News Release

Kamloops, B.C. -- A grade 12 student at Kamloops South Secondary School has learned that setting realistic financial goals and making smart investment decisions at an early age can really pay off for her and her school.

Jocelyn Bootle is B.C.’s provincial winner of the Test Your Financial I.Q. essay contestsponsored by the B.C. Securities Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators.Students across Canada were challenged to write short essays on the question, “It’s your future – so how are you going to pay for it?” Students were asked to consider their overall financial goals and how they expected to reach them, factors they would consider when saving and investing, where they would turn for financial advice, and how they would determine if advice was credible.

“I’m going to pay for my future by having realistic goals and taking advantage of the time
I have by consistently saving a small portion of my earnings and having them compound,” said Bootle in her essay. Her $750 prize should be a welcome boost to her savings and investment strategy, including her plan to attend college to become a dietician. She will receive her cheque at Kamloops South Secondary annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 8, 2004.

Bootle’s essay was chosen from over 50 B.C. provincial entries for her realistic goals and entrepreneurial approach to planning for her financial future. The intent of the annual contest was to help raise awareness among young Canadians about the benefits of investing at a young age, and to encourage them to learn more about investing and investment products.

“We’re proud to support the efforts of young people like Jocelyn in learning about financial planning and investing in their futures,” said BCSC Chair Doug Hyndman. “We hope this experience will encourage her in achieving her educational and business goals.”

The win also produced a bonus for Bootle’s school, Kamloops South Secondary, netting an additional $500 from the BCSC towards new equipment, uniforms or a special school initiative.

Bootle’s winning essay “Securing My Financial Future” was also entered into the national Financial I.Q. essay competition sponsored by the CSA. Thirteen winners, one from each province and territory, were awarded prizes of $750 each and were entered into the competition for the national grand prize of $2,500. The CSA Investor Education Committee recently announced the national winner, Kim Ma from Quebec, at an event at her school Villa Saint-Marcelline.

The B.C. Securities Commission is an independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating trading in securities within the province.