More than two-thirds of eligible families in the Regional District of Nanaimo are not taking advantage of the Canada Learning Bond, and that isn’t okay with the Canada Learning Bond Coordinator at Vancouver Island University (VIU). This lost opportunity equates to millions of dollars in unpaid grant money that otherwise could be earning interest in the RESP accounts of local children from low-income families, ready for when they want to attend post-secondary. That’s why VIU is partnering with local governments and community organizations to get the word out about the Canada Learning Bond and other education savings programs.
“We believe in the transformative power of education, which is why a key focus at VIU is creating pathways to ensure as many people as possible can access post-secondary education,” says Dr. Ralph Nilson, VIU President and Vice-Chancellor. “Statistics show that a child living in a low-income family with at least $500 in an education savings account is more than four times more likely to enroll in a post-secondary institution. I look forward to working with this new regional partnership, so that many more children in our region will have that money in their accounts, and can go on to fulfill their true potential by pursuing further education.”
VIU’s regional partners include the Regional District of Nanaimo, the City of Nanaimo, Island Health, Vancouver Island Regional Library, School District 68, School District 69, Nanaimo Child Development Centre, Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services, the Inter Tribal Health Authority and the Society of Organized Services. Each of these organizations is helping to spread the word about the free government grants.
“The goal is to get as many people talking about the Canada Learning Bond as possible,” says Rolanda Murray, VIU’s Canada Learning Bond Coordinator. “There are nearly 4,000 children in Nanaimo alone who are eligible but are not signed up to receive this money – that’s a number that keeps me awake at night. Every one of those children deserves that money, so it’s incredibly important that families know about these resources.”
By Vancouver Island University
