Celebrating Achievement · 2017-11-23 · Celebrating Achievement 2014/2015 Honourees FCAs Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Honorary CA Recipient FEBRUARY 2015 Member Recognition

Celebrating Achievement2014/2015 HonoureesFCAs

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Honorary CA Recipient

FEBRUARY 2015

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CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 3CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 3

Dan Little, CPA, FCA, ICABC Council President

Congratulations!As the ICABC’s Council president

for 2014/2015, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the 35 individuals whose outstanding professional and community achievements are profiled in this second instalment of CPABC’s Member Recognition Supplement.

Just as the first issue of the supplement featured the final roster of legacy award winners for CGA-BC and CMABC, this second issue features the final roster of legacy honourees for the ICABC: 30 FCAs, four Lifetime Achievement Award winners, and one Honorary CA. The next issue will mark another milestone, as it will feature the first set of honourees from the new, integrated CPABC member recognition program.

Once again, my congratulations to each of the honourees profiled on the following pages. You have brought tremendous distinction to the accounting profession.

CONTENTS

3 NOTE FROM THE ICABC PRESIDENT

4 ICABC FELLOWS

35 ICABC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

40 HONORARY CA RECIPIENT

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CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 5

ICABC FELLOWSHIP

The FCA designation

recognizes a member’s

distinction in more than one

of the following categories:

the work of the Institute

or a similar professional

association, their career,

community service, and

research, teaching, writing,

and/or speaking. Thirty

members were chosen for

Fellowship in 2014/2015.

>>>

Katherine Angus, CPA, FCAKatherine is the CFO of Joey Restaurant Group (Joey), a Canadian company with locations in four provinces and in Washington state. Having guided the company’s success during a period of rapid growth, she is currently helping to plan its further expansion into the US market.

Katherine became a CA in 1990 while working with KPMG. She also holds the CBV designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (1995). Before joining Joey in 2007, she was the CFO of A&B Sound, and served as a critical adviser during the company’s restructuring and sale.

Katherine has been a valued member of the ICABC’s Professional Conduct Enquiry Committee for the past six years. She has also contributed to the profession by promoting accountancy as a promising career option to female high school students.

Deeply dedicated to her community, Katherine spends much of her spare time on the soccer field, whether as a player, referee, or coach. She also referees synchronized swimming and volunteers at water polo matches. Katherine is also a regular contributor to the Salvation Army Harbour Lights in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and helped Joey Restaurant Group launch a program with the Salvation Army to feed those in need—Joey has since replicated the program in communities across Canada and in Washington state.

ICABC Fellows

6 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 7CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 76 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015

Olin Anton, CPA, FCAOlin has led Deloitte’s audit practice in BC since 2004, with the exception of a two-year period during which he led the firm’s Vancouver office. He specializes in serving large public companies in the resource, technology, and telecommunications industries.

Olin earned his CA designation in 1978, while articling with Arthur Andersen & Co. After a three-year secondment in Lisbon, Portugal, Olin returned to the firm’s Vancouver office, where he became a partner in 1988. He subsequently led Arthur Andersen’s audit practice from 1990 until 2002, when the firm joined Deloitte & Touche.

Olin has given a great deal to the accounting profession through his leadership and mentorship of generations of CAs, and through his dedicated service at the board level. He currently serves on the ICABC Council and on the board of governors of the CA Education Foundation. His past contributions include serving on the ICABC’s Audit Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee to the BC Securities Commission and Vancouver Stock Exchange, and the Discipline Tribunal.

Highly active in the community as well, Olin has volunteered his leadership to numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations, including the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Vancouver Academy of Music, the Business Laureates of BC Hall of Fame, and the Vancouver Enterprise Forum.

ICABC Fellows

Peter Barnes, CPA, FCAPeter is a corporate director for several public companies and start-ups, including Deep Green Resources and MAG Silver Corp. He also regularly provides mentorship to management at development-stage companies.

Peter earned his CA designation in the United Kingdom in 1980 while articling with Deloitte. He joined the Alberta and BC institutes in 1983 and 1988, respectively.

After a total of 15 years with Deloitte in the UK, Alberta, and BC, Peter made the move into industry. He subsequently played an instrumental role in building two of the world’s premier precious metals companies, Goldcorp and Silver Wheaton, leading both to exceptional

growth. Along the way, he also provided leadership to the Silver Institute, serving on its board and executive committee.

