CIRO gives $1.5M to investor education, protection non-profits

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) has announced $1.55 million in funding for seven non-profit organizations to enhance financial literacy and investor protection in Canada.

The initiatives are funded through monetary sanctions CIRO collected through enforcement proceedings, the self-regulatory organization said in a release Wednesday.

“This funding marks a new phase in our commitment to fostering financial education and empowering underserved and vulnerable investors across Canada,” said Alexandra Williams, senior vice-president strategy, innovation and stakeholder protection with CIRO, in the release.

The receiving organizations were selected by CIRO’s Office of the Investor, which in January opened a call for grant applications for organizations and projects that advance investor education and protection.

The successful grant applicants include Momentum; SEED Winnipeg; Launch Okanagan; FAIR Canada; the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic and Living Lab at York University; the National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University; and Junior Achievement Canada.

The organizations have varying mandates, including providing financial education for Indigenous youth and adults, assisting low-income individuals with disabilities in accessing financial benefits, and providing advocacy, research and education to empower retail investors in Canada.

“CIRO is thrilled to support these organizations, and to facilitate the valuable work they do in communities across the country,” Williams said.

“We want to ensure that Canadians are supported in their investment journey and that vulnerable investors access tools and services to build wealth.”

Noushin Ziafati

Noushin has been the associate editor of Advisor.ca since 2024. Previously, she worked at outlets including the CBC, Canadian Press, CTV News, Telegraph-Journal and Chronicle Herald. Reach her at noushin@newcom.ca.