Post-Secondary Funds Available To Help Finance Children’S Education

Families in the Cowichan Valley who would like to learn more about saving money for their children’s future post-secondary education are invited to special meetings at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Cowichan campus April 23 and May 7.

VIU is hosting these events to encourage eligible families with young children to sign up for the federal government’s Canada Learning Bond (CLB) program.

If deemed eligible, parents can set up a Registered Education Savings Plan bank account on the spot. The federal government will immediately deposit $500. Each year, students will receive $100 into the account which could accumulate to as much as $2,000 to help pay for future education costs. The CLB program is available to children who were born after December 31, 2003, and whose families receive the National Child Benefit Supplement.

VIU launched the CLB sign-up events after reports that there has been a low intake in the bond program in VIU’s regions. According to VIU work-op student Dan Cato, the Vancouver Island region has one of the highest rates of childhood poverty in the province. Cato and Jacqueline Matilpi, another VIU student, have been organizing CLB sign-up events for the past year.

“The gatherings are a one stop shopping opportunity for students and parents to learn about and sign-up for the bond program,” says Cato.

Interested parents need to bring social insurance numbers (SIN) for both parents and children to the sign-up events. “If parents don’t have SIN numbers, Service Canada representatives will be available by appointment at the meetings to help parents fill out the necessary forms to get a SIN,” adds Cato.

Royal Bank of Canada representatives will also attend to assist families with signing up for the CLB program.

To make an appointment with a Service Canada representative, parents can leave a message for Cato at 250.753.3245, as Service Canada personnel can only process a limited number of people at the two events.

To find out more, please visit www.CanLearn.ca or contact Cato at dan.cato@viu.ca.

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Media Contact


Janina Stajic, Manager, Vancouver Island University


P:250.740.6288 E: Communications@viu.ca T: @viunews