In 2010, Peter received two Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards: the Pacific Region Award for Mining & Metals and a Special Citation Award for Innovative Global Strategies. He received an honorary doctor of science in economics from the University of Hull (England) in 2012 and was named Deloitte Alumnus of the Year in 2013.

Deeply committed to community service, Peter has dedicated countless hours to supporting the homeless in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He has also served on the board of BC Special Olympics and various other not-for-profit organizations.

ICABC Fellows



Rod Barr, CPA, FCARod is the past president and CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO). In addition to overseeing this organization’s transition into CPA Ontario, he oversaw the adoption of the CPA designation in Ontario and played a lead role in merger negotiations with the Ontario CMA and CGA bodies.

Rod previously held a variety of leadership roles with Deloitte in North America—among them, the role of national securities partner, which he held from 1996 to 2008.

Rod has also been a highly active leader in the accounting profession. His innumerable contributions in BC, Ontario, and nationally include serving on both

the ICABC and ICAO councils, chairing the CICA Board of Examiners and the Inter-Provincial Education Group, and helping to establish the School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo.

In the community, he has given back as a coach of minor hockey and as a trustee of the Georgian Heights Cottagers Association.

Rod became a CA in Ontario in 1972 and joined the ICABC in 1987. He was elected to the Ontario Fellowship in 1988. Rod is also the recipient of two Alumni Achievement awards from the University of Waterloo—the first from the Faculty of Arts in 2007, and the second from the School of Accounting and Finance in 2014.

ICABC Fellows

Tara Benham, CPA, FCATara is a partner with Hayes Stewart Little & Co. (HSL) in Duncan and leader of the firm’s tax practice.

She became a CA in 1997 while articling with Ernst & Young in Victoria, and went on to become a senior tax manager with KPMG before joining HSL in 2004.

Highly respected for her tax expertise, Tara has been a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation since 1997. In 2010, she founded a tax forum for six Canadian firms (including HSL) that are members of JHI International, a global network of independent accounting, business advisory, and financial consulting firms.

An active member of the ICABC, Tara has contributed to the profession through service on the Young CA and Taxation forums and the Practice Review & Licensing Committee. She has also given recruiting presentations to university students on behalf of the profession.

Highly active in the community as well, Tara currently serves on the board of directors of the BC Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Chamber’s finance and governance committees. She also chairs the finance committee for Queen of Angels School in Duncan, and is a board director and finance committee member for the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation.

ICABC Fellows



David (Dave) Brownlie, CPA, FCADave is the CEO of Whistler Blackcomb Holdings. He has been integral to the growth and development of the resort and the community for over 26 years.

Dave became a CA in 1988 while working in KPMG’s audit practice. The following year, he left KPMG to join Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises as director of finance.

Among his many professional accomplishments, Dave co-led the integration of Blackcomb and Whistler Mountain into Whistler Blackcomb in 1997, and subsequently served as senior VP of finance before becoming president and COO. He later led deal negotiations

with VANOC to secure Whistler Blackcomb as the official venue for all alpine skiing events for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. And since 2010, he has worked with community stakeholders to build up Whistler’s summer business; this has included the development of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, a year-round attraction that opened in December 2008.

Dave also contributes to his community as a dedicated volunteer. He is president of the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, which has raised over $8.3 million for Sea to Sky charities since 1992; he serves as an adviser to the Minister’s Council on Tourism; and he is a director with Tourism Whistler. His outstanding service garnered him the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

ICABC Fellows

Calvin (Cal) Buss, CPA, FCACal is the global audit quality and transformation leader for Deloitte worldwide. He has provided assurance and advisory services to organizations in the telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, and equipment industries for over 30 years.

Originally a CA in Manitoba, Cal joined the ICABC in 2002, after moving to BC to serve as managing partner for Deloitte Vancouver. He joined the ICAO six years later, after relocating to Ontario to serve as managing partner of Deloitte’s audit practice in Canada.

Cal has contributed to the accounting profession throughout his career. In addition to teaching accounting at the

University of Manitoba, he was a founding board member of the CA School of Business, served on the council and the executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba, and served as a member and chair of the board of governors of the CA Education Foundation of BC. He currently serves on the Canadian Auditing & Assurance Standards Oversight Council.

