Advocate team member to emcee federal government webinar on financial literacy for students
A Dunsford-area resident and Advocate team member has been recruited by The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) to host a free national webinar on financial literacy November 19.
“It’s your money: Make it Count” is a one-hour, interactive event geared to high school and post-secondary students, presented by the federal agency as part of Financial Literacy Month.
Denis Grignon, producer and host of The Advocate Podcast: Stories from Kawartha Lakes, will serve as host for the French language version of the webinar, “Votre argent: Tirez-en profit.”
Grignon, who grew up in a bilingual family in Cornwall and moved to Kawartha Lakes in 1998, is a veteran standup comedian who performs in both official languages.
The FCAC sought him out because of his role as a presenter with “Funny Money,” James Cunningham’s humourous financial literacy live show that has played to thousands of Canadian high school students for more than 15 years. (Cunningham, in fact, is hosting the English webinar).
“Doing this kind of material, in this (online) format, is without a doubt going to be a unique experience, with a few challenges,” admits Grignon about presenting to students, virtually, from across the country.
“But we’re comedians. We learn adapt. That’s what we do. And, honestly, I’m looking forward to being in front of an audience again. Even if they’re not really in front of me, per se.”
The webinar will feature members of the financial industry offering tips on budgeting, saving, investing, avoiding debt and how to prevent fraud. Grignon will deliver his material in Lindsay introducing other presenters who’ll be at various locations across Canada.
While the content is especially appealing to young people, Grignon says it’s also a valuable session for parents, teachers and anyone working with youth.
“They (FCAC) wants this to be informative,” says Grignon.
“But they also want it to be light and fun and interactive. That’s why they hired James (Cunningham) and me to serve as its hosts.”
Adds Grignon, whose sons were part of the French-immersion programs at Leslie Frost Public School and I.E. Weldon, “And if my on-line audience includes all those French-speaking high school students in Kawartha Lakes, well that’s an even bigger bonus — pour moi!”
Both webinars, “Votre Argent:Tirez en profit” and “It’s Your Money-Make it Count” take place Thursday, November 19 at 10am and 2pm, respectively. It’s free, but pre-registration is required.
The English webinar can be found here. The French webinar can be accessed here.
