gracey, British Columbia Securities Commission, [phone]; Natalie MacLellan, Nova Scotia Securities Commission, [phone]; Mark Dickey, Alberta Securities Commission, [phone]; Barbara Shourounis, Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission, [phone]; Linda Peters, Office of the Attorney General, Prince Edward Island, [phone]; Doug Connolly, Financial Services Regulation Div., Newfoundland and Labrador, [phone]; Fred Pretorius, Yukon Securities Office, [phone]; Louis Arki, Nunavut Securities Office, [phone]; Donn MacDougall, Securities Office, Northwest Territories, [phone]