Also a longstanding contributor to his community, Cal currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, the Major Individual Gifts Cabinet for the United Way of Toronto, and the Faculty Advisory Board for the Sauder School of Business at UBC.

Cal became an FCA in Manitoba in 1999 and an FCA in Ontario in 2011.

ICABC Fellows



William (Bill) Cox, CPA, FCABill is an audit and assurance partner with BDO Canada’s Vancouver office. Well known for his not-for-profit and public sector expertise, Bill has led the firm’s growing practices in these areas since 2001.

Bill became a CA in 1986 while working with Dunwoody & Co., one of BDO’s predecessor firms. He became a partner in 1992.

Bill’s considerable contributions to the accounting profession throughout his career include acting as a media contact for CPABC on government finance issues and serving as an external auditor for both the ICABC and CMABC. He previously served on the ICABC Board of Examiners

and on the CICA/CIA (Canadian Institute of Actuaries) Joint Task Force. Bill is also a longstanding member of both the Government Finance Officers

Association and the Government Organizations Accounting and Auditing Forum, and has served on the Joint Accounting Standards Board/Public Sector Accounting Board Non-Profit Organization Task Force since 2010. In 2014, he was appointed to the Public Sector Accounting Board.

A passionate contributor to the community, Bill currently serves on the executive committee of PAL Vancouver, a not-for-profit society that provides low-cost accommodation for retired participants in the arts. He is also a long-time contributor to the Museum of Vancouver, having served on the executive since 2005.

ICABC Fellows

John Crawford, CPA, FCAJohn is the senior VP, CFO, and chief risk officer for Pacific Blue Cross and BC Life & Casualty Company. He has overseen the company’s finance, underwriting, and actuarial functions since playing a key role in the creation of Pacific Blue Cross in 1997.

John became a CA in Scotland in 1979 and joined the BC Institute in 1982. He has been a steady contributor to the ICABC for more than 25 years, and currently chairs the Discipline Tribunal. Past contributions include serving on Council and on the Audit, Education, and Professional Conduct Enquiry committees.

John’s involvement in the Canadian insurance industry is equally substantial. He has served on various committees for the Canadian Health and Insurance Association since 2007, and has served on the board of the Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corporation since 2012. He also serves as treasurer of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans.

Highly active in the community as well, John has served as master tally of the BC Children’s Telethon since 1988, and is currently president of the board of the Burnaby Family Life Institute. He is also a member of Financial Executives International (Vancouver Chapter) and serves as the local contact for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, which has more than 50 members in BC.

ICABC Fellows



John Desjardins, CPA, FCAOver the past 25 years, John has built an international reputation as one of Canada’s top experts on forestry-related accounting issues.

Since 2002, he has served as the national forestry leader for KPMG. Among his other leadership roles with the firm, which he joined in 1989, John served as partner-in-charge of the Greater Vancouver audit practice for seven years and as partner-in-charge of corporate governance matters for 10 years.

Highly active in the profession, John currently volunteers as a judge for the CPA Canada Corporate Reporting Awards, as a member of the CPABC Public Accounting Working Group, and

as chair of the ICABC Practice Review & Licensing Committee. He is also a regular lecturer for the Institute of Corporate Directors, teaching the Audit Committee Effectiveness course and modules for the Director’s Education Program.

Equally active in the community, John volunteers considerable time each year to support the United Way of the Lower Mainland’s annual fundraising campaign as campaign leader for KPMG Vancouver. The office has contributed over $1.7 million to the United Way over the past several years, and John has been a driving force behind this success. Passionate about hockey and amateur sports, he also gives back to the community by volunteering as a coach and manager for West Vancouver’s minor hockey program.

ICABC Fellows

David Gandossi, CPA, FCASince becoming a CA in 1982, David has established himself as an innovative leader in the forest industry.

David currently serves as executive VP, CFO, and secretary of Mercer International Inc. Under his tenure over the last 12 years, Mercer has grown from a small entrepreneurial company operating one pulp mill and three paper mills in Europe to a large multi-national company that is now the world’s largest producer of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp.

Prior to joining Mercer, he held leadership roles with Harmac Pacific, Pacifica Papers, and Formation Forest Products.

