Building Inclusive Financial Systems for All Canadians
From research to action: advancing financial inclusion through community-led innovation.
Why Financial Inclusion Matters
Nearly 1 million Canadians are unbanked and 5 million are underbanked—not by choice, but due to systemic barriers. People with disabilities, newcomers, racialized communities, and those without stable housing face the greatest challenges.
Financial exclusion is not a fringe issue. It limits access to basic tools for stability and participation in society. Inclusive financial systems are about dignity, opportunity, and justice.
Upcoming Event
Creating Participatory Architecture
The Opportunities and Challenges of Inclusive Governance
If your organization is trying to make decisions more collaboratively, build trust with a community, or create a group where people with lived experience have real influence, participatory governance can offer practical ways forward. Madeline Toubiana (University of Ottawa) and Natalie Eng (University of Alberta) will explore how grassroots governance models can help organizations and communities share decision-making, navigate power dynamics, and work together toward common goals. This session also marks the starting point for developing a governance structure for the Financial Inclusion & Resilience Movement (FIRM) (part of the Partnerships for Financial Inclusion Project)
The webinar is free and accessible, with live ASL, English/French captioning and interpretation provided.
Register here
Mission
The mission of this multi-phase project is to:
- Empower the disability and Deaf communities take action in removing barriers and advocating for more inclusive financial systems
- Guide policy makers, governments, and large organizations in creating more inclusive financial systems that are accessible and equitable
- Support security and privacy organizations to address fraud, scams, and abuse faced by the disability and Deaf community
- Advance systemic change through Phase 2 and FIRM:a community-led infrastructure that strengthens grassroots capacity, fosters institutional collaboration, and ensures sustainability beyond federal funding
- Build long-term resilience by establishing shared services, knowledge hubs, and governance structures that enable inclusive financial innovation
Phase 1 laid the foundation with research, tools and partnerships.
Phase 2 focuses on scaling these efforts through FIRM, creating a sustainable ecosystem that will support transformation of financial systems for all Canadians.
Phase 1 Achievements
Over the past three years, the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) partnered with community-led organizations and major financial institutions to identify barriers and co-create solutions. Key outputs include:
- Guidebook for Financial Inclusion A bilingual, accessible resource for financial institutions, featuring practical frameworks, narratives, and activities to design inclusive services. Access the Guidebook
- White Paper: Financial Partnerships as a Pathway to Financial Inclusion A strategic roadmap for systemic change, introducing the Financial Inclusion and Resilience Movement (FIRM). Read the White Paper
- Knowledge Repository An open-access collection of tools, research, and resources to support inclusive financial ecosystems. Explore Resources
What’s Next: Phase 2 and FIRM
We are launching Phase 2 to scale and sustain impact through the **Financial Inclusion and Resilience Movement (FIRM)**—a community-led infrastructure designed to strengthen grassroots capacity and foster institutional collaboration.
FIRM includes four core components:
- Digital Shared Services Hub Operational support for grassroots organizations (legal, bookkeeping, fundraising, IT).
- Online Knowledge Hub A platform for co-design, research, and accessibility consulting.
- Community-led Governance Decision-making grounded in lived experience.
- Community of Practice (CoP) A national network for peer learning and collaboration.
Get Involved
- Financial Institutions: Join the Knowledge Hub and embed equity into your services.
- Community Organizations: Access shared services and governance roles.
- Researchers & Advocates: Participate in collaborative research and the Community of Practice.
Resources
Project Partners
- AAWEAR
- Alliance for Equity of Blind Canadians
- ARCH Disability Law Centre
- L’arche Canada
- Bank of Canada
- Black Deaf Canada
- Canadian Council of the Blind
- Carleton Accessibility Institute
- Council of Canadians with Disabilities
- DEEN Support Services
- Disability without Poverty
- Independent Living Canada
- Inner-City Health and Wellness Program, University of Alberta
- March of Dimes Canada
- Neil Squire Society
- New Society Institute (formerly IRIS Institute)
- Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society
- Pigeon Park Savings
- Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network
- Realize Canada
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- Whole Woman Network
Acknowledgements
Funded by Employment and Social Development Canada/ Government of Canada.
