Thursday, April 21, 2016

J.F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL WON CFEE & BANK OF MONTREAL 'TALK WITH OUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY (MONEY FAIR) COMPETITION.

The "buy, buy, debt, debt culture" seems to be the new order of the day. Access to money is made easier by the second, the minute, the hour, the days, the weeks, months, and years. As technology advances more options for financing increases. It seems that anything can be had with a swipe of a credit, debit card, a credit line at the bank, loans, etc. Gone are the days when persons lined up at the bank for hours to withdraw money from their account to purchase what they want. They can get anything online with the instant click of their computer mouse or their mobile phone. One wonders whether or not careful thought is given to the economic implications of every dollar that is spent on a daily basis. It seems that the CANADIAN FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION has gotten this memo when they've decided to partner with THE BANK OF MONTREAL to launch their TALK WITH OUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY DAY. This programme targets students from both the elementary and high school levels within the Canadian education system.
 
Launched in 2013, a pilot run was carried out in Montreal and Toronto which involved executives from CFEE making visits to several schools to speak with students about money geared toward cultivating FINANCIAL LITERACY. In a NEWS FEATURE on CTV Montreal with MUTSUMI TAKAHASHI, VICE PRESIDENT of CFEE Mr. BRIAN SMITH said, "as Canadians here in Quebec there is a taboo around talking money and finances, we don't want to talk about it because it is not part of our culture. So the goal is to bring this to the forefront and help persons to make EDUCATED DECISION about money." 
BRIAN SMITH VICE PRESIDENT OF CFEE ON CTV NEWS MONTREAL APRIL 13, 2016
The foundation is hoping to start it as early as Grade 5. One of the lifelong LESSONS that this programme teaches children is that MONEY CANNOT BUY HAPPINESS. It makes them happy for a couple of days then on to something else. Concepts such as WHAT MONEY IS USED FOR, WHERE DOES IT COME FROM, AND WAYS OF GENERATING it are just a few of the plethora teaching of topics students and parents can expect to become familiar with.

As the old adage goes "when it is nice you do it twice" holds true for Mr. Smith and his CFEE team as the success from the pilot informed their decision to extend the olive branch to other Canadian Provinces and make the TALK WITH OUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY CANADA WIDE in 2016. April 20 has earned its spot on CFEE'S calendar  as "TALK WITH OUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY DAY."

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S ROLE IN THIS INITIATIVE!
The IMF/AMF has put together a FINANCIAL STRATEGY into the city of QUEBEC to educate citizens about money that would impact on financial literacy. 

CFEE EXECUTIVES (L) MR. BRIAN SMITH Vice President (R) MR. GARY  RABBIOR President
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CFEE FOR WINNING THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN (USA) FOR ITS ROLE IN FOSTERING FINANCIAL LITERACY.

OFFICIAL CFEE WEBSITE ==> http://talkwithourkidsaboutmoney.com/

===> http://www.cfee.org/

FACEBOOK CONTACT ==> https://www.facebook.com/Talk-With-Our-Kids-About-Money-Day-541381639226739/?fref=photo


Since this initiative revolves around money having financial institutions such as the bank/s was a brilliant idea. THE BANK OF MONTREAL has partnered with CFEE as a stakeholder/sponsor to make this a reality. This is why it was only fitting to celebrate this special day in MONTREAL, QUEBEC at the BMO HEAD OFFICE. On April 20, 2016 Executives from both CFEE and Bank OF MONTREAL organized a MONEY FAIR COMPETITION which drew participants from high schools from across Quebec. A total of FIVE (5) schools took up the invitation to CHOSE AN AREA OF BUSINESS AND SHOWCASE IT AT THIS EVENT. A total of SEVEN (7) projects were presented. Two (2) of these were submitted by the LOVOIR HIGH SCHOOL one (1) of which placed 2nd (the girls team). Students were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the competition. A blue acrylic plaque was awarded to the winner.
WINNING TROPHY