David has also provided leadership in the forestry sector as chair of the National Research Advisory Committee for FPInnovations and as co-chair of the BC Bio-Economy Transformation Committee. He currently chairs the BC Pulp and Paper Task Force, and serves as a director of FPInnovations, the Forest Products Association of Canada, and the Council of Forest Industries in BC.

David has been a valued contributor to the ICABC as well, having served on the Discipline Tribunal and on the board of examiners, the board of governors, and the board of reference of the School of Chartered Accountancy. He has also given back to the community at large as a volunteer with various charitable organizations, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

ICABC Fellows



Sandy Hilton, CPA, FCASandy is the director of professional education programs for CPA Canada. Prior to taking on this role in 2013, he was a senior accounting instructor for UBC Okanagan.

Sandy became a CA in 1998, and went on to earn a PhD in accounting from the University of Waterloo (2003) and a master of education from the University of BC (2013).

Widely recognized for his dedication to excellence in professional accounting education, Sandy has been a steady contributor to the accounting profession. At the national level, his contributions have included chairing both the CICA Competency Map Committee and the

Canadian Academic Accounting Association’s Education Committee, and serving on the CICA Branding Task Force. At the provincial level, his contributions have included serving on the ICABC Council and on the board of governors of the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation. While serving on the latter, he was responsible for new initiatives designed to support accounting educators across the province.

Sandy has also written extensively on accounting and education issues. Also active in the community, Sandy volunteers on the board of the Canadian

Mental Health Association’s BC Division. He is also a past board member for the United Way of the Central and South Okanagan.

ICABC Fellows

Gerry Humphries, CPA, FCABefore taking on his current role as a partner with WMC (Western Management Consultants) in 2005, Gerry was a partner with Ernst & Young Consulting/Capgemini EY—a practice area he’d helped build while serving as partner-in-charge of the human resources consulting practice for EY Vancouver. Throughout his career, he has consulted in the areas of strategic planning, governance, executive search, IT, and finance.

Over the past 20 years, Gerry has made tremendous contributions to the Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CMC-Canada), holding a variety of leadership roles provincially, nationally, and internationally. In recognition of his

service, he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of BC in 2001 and received CMC-Canada’s Golden Jubilee Award in 2013.

Also a tireless volunteer in the community, Gerry currently chairs the Investment Committee for the Endowment Fund of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, and is a board member and past chair of the West Vancouver Community Foundation. He previously served on the boards of West Vancouver United Church and the North Shore Counselling Centre.

Gerry became a CA in 1978, and is one of five CAs in the Humphries family. He is also its third FCA—grandfather Thomas was an FCA in Alberta, and cousin Bill is an FCA in BC.

ICABC Fellows



Andrew Jackson, CPA, FCAAndrew has been a partner with Trenholme & Company Chartered Accountants in Victoria for nearly 30 years, and has served as the firm’s office managing partner since 2007.

He became a CA in 1982 while articling with Trenholme Winterbottom & Co. in Victoria. After the firm merged with Clarkson Gordon, Andrew transferred to the Calgary office, where he worked as a tax manager. In 1985, he returned to Victoria to become a partner with Bill Trenholme in what is now Trenholme & Company.

A highly regarded general practitioner and a skilled communicator, Andrew has lectured on a number of tax-related topics

for the Victoria Law Centre and the Victoria Real Estate Board.He has also provided exceptional leadership in the community, volunteering as a

coach of Victoria-area youth soccer teams and serving on the boards of several prominent local organizations, including the Greater Victoria Public Library, for which he served as chair, and the Greater Victoria YM-YWCA, for which he served as treasurer. Since 2010, he has volunteered as a board member, treasurer, and committee chair for the Victoria Foundation, which currently manages over $200 million in assets.

Andrew’s outstanding contributions to the community garnered him an ICABC Community Service Award in 2014.

ICABC Fellows

Russell (Russ) Jones, CPA, FCARuss is the deputy auditor general of BC. While working with the Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia for nearly 30 years, he has held a variety of leadership roles, including that of acting auditor general in 2013.

Through his work on a wide range of high-profile and often contentious projects, Russ helped establish the BC office as a national and international leader in public sector auditing. He also played a key role in transitioning all BC government entities to the public sector accounting standards (PSAS).

Russ used his expertise on PSAS to oversee the development of related curriculum for the CA School of

Business (CASB). His contributions to the accounting profession also include a decade of service as a CASB facilitator. Today, he continues to serve on the ICABC Bylaws Committee and on the Public Sector Accounting Board.

