Whether you’re just starting out, going through a change, dealing with financial challenges, or just overwhelmed with the amount of information and advertising around managing your money, financial counselling can help. For many of us, money management wasn’t a class we took in school. We are here to help everyone, regardless of what stage of life you are in or how much money you have.
Thunder Bay Counselling offers one-on-one financial counselling to help you achieve your future goals. Our trusted and professional counsellors take the time to understand your personal situation and recommend supports that will improve your finances for the long-term.
We have helped hundreds of clients, including seniors, newcomers and people on low incomes, to set spending plans and work towards a better financial future. We are ready to provide you with a free financial assessment today!
Financial Counselling services are available to help you understand and access COVID-19 financial supports and payment relief options, and to work with you to make changes to your budget. Contact Financial Counselling by phone at (807) 684-1880, or complete the contact form below.
Assistance to Access Banking and Income Supports/Benefits
Financial Literacy Education
RESP Information and support
For more information or to make an appointment call (807) 684-1880
Learn More About Financial Counselling Services
One-on-One Counselling and Coaching
Regular one-on-one counselling sessions provide ongoing support to talk about your financial goals and challenges in confidence with no cost to you. Our professional counsellors offer impartial information, tools and resources to help you navigate your personal finances, without trying to sell you anything. We support you to develop money management and spending plans that will help you to take the right steps towards financial wellness.
Spending Plans and Budgeting
Dealing with bills and balancing household budgets can be overwhelming. If you need help to determine your financial health or if you want advice about how to start paying down debt, Thunder Bay Counselling can help at no cost to you. A financial assessment will help you look at your income, assets, expenses and debt to determine your financial situation. With an understanding of your current position, our counsellors will work with you to develop spending plans that make sense for you and your family.
Support to Access Banking and Income Supports
Our services include free advice to access the right banking services and support programs. We know which programs can put free money in your pocket such as income supports and tax benefits. Our helpful professionals offer support to individuals and families at no cost and will ensure that you are choosing the right financial options for you.
Credit Counselling and Debt Management Plans
Credit Counselling helps you to reduce debt and better manage your financial wellness. Our certified Financial Counsellors have extensive experience in customizing personal debt reduction programs. There is no fee for our Credit Counselling services.
A Debt Management Plan is designed to help clients pay off debt in a set amount of time. It is a formalized agreement where our Financial Counsellors provide you with support to deal with creditors. Creditors usually agree and, in some cases, may reduce or eliminate the interest rate and/or fees on the debt. We make debt repayment simple and stress free with one monthly payment that is disbursed to creditors. There are administrative fees that apply which will be reviewed with you prior to you making any commitment.
Ontario Registration #4138616
Financial Literacy Education
Thunder Bay Counselling offers unbiased information and consumer education on a wide array of topics related to personal money management to help you make the right financial decisions. Our Literacy Education programs are offered in one-on-one and group sessions to meet diverse needs. If you want to learn more about your consumer rights and be better prepared to manage your finances, ask us about our Financial Literacy Education programs.
Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP’s)
Start saving for your child’s education after high school with an RESP. The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is $500 offered by the Government of Canada to help modest-income families start saving today for their child’s future post-secondary education. Your child could receive $100 every year until he or she turns 15 years old to a maximum allowance of $2,000. Canada Learning Bonds can be used to pay for full-time or part- time education including apprenticeship programs, Colleges and Universities. Let Thunder Bay Counselling help you get started for free.
Thunder Bay Counselling is a community partner of SmartSaver, a non-profit organization whose goal is to make it easier for families to understand and access the government money that is available for education after high school using an RESP. Read more about how to start your kid’s education savings with free money.
Filing your income tax is an important part of financial management and may help identify income benefits and savings. Thunder Bay Counselling is proud to partner with the Lakehead Social Planning Council in the provision of Tax Clinics that are free of charge for people living on low incomes. Visit LSPC’s web-site at www.lspc.ca for more information.
Thunder Bay Counselling is proud to be an Ontario Financial Empowerment Champion organization and part of the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Ontario Registration #4138616
Aimee Jaun
Associate Vice Provost, Lakehead University
Aimee Jaun is the Associate Vice-Provost, Students at Lakehead University. She comes to the Board with diverse experiences that include post-secondary education, mental health and addiction, public health, management consulting, training and development, and organization development.
Carlina Marchese
Research Coordinator & Research Manager – Lakehead University
Carlina is a member of the Nominating & By-Law Committee. She recently completed her Master of Health Sciences, and is now a Research Coordinator & Research Manager at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health.
Renée Monsma
Chair
Manager of Infant & Child Services – Children’s Centre Thunder Bay
Renée has over 20 years experience in the mental health sector and is the Manager of Infant & Child Services Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. Renée has served on the board of directors for the past 3 years and holds the position of Chair of the board. Renee is also a member of the strategic planning committee.
