This paper examines the relationship between community preparedness and response to natural disaster and their level and pattern of community development. This is done by investigating preparation and response to the 1997 Red River Flood by three rural communities in Manitoba, Canada. The communities were selected because of their different ethnic mix and associated level and pattern of community development. The hypothesis was supported that the level and pattern of community development affect community capacity to respond to flooding. Communities characterised by higher levels of physical, human and social capital were better prepared and more effective responders to the flood. However, where the pattern of community development was characterised by high levels of social capital, decision-making processes were complicated.

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This article argues that financial literacy varies across socioeconomic groups and their neighborhoods, in part because of the adult learning that occurs within a local context. The study begins by explaining that financial literacy needs vary across socioeconomic groups and that there are important structural factors affecting the financial well-being of low-income people. Drawing on data from qualitative field research undertaken in three Canadian inner cities, it then moves to examine low-income respondents' financial literacy. The results show that many low-income respondents evidenced financial literacy in that many learned to cope with strict budgets, used diversified activities to raise their income, constrained their credit, and were reasonably knowledgeable about relevant government programs and banking services. Where particular constraints were noted in financial literacy, they related to detailed knowledge about institutional policies and attitudes about deeper financial and life goals. Keywords financial literacy, unbanked, low incomeFinancial literacy needs vary across income groups. For instance, the devolution of pension planning from government and business to individuals has been influenced by neoliberalism, an ideology that highlights the role of markets and consumers to meet

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This article analyzes the socioeconomic characteristics of the financially excluded in Canada using the 1999 Statistics Canada Survey of Financial Security and two surveys sponsored by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada in 2001 and 2005. The authors find that financial exclusion is more concentrated among low-income Canadians; low-income, low-level of assets, and single-parent statuses are correlated with being unbanked. A review of banking preferences of low-income people indicates that economically disadvantaged households are more concerned about convenience and not as interested in new banking technologies.