CPA Alex Bilodeau to be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Alex Bilodeau, double gold medal Olympic champion turned CPA, will be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in October (Getty Images/Cameron Spencer)
Bilodeau inducted into Hall of Fame
Alex Bilodeau, double gold medal Olympic champion turned CPA, will be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in October, along with five other celebrated athletes. The retired freestyle skier made history as the first Canadian athlete to win a gold medal on home soil at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. He won again four years later at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. These days, while crunching numbers, the 31-year-old also mentors young athletes, with hopes of one day coaching.
Toews elected to public office in Alberta
Veteran CPA and businessman Travis Toews was elected into the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, serving as the MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti. In April, he was appointed Alberta’s President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance. Toews will tap into his varied experience in his new position, which includes serving as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association from 2010 to 2012, and co-chair of the Agri-Innovators Committee under then federal agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz.
CPA Peter Gilgan makes single largest donation ever to SickKids
A fellow of CPA Ontario and CEO of Mattamy Homes Peter Gilgan recently donated $100 million to The Hospital for Sick Children through his foundation—the single largest donation the hospital has every received. The funds will be used to build much-needed new facilities including the Patient Support Centre and the Peter Gilgan Family Patient Care Tower. Gilgan’s first donation of $40 million in 2012 helped construct the SickKids Centre for Research and Learning.
Bank of Canada commits to climate-change plan
For the first time in its history, the Bank of Canada released a report—its annual financial system review (FSR)—examining the impact climate change will have on Canada’s financial system. The report analyzes Canada’s resilience, vulnerabilities and risks faced, such as disruptive weather patterns and adapting to a low-carbon global economy. Joining the Network for Greening the Financial System—a global forum of central banks and financial system supervisors monitoring the financial risks of climate change—the central bank committed to building risks into the FSR process and developing a multi-year research plan focused on climate change. CPA Canada and Natural Resources Canada, through the Network for Business Sustainability, collaborated on an initiative to help CPAs realize the role they can play guiding organizations and clients in climate adaptation and resilience. CPA Canada has also published a paper that provides insights on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, and how Canadian companies can implement these, discussed during a workshop with members of the Canadian CFO Leadership Network, and hosted by CPA Canada.
Cayman Island CPAs talk technology
How accountants can use cyber tools as pilots for their evolving businesses was the buzz topic at a learning session—How Technology Impacts the Accounting Profession—hosted by CPA Canada’s Cayman Islands Chapter last month. Led by award-winning internet analyst, Garrett Wasny, local CPAs discussed how technology and economic forces are changing accountants’ daily practices and the profession overall.
CPA Canada’s Pivot wins Best B2B Magazine award
Pivot Magazine—CPA Canada’s flagship publication—took away six gold awards, including Best Magazine, at the National Magazine Awards: B2B last month. The bi-monthly publication—produced in partnership with Strategic Content Labs, a division of St. Joseph’s Communications—reaches close to 250,000 CPAs and business leaders across Canada and around the world. It features articles tailored to the interests of CPAs and Canada’s business community.
Thomas named one of 2019’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting
Joy Thomas, CPA Canada’s chief executive officer, was among 25 women leaders honoured at the 2019 Most Powerful Women in Accounting Awards, which took place in Las Vegas earlier this month. The annual awards—put on this year by the American Institute of CPAs and CPA Practice Advisor—recognizes women who are a driving force behind their firms creating innovative culture or developing empowering technologies, demonstrate leadership with impactful success and are mentors. Read Thomas’ reaction to the award in an interview with CPA Practice Advisor.