His extensive volunteerism in the community includes seven years of service with Operation Track Shoes, an annual event that brings developmentally disabled individuals together for a weekend of sporting events. Russ has also served on the finance committee of Lambrick Park Church since 2007, and was treasurer of the Gordon Head Soccer Association (now Saanich Fusion FC) for 15 years.

ICABC Fellows



Kelly Lohn, CPA, FCAKelly is a partner with Lohn Caulder in Vancouver, where he specializes in taxation and related financial planning.

He became a CA in 1974 while articling with Touche Ross, and branched out on his own in 1980 with the launch of Lohn & Company. The practice, which evolved into Lohn Caulder, is now the Vancouver representative of BKR International, a global affiliation of accounting firms. Kelly is the founding chair of the Canadian Tax Committee for BKR International, and the only Canadian serving on its Medical Health Industry Committee.

Kelly has given back to the accounting profession at the provincial and national levels. His contributions at the provincial

level include chairing the ICABC’s Public Practice Forum and serving on the Task Force on Investment Advice. His contributions at the national level include serving on the PrimePlus Eldercare Task Force, the Financial Literacy Committee, and the Small and Medium-Sized Practices Advisory Group for the CICA.

Kelly is a lecturer and speaker on taxation and financial planning issues, and provides commentary to local media outlets.

In the community, Kelly currently volunteers as treasurer of the West Vancouver Boy Scouts. He is also a past treasurer for St. Francis in the Wood Anglican Church in West Vancouver.

ICABC Fellows

George Mason, CPA, FCAGeorge is a partner, business adviser, and income tax specialist with Meyers Norris Penny (MNP). He previously served as the firm’s regional tax leader.

George became a CA in 1979 while articling with Thorne Riddell. He later became a tax partner with Thorne Ernst and Whinney and then Peat Marwick Thorne before joining Snowsell Jennens & Carter (a predecessor of MNP) in 1991.

Over the past four decades, George has been a teacher, mentor, and role model for countless young CAs, both at his firm and in the Central Okanagan region. He has also contributed to the accounting profession as an instructor for the ICABC professional development

program and as a seminar leader for the CICA. George’s professional excellence is matched by his commitment to community

service. He has served on the boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations in the Kelowna and Central Okanagan region, including the Central Okanagan United Way and the Central Okanagan Foundation. Today, he serves as director and chair of the finance committee for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, which is currently undertaking a campaign to raise $12 million for a new cardiology and surgical centre.

ICABC Fellows



Laird Miller, CPA, FCALaird is the CFO of London Drugs Ltd. and corporate secretary for H.Y. Louie Co. Ltd. He is also the chief financial officer of Sonora Resort, a BC luxury wilderness resort, and London Air Services, an executive charter airline.

Laird became a CA in 1989, and began his career with one of Deloitte’s predecessor firms. He went on to serve as senior audit manager for Deloitte Canada before joining H.Y. Louie in 1996 as director of audit services. Laird took on the role of corporate secretary with London Drugs in 1998, and became CFO in 2000.

As vice-chair of the board of Destination BC, Laird shares his insights into the

marketing and expansion of BC’s tourism sector. He also contributes to the tourism sector as chair of Destination BC’s audit committee. In addition, Laird is a past member of the Minister’s Council on Tourism for BC.

To help develop the next generation of business professionals, Laird volunteers as a mentor for the Vancouver Board of Trade’s “Leaders of Tomorrow” program. He has also volunteered as a speaker with the ICABC CA Speaker Series with the Vancouver Board of Trade.

ICABC Fellows

Keri Norrie, CPA, FCAKeri is an accounting instructor at Camosun College, and has chaired its accounting department since 2013.

She became a CA in 1988, and also holds a CGA designation, earned in 2008. Prior to joining Camosun College in 1994, she was a manager with Ernst & Young.

In her leadership role at Camosun, Keri has developed and taught an innovative capstone course for the college’s BBA- Accounting program, and has worked with six local secondary schools to develop a dual-credit introductory accounting program that enables high school students to obtain post-secondary credit at Camosun. Keri has also developed, reviewed, and contributed instructional

materials for introductory and advanced financial accounting textbooks. Keri currently contributes to the accounting profession as a co-author, instructor,

lead facilitator, and session leader of newly developed CPA modules and workshop materials. She previously served as an instructor and facilitator for CGA-BC, CMABC, and the CA School of Business (CASB), and was selected as a presiding officer for CASB in Victoria in 2008.

