Hinton's Xtreme Hot Oil Services receives ICAA-sponsored Small Business Award of Distinction

Doug Sparrow of Xtreme Hot Oil Services receives the Small Business Award of Distinction from Jane Halford FCA, CEO & Executive Director of the ICAA. Photo by SEP Digital.

The Chartered Accountants of Alberta congratulate Xtreme Hot Oil Services, of Hinton, for being selected as recipient of the 2012 Small Business Award of Distinction. The company received the honour—which was sponsored by the ICAA—at the 2012 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction, hosted by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce in Edmonton on March 2.

“It’s no secret that Alberta has earned a reputation across Canada, and across the world, as an emerging leader in Canada. That reputation is due in large part to the success of its small business sector,” says Jane Halford fca, CEO & Executive Director of the ICAA. “I congratulate Xtreme Hot Oil Services on being such a fitting representative for this sector. The company’s management and employees are innovative, driven and dynamic. They strive for success in their business, but also find the time to make a difference in their community.”

For a complete list of 2012 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction recipients, visit http://abbusinessawards.com.

ICAA announces 2012 Merit Award recipients

The Chartered Accountants of Alberta are proud to honour 22 individuals with 2012 Merit Awards for making significant contributions to charitable and community causes, as well as to the CA profession.

Each year, Merit Awards are presented to Chartered Accountants and supporters of the Alberta CA profession. This year’s recipients are being recognized with one of five honours: Honourary Membership, a Lifetime Achievement Award, a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants designation, a Distinguished Service Award or an Early Achievement Award.

Don Bishop Q.C. headlines the list, becoming only the fifth individual to receive Honourary Membership to the ICAA. Mr. Bishop is being recognized for his involvement as a public member on ICAA Council and the CICA (Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants) Public Trust Committee.

Giles Meikle FCA is the lone Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2012. Mr. Meikle has served the profession, both in Alberta and nationally, in a number of valuable forms. He has previously served on ICAA Council, including terms as Vice President and President, and has also served the CICA as a member of the Board of Governors, Executive, Policy Planning Committee, Regulatory Legislation Task Force, Joint CICA/SMA Liaison and Coordination Committees.

Each of the 2012 recipients will be honoured at the 2012 Merit Awards Gala, to be held on June 22 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton. More details on the awards, and each of this year’s recipients, are available here.

ICAA continuing to support internationally trained accountants pursuing CA career path

With assistance from the Government of Alberta’s Foreign Qualification Recognition Innovation Fund Grant Program over the past few years, the ICAA has been able to enhance the Alberta CA profession’s foreign qualifications recognition efforts and build supports for new Canadians interested in the CA career path.

The ICAA is pleased to announce it has again received funding support from this grant program to implement projects in 2012 that will build upon the work already achieved. The ICAA plans to develop a CA Mentorship Program that connects new Canadians with CAs or CA students—acting as volunteer mentors—who provide resources and assistance to new Canadians as they pursue the CA designation.  To inform the program’s development the ICAA will conduct research with new Canadians who are interested in careers as CAs, and gather their opinions about the types of tools and assistance they would find valuable in such a mentorship program.

The ICAA will also conduct a pilot project that tests the national CA profession’s Evaluation of Experience model, a competency-based pathway to the CA designation that is designed to appeal to highly skilled internationally trained professional accountants with senior business or finance experience. The model offers internationally trained accountants an alternative path to a Canadian CA designation by demonstrating that they have developed the competencies expected of a qualified CA through the combination of another professional accounting designation and a rigorous assessment of business experience.

“We have made significant progress in effectively connecting with internationally trained accountants and supporting their transition to the CA career path in Alberta, and this success has been greatly enhanced by the generous funding from the Government of Alberta’s Innovation Fund grant program,” says Jane Halford FCA, CEO and Executive Director of the ICAA. “Together, we are strengthening our province’s capacity to ensure new Canadians thrive as they embrace work and life here in Alberta.”

Previous funding has helped the Institute: establish business and accounting language and culture courses for new Canadians in Edmonton and Calgary; develop a website that provides information about the different paths to the CA designation; launch a new employment webpage that can connect new Canadians with job opportunities or CA training positions; and, offer an online course to assist newcomers in preparing for the CA profession’s Uniform Evaluation (UFE). 

MacEwan Student Business Conference inspires attendees

The ICAA was proud to sponsor the MacEwan School of Business Student Business Conference, March 6 at the Shaw Conference Centre. Photo supplied by Stephen Wan Photography.

The ICAA was title sponsor of the event, which featured keynote addresses by Peter Thum and Bill Comrie. Thum—an American social entrepreneur, business executive, and humanitarian—is the founder of Ethos Water, and former Vice President of Starbucks. Comrie is well known as former CEO and Chairman of the Brick, a company which he transformed from a single Edmonton furniture store to one of Canada’s top retailers.

The conference also included two breakout sessions, a panel discussion—featuring the ICAA’s Nancy McLennan ca, Director of Standards Enforcement—and an afternoon career fair.

Sponsorships like this allow the Institute to raise the profile of the CA profession among Alberta post-secondary students, a key aspect of the ICAA's strategic priority to "grow the profession".

Alberta CAs volunteer for tax clinics

Throughout March and April the ICAA is coordinating Chartered Accountant volunteers to help low-income Albertans complete their tax returns free-of-charge. Clinics are held in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and surrounding areas and run in cooperation with seniors’ homes, community centres, and other not-for-profit agencies. In 2011, over 270 CAs, CA students and other professionals prepared over 2,100 income tax returns for those in need.

As a public service, the ICAA also provides tips designed to provide general advice to Albertans in tax planning and reporting. There are a total of 62 Tax Tips available for the 2011 reporting year. The tips are intended to be used as general guidance. For specific advice about filing your 2011 tax return, please consult with the Canada Revenue Agency or your personal tax professional.

CAEF concluding latest campaign, launching first-ever recognition award

Forward Thinkers Campaign coming to a close

The latest special project of the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation of Alberta (CAEF), Paying It Forward, was launched in September 2010 with the goal of raising $250,000 over a two-year period.  The campaign will fund projects that will help in creating a new money-smart generation of young Albertans. The project will eventually provide opportunities for CAs to share their financial literacy expertise and knowledge by volunteering in Alberta’s classrooms.

The latest Paying it Forward campaign initiative, the Forward Thinkers Club, will be coming to a close at the end of March. Anyone who donates $100 or more to Paying It Forward before March 31 will receive a special pin, certificate and recognition as an official CAEF Forward Thinker.

Those interested in becoming a Forward Thinker can donate online or by phone, by calling Susan Rockwood at 1-800-232-9406. A list of individuals who have already joined the club is available on the Forward Thinkers page of the CAEF website.

Call for Nominations: CAEF Impact Award

The Chartered Accountants Education Foundation of Alberta is establishing the CAEF Impact Award, to recognize those who have contributed to the works and goals of the CAEF.

The CAEF is currently seeking nominations for this honour. Eligibility criteria, important dates, and instructions for nominators are available in the complete nomination package.

www.albertaCAs.ca

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (ICAA) is the self-governing body which regulates more than 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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