For the team at Georgian Bay Native Women’s Association (GBNWA), supporting community members means looking beyond immediate needs. Whether they’re helping families involved in the child welfare system, supporting survivors of family violence and human trafficking, providing housing services or offering programs for youth and seniors, their goal is always the same: empowering people with the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
That commitment led Angelle Leclair, GBNWA’s Breaking Free From Family Violence Worker, to introduce the Money Matters for Indigenous Peoples financial literacy program to the organization’s clients.
“I was looking for different programs that I thought would benefit my clients,” Leclair explains. “When I started exploring financial literacy offerings online, I came across Money Matters from ABC Life Literacy Canada. A lot of my clients are young single mothers, and we want to empower them to live their best lives. Financial literacy is a life skill that everybody needs.”
A free financial literacy program
Money Matters is a free, introductory financial literacy program delivered to Canadians since 2011 and reaching more than 125,000 adults. It was developed by ABC Life Literacy Canada with support from the Government of Canada and founding sponsor TD Bank Group (TD) and was designed by literacy practitioners.
There are several workbooks to choose from—from banking basics to smart shopping—all of which are written and designed with the adult learner in mind. Money Matters for Indigenous Peoples includes additional information and design elements to reflect the realities of Indigenous communities in Canada.
Workshops can be delivered by host organization staff, or with optional support from TD employees who volunteer their time to help facilitate workshops.
Practical skills that make a difference
GBNWA hosted two Money Matters for Indigenous Peoples workshops—“Smart Shopping” and “Banking Basics”—with the help of TD employees who volunteered.
The sessions quickly became more than traditional presentations.
“There was a lot of discussion and back-and-forth,” Leclair recalls. “It felt less like a workshop and more like an interactive experience. My clients got much more out of it because everyone felt comfortable participating.”
Participants explored practical topics like budgeting, banking services and ways to stretch household dollars. Because many attendees were raising families on limited incomes, the discussions naturally turned toward real-life challenges.
“They broke down budgeting in a way that made sense,” says Leclair. “They also talked about local resources, like when thrift stores have sales and different community programs. It was very personalized to our area.”
Intergenerational learning
Although Leclair initially thought the financial literacy workshops would primarily benefit her own clients, she decided to open the sessions to the wider community.
The result was an unexpectedly diverse group of participants, including many seniors.
“I thought it was very empowering for all age groups,” she says. “My groups are usually younger, but it was really nice to see the seniors together with them. I loved that circle-of-life moment.”
The intergenerational conversations became one of the workshop’s greatest strengths. Seniors shared their experiences managing money over the years, while younger participants spoke about the financial challenges they face today.
“They talked about how different things are now,” says Leclair. “Everything being online, worrying about scams, the rising cost of living. It was very validating for everyone.”
Learning that continues beyond the classroom
One of Leclair’s favourite aspects of the program was how participants continued using what they had learned after the workshops ended.
“I had one person tell me that they went home and actually wrote down all of their bills and income so they could see their budget on paper.”
For someone who had never formally tracked their finances before, that simple step represented meaningful progress.
The program materials also supported continued learning.
“The workbooks were great,” Leclair says. “They were very user-friendly.”
The seniors appreciated being able to follow along during the workshops, while younger participants valued having something they could take home and revisit later.
“We had so many great discussions that we couldn’t get through everything,” she says. “It was nice that people could review the material afterward.”
She also appreciated the design of the resources.
“The examples were really good. It didn’t feel like it was talking down to people. It just got everyone thinking.”
The power of community support
Another highlight of the experience were the relationships with the TD employees who volunteered their time to help facilitate the workshops.
Leclair says the presenters quickly created a welcoming, relaxed environment that encouraged honest conversations.
“They were lovely,” she says. “They were so good with the program.”
One local TD employee had previous experience in the non-profit sector. Leclair said participants felt comfortable asking questions and sharing their experiences.
The volunteers even brought snacks for participants—a thoughtful gesture that stood out to the organization.
“Normally we’re the ones providing food, transportation and childcare because we try to remove as many barriers as possible,” says Leclair. “It was really nice that they brought snacks.”
Looking ahead
Following the success of the first two sessions, GBNWA plans to offer additional Money Matters for Indigenous Peoples workshops in the future.
For Leclair, the value of the program wasn’t simply the financial information—it was creating a safe, welcoming space where people could learn together, share experiences and build confidence.
By combining trusted community relationships with practical financial education, GBNWA helped participants take meaningful steps toward greater financial confidence—whether that meant building a first budget, feeling more confident using banking services or simply realizing that their financial goals were within reach.
To learn more about Money Matters, to host a workshop in your community and to access free resources, visit abcmoneymatters.ca
