Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy
MSc., CEPF; Chief Executive Officer, Credit Counselling Canada
Whenever people ask me what I do, they always sound surprised that a service like non-profit credit counselling exists. And then they lean in, in a hushed voice, and make comments like “You need to talk to my granddaughter” or “Wow, I could have used your services after graduation” or “I need to talk to you about my situation, can I call you?”
I jokingly call the non-profit credit counselling industry the best-kept secret around even though we’ve been around for over 50 years. However, we don’t want to be a secret. In fact, we want to shout from the rooftops that we’re here to help.
Here are 10 things the non-profit credit counselling industry wants you to know:
You are not alone. Money can create so much stress and shame, making us feel like we’re the only ones in the room who struggle. Trust me, you are not the only one or alone. We’re here for you every step of the way. No money problem is too big for us.
Your self-worth and net worth have nothing to do with each other. We have all made money mistakes and regretted decisions. You are still a good person even if you struggle with money.
You can get out of debt. No, really, you can! For every debt problem, there is a solution, oftentimes without declaring bankruptcy. Our credit counsellors will review all options available to you and support your choice.
You can rebuild credit. Poor credit is not a life sentence. Our credit counsellors can show you how to rebuild without adding costly credit products to your life.
You can save money. We can teach you how — from dime challenges to setting up automatic savings.
If you need other supports in the community, we’ll connect you, at no cost.
Money management is a skill, not a talent which is why we do financial education – we love teaching workshops in the community and workplaces, offering webinars, and developing eLearning modules so you can grow your skills.
Our agencies are accredited, and our credit counsellors are Accredited Financial Counsellors. This means there are standards to adhere to and continuing education to maintain skills.
We are non-profit or charitable organizations which mean we reinvest funds back into helping more consumers like you.
We absolutely love our work: We feel privileged that we get to work with you on your goals, your hopes, and your plans to make them a reality. We even love budgeting.
