May 17, 2004

 CSA Awards Test Your Financial I.Q. Grand Prize to a young Quebecer

Calgary – In the second edition of the Test Your Financial I.Q. contest, Canada's securities regulators have awarded a $2,500 prize to a 17 year-old Montrealer for her essay on the importance of saving and investing wisely at an early age.

In an essay entitled Maître de soi... et de son argent, winner Kim Ma proposed an ingenious plan which would allow her to save her money and make it grow.  The strategy combined portfolio diversification, a good understanding of the selected financial products and a realistic analysis of the opportunities offered by the financial markets, all while taking into account her risk tolerance and financial goals. “By saving and investing wisely, I have self-control and, especially, control of my money”, Kim Ma said in the conclusion of her essay.

The Test Your Financial I.Q. contest aims to make young people aware of the benefits of investing and encourage them to learn about the financial products available on the market.  Over 600 Canadians from 14 to 18 years of age participated in this second annual Test Your Financial I.Q. contest.

In addition to the grand prize of $2,500, 12 provincial and territorial prizes of $750 each were awarded to winners throughout the country:

Alberta – Eva Hu
British Columbia – Jocelyn Bootle
Manitoba – Wendy Kwong
New Brunswick – Raphaelle Theriault
Newfoundland & Labrador – Meredith Loveys
Northwest Territories – Matthew Grundy
Nova Scotia – Dominic Daemen
Ontario – Clinton Cairns
PEI – Graham Watts
Québec – Kim Ma
Saskatchewan – Courtney Johnson
Yukon – Helen Booth

The CSA is a council of the 13 securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories. It coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets. 

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