Toronto, ON — Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada) and BMO Financial Group have announced a five-year, $1.5 million national partnership aimed at strengthening financial literacy among Canadian youth. The initiative will equip more than 230,000 students across the country with essential money management skills through JA’s More Than Money and Personal Finance programs.
The partnership—unveiled during BMO’s Guiding the Future event—marks a major step in expanding access to financial education nationwide. Building on nearly three decades of collaboration between the two organizations, the new initiative underscores their shared commitment to financial empowerment and preparing students to thrive in today’s complex economy.
“Financial literacy is a foundational skill,” said Helen Seibel, Head of Employee and Corporate Giving at BMO. “It’s not just about managing money — it’s about empowering young people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to start and grow businesses, and build stronger communities.”
Through BMO’s investment, JA Canada will scale its national reach and enhance program delivery in classrooms across the country. BMO employee volunteers will also play a hands-on role, helping students develop practical budgeting, saving, credit, and investment skills.
JA Canada CEO Asheesh Advani, who also leads Junior Achievement Worldwide, described the partnership as transformational:
“True achievement isn’t a solo pursuit. It’s built through experiential learning, community, gratitude, and resilience. When young people learn by doing and see role models who reflect their own journeys, they gain the self-efficacy to thrive in a constantly evolving world.”
Erin Barton, Chief Development Officer at JA Canada, highlighted the long-term vision of the collaboration:
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to future-ready education. With BMO’s national reach and deep community connections, we’re ensuring financial literacy is deeply integrated into the lives of young Canadians throughout their entire student journey.”
Building Canada’s Financial Future
The More Than Money program introduces elementary students to the basics of earning, spending, and saving, while Personal Finance helps high school students make informed decisions about budgeting and investing. Together, these programs will prepare youth to navigate financial challenges and opportunities with confidence.
BMO’s long-standing support of Junior Achievement includes more than $2.5 million in contributions to JA Canada and its regional offices, alongside similar investments in the United States that reach approximately 400,000 underserved youth each year.
About Junior Achievement of Canada
JA Canada is one of the country’s largest youth-serving organizations, delivering over 500,000 student learning experiences annually through programs in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. It is a member of JA Worldwide, a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
🔗 www.jacanada.org
About BMO Financial Group
With total assets of $1.4 trillion, BMO Financial Group is North America’s seventh-largest bank. For over 200 years, BMO has been committed to driving progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society under its purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life.
🔗 our-impact.bmo.com
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