The Manitoba Financial Services Agency (MFSA), which includes the Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) and the Financial Institutions Regulation Branch (FIRB), has launched a new website, MoneySmartManitoba.ca, that aims to enhance financial literacy in the province.

The website is designed to foster more informed financial decisions by providing information on a range of topics that are geared specifically to residents of Manitoba including investing, budgeting, real estate, insurance, and tips on avoiding frauds.

The MFSA says that one of the initiative’s primary objectives is to make financial education less intimidating by adopting a grassroots approach.

“From the outset, we wanted to create a site that provided important financial information for Manitobans from all walks of life, in a friendly and inviting way,” said Ainsley Cunningham, education and communications manager at the MFSA, who led the MoneySmart project.

“We spoke with a diverse group of people from across the province to see what real Manitobans wanted in terms of financial knowledge, and where MoneySmart could help fill in the gaps,” she added. “The site incorporates over a year’s worth of local research, as well as national research into financial education in Canada.”

Alongside the website, the initiative also includes a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a series of videos. In addition, more than 5,000 free calendars are being distributed in family resource centres, adult literacy centres and at non-profits.

“I’m the first to admit, learning about financial matters can be a tough sell sometimes, for both children and adults,” said Cunningham. “But money is an important part of everyone’s day to day life, and we can’t shy away from a chance to learn more about it. What I love about MoneySmart is the focus on providing practical, easy-to-understand info that can make an immediate positive difference on the financial wellbeing of a person or family. Money doesn’t have to be tough to figure out. You can make a budget and stick to it. Making a personal financial plan can be fun.”