In both 2007 and 2013, Keri received a NISOD Excellence Award for teaching from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development.

ICABC Fellows



Douglas (Doug) Parkhurst, CPA, FCADoug owns KMA Chartered Accountants in Nanaimo. He began his career at Coopers & Lybrand in 1991, and became a CA in 1994.

Well known for his long-standing commitment to education, Doug was a key member of the development team that created the CA School of Business (CASB). In addition to serving as its director of facilitation and review, he was the designer and head of the Facilitator Training Program and a member of the first- and second-generation curriculum teams. Doug was instrumental in the development of a comprehensive competency-based evaluation model for the five core modules of the CASB program. In 2006, he received

the first-ever George C. Baxter Award for Excellence in Learning Materials Development.Doug has also distinguished himself through his contributions to the District of Lantzville,

which include leading the strategic planning for the establishment of the municipality, serving on its inaugural council, and completing two additional terms as a municipal councillor. Prior to this, he was the trustee responsible for the fire department and participated in the community’s financial management.

Doug was also instrumental in the establishment of Aspengrove School and served as treasurer of the Central Island Independent School Society. He has also given back to the community as a Beaver and Cub Scouts leader, and as a softball coach.

ICABC Fellows

Shelagh Rinald, CPA, FCAShelagh is the president of Rinald Tax Advisory in Victoria. She specializes in tax planning with a focus on corporate restructuring and estate planning for family businesses from a succession and wealth transition perspective. She also provides tax advice to legal and accounting firms to assist them in addressing the complex tax issues faced by their clients.

Shelagh earned her CA designation in 1989. Prior to launching her practice in 2008, she worked with KPMG and Grant Thornton. For the latter, her roles included partner in charge of the Victoria tax practice and leader of the National Succession and Estate Planning Team.

She has made a variety of contributions to the accounting profession. These include serving as an instructor for the ICABC and tutor for CPA Canada, and co-authoring papers for the Canadian Tax Foundation and STEP Canada. Shelagh is also a frequent speaker on tax planning for family businesses.

She is also deeply committed to her community, and has held many roles on the boards of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (Vancouver Island chapter) and Glenlyon Norfolk School. In 2012, she was named “Business Person of the Year” by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

ICABC Fellows

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Rozmin Sayani, CPA, FCARozmin is the owner and founder of Rozmin Sayani Inc. in Vancouver.

She became a CA in BC in 1984, while working at the Vancouver office of Ernst & Young (EY). Prior to launching her own practice in 1995, Rozmin rose through the ranks at EY, becoming a principal in its Entrepreneurial Services Group. She also served on various committees for the firm, including the team that introduced EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program in BC.

Over the past 30 years, Rozmin has made a significant contribution to the accounting profession, serving on a number of ICABC committees and on a national CICA task force. She currently

serves on the ICABC’s Professional Conduct Enquiry Committee.Rozmin also gives generously to the community. She and her family arrived in

Vancouver in 1973 after fleeing Uganda, and the assistance they received from various organizations when they settled in Canada left a lasting impression, inspiring her to give back. She has volunteered with a variety of not-for-profits, including MOSAIC, the North Shore Multicultural Board, the Harvard Business Simulation Game, the Vancouver Institute, Leadership Vancouver, and the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises. Rozmin has also donated her professional expertise to the grants and review board within the Ismaili community, and presented to numerous organizations and associations.

ICABC Fellows

Ann Cameron Scott, CPA, FCAAnn is a partner with Presley & Partners in Courtenay, where she specializes in providing business improvement consulting and cloud accounting services. She became a CA in 1981, and joined the partnership of Presley & Partners in 1984.

Ann has been a strong advocate for post- secondary education on Vancouver Island for many years. Between 2002 and 2007, she volunteered at the board level with North Island College, chairing the Audit, Executive, and President’s Performance and Compensation committees, and serving for two years as board chair. She subsequently served on the board of Vancouver Island University for six years, chairing its Audit and Finance

committees, and serving as board chair in 2013-2014.Ann has also given back to the accounting profession, serving as president of the

Courtenay/Campbell River CA Association and as a member of the ICABC Task Force on Investment Advice.

