@FCACan's #FLM2012 Video Contest: Time to vote for your favourite video!

Successful contest features young Canadians sharing their money saving tips

OTTAWA, Dec. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - During Financial Literacy Month (FLM) in November, young Canadians were invited to submit a one- to three-minute video entry showing how they are saving for something special to them. The 38 qualifying videos submitted have been uploaded on the YouTube channel of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), including the eight finalists selected by FCAC.

Canadians can now vote for their "People's Choice." A special award of a $50 iTunes gift card will be given to the creator of the finalist video that gets the most "likes" on YouTube until the close of day, December 13.

In mid-December, a panel of three judges appointed by FCAC will pick three prize winners who will be awarded the following prizes:

• 1^st place: a 13-inch MacBook Pro
• 2^nd place: a 16-GB iPad with Wi-Fi and a $50 iTunes gift card
• 3^rd place: an 8-GB iPod Touch.

Their videos will be evaluated for creativity, production quality and messaging.

"The young people who made these videos showed great enthusiasm for saving money and reaching their financial goals," says Ursula Menke , FCAC Commissioner. "They came up with some very creative ideas and I'm sure they will be an inspiration to many others, young and old."

Entries were received from students in:

British Columbia: Kelowna, Langley, Richmond, Vancouver, Victoria
Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, Mayerthorpe, Okotoks
Saskatchewan: Pilot Butte
Manitoba: Winnipeg
Ontario: Barrie, Brampton, Kanata, Kingston, Nepean, Oakville, Orangeville, Ottawa, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Thornhill, Toronto, Vaughan
Quebec: Montréal, Beaconsfield and Saint-Félicien

Winners will be announced by December 14 on FCAC's website itpaystoknow.gc.ca. More details on the contest and prizes are available on FLM's Web pages at itpaystoknow.gc.ca/flm.

About FCAC

With educational materials and interactive tools, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) provides objective information about financial products and services to help Canadians increase their financial knowledge and confidence in managing their personal finances. FCAC informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with banks and federally regulated trust, loan and insurance companies. FCAC also makes sure that federally regulated financial institutions, payment card network operators and external complaints bodies comply with legislation and industry commitments intended to protect consumers.

You can reach us through FCAC's Consumer Services Centre by calling toll-free 1-866-461-3222 (TTY: 613-947-7771 or 1-866-914-6097) or by visiting our website: itpaystoknow.gc.ca.

For Broadcast use:

Do you have a savings plan?

If not, you can get some savings tips from the 38 young Canadians who have created videos that describe what they are saving for, and how they are doing it.

Now is your chance to vote for your favourite video.

A "People's Choice" award of a $50 iTunes gift card will be given to the finalist video that gets the most "likes" on YouTube by December 13.

Simply visit the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada website at itpaystoknow.gc.ca to see all the videos and learn more about how financial understanding just adds up.

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SOURCE Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

Video with caption: "Out of 38 videos submitted by students from across the country, 8 finalists are now racing towards the finish line to win cool prizes like a 13' MacBook Pro. ". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/v/HHhMUiv5bfg?version=3&hl=en_US

Image with caption: "Winners will be announced by December 14 on FCAC's website itpaystoknow.gc.ca. (CNW Group/Financial Consumer Agency of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121207_C7145_PHOTO_EN_21672.jpg

Audio with caption: " Ursula Menke , Commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) ". Audio available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/12/07/20121207_C7145_AUDIO_EN_21666.mp3