The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) was a recipient of Service Alberta’s Consumer Champion Award of Merit at a ceremony at the legislature on April 8, 2013. CPLEA received the award for its Youth Project – a project designed to increase the legal knowledge of youth, particularly marginalized youth in the province.
The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) with the support of the Alberta Law Foundation started a project in October 2011 to empower vulnerable youth in Alberta by educating them about their legal rights. Through consultation with intermediaries that work with marginalized youth, CPLEA identified a need for information about consumer issues such as renting, mobile phones, payday loans, and debt. Over the past year and a half CPLEA has developed resources and delivered training sessions for intermediaries in response to this need for consumer information. Some of these resources include:
- 8 Rules for Smart Renters Video and Tip Sheet;
- Can My Landlord Mobile App;
- Debt Problems Infographic;
- Is It Reliable? 7 Clues for Good Legal Information Online Video and Tip Sheet;
- Pay Day Loans Infographic;
- Phone Contracts – Are They Right For You? Infographic; and
- When Things Go Wrong With Mobile Phones Infographic.
CPLEA has held seven “Renting 101” training sessions by lawyers for intermediaries and vulnerable youth with more scheduled in the near future. A Renting 101 webinar is scheduled for May and registration is still open. CPLEA has also displayed at youth events such as the Making Connections Family Resource Fair, YOUCAN’s International Youth Day Celebration, and the Edmonton Queer Prom.