Dominique Chénard
Financial Security Advisor, CPA,CA
Freedom 55 Financial
Dominique is chair of the board’s Audit Committee. She has years of experience as a CPA and in her current role as a financial security advisor. Dominique is in her second term as director
Jeff Moorley
MEMBER AT LARGE
Lawyer at White MacGillivray Lester LLP
Jeff is in his second term as a director, having been elected to the Board in 2015 and re-elected in 2018. Since 2015 he has chaired the Board’s Nominating and By-law Committee which oversees the recruitment of new Board members and the legal rules governing the Board.
Melissa Beaucage
Student – Lakehead University
Melissa is currently a student enrolled at Lakehead University in the Specialized Psychology program who brings a youth perspective to the board. She has chaired the Strategic Planning Committee in 2018-2019 and participated in Family Service Day at Queens Park in 2019.
Tuomas Minor
Corporate Management Professional
Tuomas is a Professional Engineer working in the local telecommunication sector. He brings extensive experience in Corporate Leadership and specializes in strategic planning, program development, and data analysis.
Katherine Couzelis
Forest Technician, Owner of WAYfinder Trails & Recreation
Katherine obtained her Aboriginal Canadian Relations Certificate while studying Natural Resource Management at Confederation College. She was elected as a board member in September 2020 and is part of the Audit Committee.
Gustavo Petterle
Director of Organizational Health, NorWest Community Health Centre
Gustavo is Director of Organizational Health at the NorWest Community Health Centre. He has extensive experience in health policy development and health care administration with special interest in quality improvement and its relation with corporate planning.
Becca Stephenson
Human Resources Officer at the Children’s Aid Society
Becca is a Human Resources Officer at the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay. Becca is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), with extensive experience in the areas of recruitment and selection, policy development and implementation, research, data analysis and anti-oppressive practice.
Terra Lofts
Director, Programs and Services Children’s Centre Thunder Bay
Terra is a Director, Programs & Services at Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. She has 20 years’ experience in the developmental and children’s mental health field. She has extensive experience in program development, program implementation, and system planning.
Terra was elected to the Board in September 2018. She was a member of the Nominating and By-Law Committee for 2018-19. Terra is a recent graduate of University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management Executive Programs, Public Sector Leadership Institute. Terra has a strong passion for Children’s Mental Health.
Emily Morris
Lawyer
Emily is a member of the Nominating and By-Law Committee and has been actively involved in review the agency’s By-Laws. Emily is a lawyer with Courtis, Desmoulin Law Office.
Heather Gray
Director
Heather joined the Board in 2018. She brings extensive experience in the health care sector in planning, education, clinical practice and administration.
Prior to her recent retirement, Heather was the Director of Health System Design and Development at the North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). During her tenure at the North West LHIN Heather provided oversight to the following portfolios: seniors, chronic disease management, emergency planning, mental health and addictions, alternate level of care (ALC), and First Nations health. She has extensive health care experience throughout Northwestern Ontario in clinical practice, education, administration and planning. Heather has a special interest in mental health and addictions services.
Smart Saver
Darcy McWhirter
Secretary
Supervisor – Concurrent Rehabilitation Services
SJCG – Sister Margaret Smith Centre
Darcy joined the Board in 2012 and has been Secretary since June 2015. She has extensive Committee experience having served on the Nominating and Bylaw Committee, the Retreat Planning Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Executive Director Performance Review Committee. Darcy currently sits on the Audit Committee.
Darren Lillington
Regional Service Coordinator, Indigenous Lead
Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
Darren is a member of the Thunder Bay Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Thunder Bay Accessible Sport Council. He is an active member of our Board and has been involved in numerous committees including 50th Anniversary Committee, Compensation Policy Development, Executive Director’s Performance Review and supported the Board to prepare for accreditation in 2015. He has been an eager participant in the United Way Billboard Rescue. Darren is in his second term on the Board.
Carol Cline
Manager of Upgrading
Confederation College
Carol started her first term with the Board in June 2015. She has 25 years of experience in the Mental Health field, most recently in the past 10 years specializing in the area of Domestic Violence. She is currently a member of the 50th Anniversary Committee and the Retreat Planning Committee.
Christina Brassard
Social Worker, Supervisor
Children’s Centre Thunder Bay
Christina joined the Board in 2015. She is currently a member of the Nominating and By Law Committee and has been an active participant in the United Way Billboard Rescue.
Lori Golab
Retired Principal
Lakehead Public Schools
Lori has been an active member of the Board since 2011. She has supported many agency events and has served on numerous committees including the Executive Director’s Performance Appraisal and Compensation Committee, Audit Committee, Nominating and Bylaw Committee, AGM Planning and most recently the 50th Anniversary Committee. Lori is a member of the Board of Directors of Family Service Ontario.
Lynda Roberts
Director of Health Promotion
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Lynda began her first term on the Board in 2015. She is a member of the Nominating and Bylaw Committee and is chair of the Compensation Policy Development Committee.
Tony DeAgazio
Director of Corporate & Human Resources
The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay
Tony was elected by the Board in October 2016. He is President of YES Employment Services, with Corporate Services Consultation – Indigenous Child Well-Being Societies and a Human Resources instructor for College and University.