WINNER J.F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL

PROJECT: EQUIFAX ET TRANS UNION

COST OF CREDIT
ROMEO ANGELUCCI AND MARIO D'ANTONO-NATARENO
WINNERS REACTS TO THEIR VICTORY
WINNERS EXPLAIN THEIR PROJECT
(FAR RIGHT) JACQUES MENARD PRESIDENT OF BMO, MONTREAL


2ND PLACE LAVOIE HIGH SCHOOL

PROJECT: How money causes stress for youth
Kimberly Sahgum Tasmeah Hassan
April B. Tandoc Zamora
Ariel Volovik
Mithusa Poosingam
Jenusha Jesuthas-Bastiampillar
STUDENTS EXPLAINING THEIR PROJECTS IN THIS VIDEO


3RD PLACE PERSPECTIVES HIGH SCHOOL 
PROJECT: U-Hungry Cookbook
Kofi Asiedu Kedar Smith
Gabriel Perreault
Faith Lavique-Borges
STUDENTS EXPLAINING THEIR PROJECTS IN THIS VIDEO

THE JUDGES FOR THE SCHOOLS FINANCIAL PROJECTS
OTHER PARTICIPANTS WITH THEIR TEACHERS

BANK OF MONTREAL



EXECUTIVES OF BANK OF MONTREAL (L)KELLY HARPER ===> Director of Brand Customer Learning
BMO Financial Group (R) DIANA BRENCHLEY ==> Manager, Sponsorships & Strategic Partnerships at BMO Financial Group(MIDDLE) CLAIRON HAYNES OWNER OF THIS BLOG
EXECUTIVE OF BMO EXPLAINING THEIR COMMITMENT TO CFEE TOWARD FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG CHILDREN
CLAIRON HAYNES'S FEEDBACK & PERSPECTIVE ON THIS INITIATIVE 
As owner the owner of CUHCREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.CA I take this opportunity to THANK Mr. Brian Smith (VICE PRESIDENT of CANADIAN FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION for having extended an invitation to my blog to attend this historic moment in time. What an awesome and productive day this was.

This "TALK WITH OUT KIDS ABOUT MONEY DAY" in my opinion was a SUCCESS! CONGRATULATIONS to CFEE and BRIAN SMITH, BMO, participants, winners, parents, and well wishers. Keep up the excellent job that you are foing in cultivating FINANCIAL LITERACY into the minds of our CANADIAN children. I must say whe I look back at some of the footage  that I have covered at this historic event on behalf of my blog I feel a great sense of satisfaction just to be there to witness the talent which our youths possess. This was easy for me to cover since I'd taught BUSINESS at the high school level to Grade 10 and 11 students for FOUR YEARS here in Montreal, Quebec. So DEJA VU I would call this event. The students reminded me very much of the students I have taught ACCOUNT, ECONOMICS, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP to at GAA. I've seen them exhibit numerous skills such as INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, SELF-CONFIDENCE, ELOQUENCE, and the awareness of FINANCIAL LITERACY. The PASSION AND CONFIDENCE EXUDED was a breath of fresh air in that hall. This presentation has inspired me to return to the schools to share my ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY with students as my way of GIVING BACK TO A CANADIAN SOCIETY THAT HAS BLESSED ME WITH SO MUCH AS A DOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT FROM THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES! I WAS PLEASED TO BE A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE NOT IN THE CAPACITY OF A BUSINESS TEACHER but has a VERIFIED/CERTIFIED GOOGLE BLOGGER taking education to a whole new level to the realms to JOURNALISTIC EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS. I owe lots of HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO BRIAN SMITH (VICE PRESIDENT OF CANADIAN FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION CFEE) for having formally invited me to participate in this GRAND EXPERIENCE. A special thanks to the BANK OF MONTREAL for affording my BLOG ==> CUHCREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.CA to enter its prestigious doors and for treating me so kindly. I consider this a PRIVILEGE one that I will be etched in my memory for a very long time. Although I am not currently a teacher I still CONSIDER MYSELF A FREE AGENT OF EDUCATION on a different level. EDUCATION THE GLOBE through my writing and artistic creations geared toward the ADVANCEMENT OF HUMANITY. 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT