CA profession leaves mark on Alberta campuses

Jane Halford CA, CEO & Executive Director of the ICAA, and RIchard Haskayne OC FCA, attended the official opening of the Chartered Accountants of Alberta Room at the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business in October.

The Chartered Accountants Education Foundation of Alberta (CAEF) has played a significant role in increasing the presence of the Alberta CA profession on two of the province’s university campuses.  

The Foundation and Alberta CAs—along with assistance from the Alberta government’s Access to the Future Fund—helped raise $2 million towards the design of a new University of Lethbridge facility. Markin Hall, home of the Faculty of Management and Faculty of Health Sciences, opened in September. In honour of the CAEF’s contribution, an 80-seat classroom in Markin Hall is named the Chartered Accountants of Alberta Room. 

At the University of Calgary, the CAEF laid the groundwork for ICAA support of a named classroom at the Haskayne School of Business. The Chartered Accountants of Alberta Room in Scurfield Hall opened this fall and was celebrated at a recognition event in mid-October. The Haskayne School of Business is named after Richard Haskayne oc fca, an esteemed member of the Alberta CA profession.

ICAA congratulates new UFE grads

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta would like to congratulate the province's 479 successful Uniform Evaluation (UFE) graduates and warmly welcome them into the CA profession. This year’s graduating class is one of the biggest in the ICAA’s history.

This is also the first class of UFE graduates that includes CAs trained outside of public practice. In 2007, the ICAA started pursuing the creation of CA training positions—titled Expanded Experience Opportunities—in approved corporate and public sector organizations.

Special congratulations go out to this year’s Dzurko Honour Roll students, who are the outstanding Alberta CA students who have been named to the National Honour Roll for excellent UFE achievement across Canada. This year’s Dzurko Honour Roll members are: Mathew Burpee (Ernst & Young LLP, Calgary), Zarina Bhambhani (KPMG LLP, Edmonton), Andrea Harper (Young Parkyn McNab LLP, Lethbridge), Russell Newman (KPMG LLP, Calgary), Michelle Smarsh (KPMG LLP, Edmonton), Kelsey Stimson (Meyers Norris Penny, Lethbridge), Eric Van Dyk (BDO Canada LLP, Edmonton), and Melanie Whitmore (Ernst & Young LLP, Calgary).

Paying it Forward campaign will support financial literacy education for young Albertans

The ICAA held a Centennial Spur-tacular in September to launch the Paying it Forward fundraising campaign. From left to right: Steve Allan FCA, CA•CIRP, Honourary Campaign Chair; Hon. Thomas Lukaszuk, Minister of Employment and Immigration, Alberta Government; Jane Halford CA, CEO & Executive Director, ICAA; Peter R. Stephen FCA, Past President, ICAA.

The new campaign was launched at the ICAA Centennial Spur-tacular, a western-themed gala, through which over $30,000 was raised to kick-off the campaign. At the event, the Honourable Thomas Lukaszuk, Minister of Employment and Immigration, brought greetings on behalf of the Alberta government. In addition, Steve Allan fca, ca•cirp was introduced as honourary chair of the campaign. 

The CAEF was established in 1982 as the Alberta CA profession’s non-profit foundation to support business and accounting education across the province.

Centennial celebrations come to a close

Twelve months of ICAA centennial activities are winding down in style. Members of the ICAA Centennial Ambassador team have been spreading CA good will throughout the province. In September, Gerry Coakwell FCA, of High River, announced that local accountants collected over $23,000 that will be shared by Foothills School Division and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools to fund a $1,500 scholarship each year.

In addition, the ICAA hosted a centennial edition of the Battle of Alberta CAs silent auction and networking event, held simultaneously in Edmonton and Calgary on October 16—the day of the second regular season meeting of the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. Between the two events, almost $5,000 was raised for the Flames Foundation for Life and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.  

The ICAA has celebrated its 100^th birthday through a variety of activities in 2010. Some of the events have included a centennial conference in Jasper, a speaker’s series, and the ICAA Centennial Spur-tacular in support of the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation of Alberta.

New CA Training Offices welcomed into the fold

The ICAA would like to congratulate the following organizations on recently being approved as CA Training Offices (CATOs): Ensign Energy Services Inc.; Grant MacEwan University; Grant Thornton LLP Taxation (Calgary and Edmonton offices); North American Construction Group; and Thompson Bros. Construction Ltd.

They join other Alberta organizations already training CA students in the corporate or public sector. A complete list of these CATOs is available at www.CATOadvantage.ca.

To learn more about the new CA training opportunities please contact James Filice ca, Manager, CA Training Office Program at j.filice@icaa.ab.ca.

English Language course offered in Calgary and Edmonton

The ICAA is offering its Writing English for Success in the Workplace course in both Calgary and Edmonton in January 2011. The course was developed specifically for CA students, other accounting students and accountants whose first language is not English. It provides the opportunity for students who like to practice their English writing skills in a supportive environment while learning the basics of Canadian business culture. This seminar has eight sessions that run for three hours every Tuesday evening, starting January 18. Design and launch of the course was made possible by a grant from the Government of Alberta’s Foreign Qualification Recognition Innovation Fund.

Honouring business excellence

Mike Shaikh FCA, centre, was recognized with the University of Calgary's Management Alumni Excellence (MAX) Award on November 16. He's pictured with Dr. Bob Schultz (left), a U of C professor, and Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary.

This year, a member of the Alberta CA profession was recognized with the award—Mike Shaikh FCA, who is currently the Chair of Calgary’s Police Commission. He received the MAX award at a gala held in his honour on November 16.

Mike has been a valuable and active contributor to many of the ICAA’s initiatives and currently sits on the Chartered Accountants Education of Alberta (CAEF) Board, which supports business and accounting education across the province. He also sits on the boards for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Education Matters and the Canadian Association of Police Boards. He has been an honourary counsellor in Canada for the Government of Pakistan since 2004. We offer our warmest congratulations to Mike for earning this award of excellence.

Three Alberta companies were also recently named winners at the annual Corporate Reporting Awards, which are presented by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Nexen Inc. was an industry winner in the oil and gas sector and also received the Award of Excellence for Corporate Governance Disclosure. TransAlta Corporation collected the Award of Excellence in the real estate/utilities and pipeline sector, while Suncor Energy Inc. won the Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development Reporting.

Alberta Business Person of the Year

The Chartered Accountants of Alberta would like to congratulate Don Lowry, President & CEO of EPCOR Utilities Inc., on being named the 2010 Alberta Business Person of the Year.

The ICAA is proud to once again partner with Alberta Venture in presenting the Alberta Business Person of the Year Award. In celebration of its 2010 centennial, the CA profession is the exclusive sponsor of the award this year, which is fitting because the award recognizes and celebrates outstanding business leadership in the province. For 100 years, the CA profession has been protecting the public, providing accounting and business excellence, and adding value to Alberta’s communities. 

Don Lowry will be acknowledged for his achievements in an editorial spread in the December issue of Alberta Venture and at an award luncheon at the Edmonton Westin Hotel, January 20, 2011. Tickets are still available from Alberta Venture. 

www.albertaCAs.ca

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (ICAA) is the self-governing body which regulates approximately 12,000 Alberta CAs and CA students. The ICAA protects the public by setting the most rigorous qualification criteria, and establishing and enforcing the highest professional, ethical and practice standards. CAs play key roles within diverse segments of the economy, including public accounting, business, not-for-profit organizations, and government. Recognized internationally, the CA designation denotes superior financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight and leadership.

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