Financial Empowerment
Transform your relationship with money and learn the essentials when it comes to taking control of your finance.
Hands-on interactive 9-session series limited to 50 participants. Preference will be given to those that demonstrate commitment to complete the program until the end and would make the greatest net impact to their lives (based on what you write in the application).
Money Mindset: Building Financial Confidence That Lasts;
Money stress hits different when you've been carrying more than your share. Whether you've been helping family make ends meet or watching financial chaos unfold around you, we get it. This isn't about pretending everything's fine or fixing what's "broken" about how you handle money.
This is about understanding that the voice telling you "you're bad with money" probably isn't even yours. And discovering that you already have more financial wisdom than you realize.
WHO IS THE PROGRAM FOR?
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Youth aged 16-29 in the Greater Toronto Area
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Individuals who are motivated to transform their relationship with money
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Committed to making positive financial change, break free from financial stress
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Eager to gain control of your finances, regardless of your current financial status
WHAT WILL YOU ACHIEVE?
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Transform your relationship with money, shifting from constraints to freedom and power.
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Acquire vital skills and insights into strategic tools to navigate your financial journey confidently.
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Cultivate heightened confidence in managing finances, ensuring you make informed decisions with empowerment
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Instill a mindset extending beyond theory, providing practical steps for sustained financial well-being throughout your life
Program Overview
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Each online session would be 2-hour duration
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The first 30-minute will be focused on deepening the exploration of your relationship with money
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Followed by 90-minute of practical knowledge to strengthen your personal finance
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The first session is in-person (on Saturday September 6, 2025), you'll receive your workbook and a lootbag of goodies.
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The following sessions would be online to make participating in the program more accessible. Most sessions are interactive, so be prepared to go off-mute to share or type into the chatbox!
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We'll also have two sessions where we invite Subject Matter Experts for a panelist discussion, there would be time for Q&A as well!
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By the end of the program, through your participation, you would gain financial confidence and empowered mindset. You'll have a deeper awareness of your financial blueprint, declared what you want for yourself, and have structure to be more intentional when it comes to your relationship with money. You'll also develop practical knowledge about key financial concepts and skills to make that into a reality.
It's NOT About
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Never buying what makes you happy
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Living on rice and beans forever
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Becoming someone you're not
It's About
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Peace when you check your bank account
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Choice – real choice – in how you spend your life
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Freedom to say yes to opportunities without panic
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Security that lets you breathe easier
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Power to help the people you love without sacrificing yourself
What This Actually Looks Like
Not budgeting tips from people who've never struggled.
Real support for real life.
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We work with your actual reality - not some perfect scenario
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We address the emotional stuff around money (where change really happens)
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We create community - you're not figuring this out alone
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We focus on what actually sticks
2024 Results: 100% of participants found it useful, practical, and would do another program with us.
Program Outline
Session 1
📅 Saturday September 6
⌚️ 11:30am to 4:30pm
📍 Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre
Session 2
📅 Monday September 15
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 3
📅 Monday September 22
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 4
📅 Monday September 29
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 5
📅 Monday October 6
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 6
📅 Monday October 13
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 7
📅 Monday October 20
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 8
📅 Monday October 27
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Session 9
📅 Monday November 3
⌚️ 7:15pm to 9:30pm
📍 Online via Zoom
Introduction & Understanding Your Relationship with Money
Money Mindset: Rewire Your Money Belief
That sick feeling when you check your bank account? It makes sense. Money has been tied to survival, stress, and taking care of others. We'll explore how your past shaped your money patterns—not to blame, but to understand. You'll leave knowing that your financial responses are intelligent adaptations, not character flaws.
Psychology of Spending & Behavioural Finance
Money Mindset: Your Money Blueprint
Break free from impulse buying and emotional spending that's sabotaging your financial goals
You know you "should" save money. So why did you spend $47 on meal delivery again? We'll look at what really drives spending decisions—from apps designed to empty your wallet to emotional patterns that make perfect sense once you understand them. No more guilt about "bad" choices. Just clarity about what's actually happening.
Budgeting
Money Mindset: Expand Possibilities
Forget everything you think you know about budgeting. This isn't about eating ramen for months or giving up everything that brings you joy. It's about finally seeing where your money actually goes and creating a system that feels sustainable. Previous participants often discover they have more breathing room than they thought.
Credit & Debt Management
Money Mindset: The Rich Garden of Your Mind
The credit system affects whether you get that apartment, car loan, or job. We'll break down exactly how it works so you can play the game and win. Learn what actually moves your score up (and what doesn't matter despite what the internet says), plus realistic strategies for managing debt without living like a monk.
Benefits, Taxes, and Your Money
Money Mindset: Unveiling Your Money Values
Every year, millions of dollars in benefits and tax credits go unclaimed. Not because people don't qualify, but because they don't know these programs exist or think they're "not for them." We'll show you exactly what you might be eligible for and how to access it. This session could put real money back in your pocket.
Savings & Banking (Understanding Your Finances)
Money Mindset: Rewrite Your Money Mindset
Your bank might be charging you fees while paying you basically nothing in interest. Meanwhile, inflation is eating your savings. We'll explore which accounts actually work for you, how to avoid fees that add up to hundreds yearly, and simple ways to make your money work a little harder.
Asset & Growth Management
Money Mindset: Build Up Money Confidence
It's about knowing you can handle whatever comes up. We'll look at assets you might not even realize you have, help you set goals that motivate instead of overwhelm, and create a plan that fits your actual life. This is where many participants say things start to "click."
Diversifying Your Financial Plan
Money Mindset: Invent New Possibilities
Ready to think bigger? We'll explore realistic ways to create additional income streams, simple investing that doesn't require thousands to start, and proven strategies for paying down debt. No get-rich-quick schemes—just practical methods that work when you're starting from where you are.
Managing Your Money for Success
Money Mindset: Step Into Action
This isn't graduation—it's your financial launch pad. We'll put everything together into a plan you can actually follow, create accountability that works for you, and make sure you have the confidence to keep building on what you've started.
Your Team
Rebecca Blaha
(she/her)
Head of Financial Empower Program
& Lead Instructor
Laney Lui
(she'her)
Financial Empowerment Relationship Coach
Kristine Beese
(she/her)
Financial Empowerment Instructor
Barbara Hall
(she/her)
Learning Experience Designer
Susan Lee
(she/her)
Learning Experience Designer