Highly active in her community, Ann has volunteered on the boards of numerous local not-for-profit organizations, including the Comox Valley United Way, Comox Valley Toastmasters, Courtenay Youth Music Camp, and the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society – BC.

In 2012, Ann received the Professional Merit Award from the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce for her professional and community service. In 2014, she received the Master Adviser Award from the Thriving Firm Organization.

ICABC Fellows



Bruce Sinclair, CPA, FCABruce is the leader of the Vancouver tax group for Blakes Cassels and Graydon.

He began his career in 1978, articling with Coopers & Lybrand, and became a CA two years later, after earning BC’s bronze medal on the UFE.

Bruce worked at Coopers & Lybrand for 13 years then joined Sheinin and Company, where he became a tax partner. After 10 years with Sheinin and Co., he joined Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and served as tax partner and head of its national tax group for another five years. In 2008, he took on his current role with Blakes Cassels and Graydon.

Deeply committed to tax education and professional development, Bruce

has served on the program committees for two BC tax conferences. He has also been highly active with the Canadian Tax Foundation, serving on its board of governors and executive committee, and authoring and coauthoring a variety of articles and presentations.

In addition, Bruce co-authored Taxation of Canadian Mining Income (1990), and taught a number of professional development courses for the ICABC.

In recognition of his expertise, Bruce was named to Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Tax Advisers in 2012.

ICABC Fellows

G. Leslie (Les) Squire, CPA, FCALes is the owner and founder of Squire and Company in Abbotsford.

Les became a CA in 1993 while articling with Deloitte and Touche in Langley. Prior to forming his own practice in 1998, he spent some time in industry and then worked for several years with BDO Dunwoody.

A longstanding member of the ICABC professional development committee, Les has played a lead role in bringing professional development courses to Abbotsford, to the benefit of hundreds of accountants working and living in the region. As a founding member of the Fraser Valley CA Association, he has also worked tirelessly to bring peers in

the Fraser Valley region together. For his efforts on behalf of the profession, Les received the ICABC’s Ritchie McCloy Award in 2008.

Also deeply involved in the community at large, Les currently volunteers as treasurer of the Mission Community Foundation. In addition, he was a founding member of the Estate Planning Council of Abbotsford and served as a director of the Seniors Healthy Aging Resource Society and the Langley Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, he participated as a rider and fundraiser for the Biking for Bibles event, a 725.6-kilometre bike ride across BC and Alberta.

ICABC Fellows



Peter Swinton, CPA, FCAAt the time of his passing, Peter was a partner with the Vancouver office of PricewaterhouseCoopers and leader of its assurance group.

He began his articles with Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) in 1987, earned BC’s silver medal on the 1988 UFE, and became a CA in 1991. Within just four years of earning his designation, he made partner, marking one of the fastest admissions to partnership in the firm’s history.

Peter went on to serve some of PwC’s largest clients in BC, while at the same time providing invaluable mentorship to numerous young professionals. He also found time to contribute to the accounting profession as a long-time member and

chair of the ICABC’s PD Audit & Accounting Program Committee. Peter was highly active in the community as well. Passionate about environmental

conservation, he volunteered with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for a total of 15 years, which included 12 years of service as a board director and treasurer. During his time on the board, the Foundation grew into a multimillion-dollar charitable organization offering a broad range of programs on the West Coast. Peter also volunteered as co-chair of the accounting division for the United Way of the Lower Mainland’s Campaign Cabinet.

Peter passed away suddenly in May 2014, following a cycling accident. He is very deeply missed.

ICABC Fellows

Nolan Watson, CPA, FCANolan is the president and CEO of both Sandstorm Gold, an NYSE-listed company with a market valuation of over $500 million, and Sandstorm Metals and Energy.

Nolan earned BC’s gold medal on the 2002 UFE and became a CA the following year. In 2005, after working in corporate finance with Deloitte Vancouver, he left public practice to join Silver Wheaton Corp. as controller. Nolan was promoted to CFO within a year, and subsequently became the youngest CFO of an NYSE-listed company in history. In 2008, he founded Sandstorm Gold.

Nolan is equally accomplished in the charitable sector. In 2004, he founded Nations Cry, an international

humanitarian organization that builds schools and provides education for children in Sierra Leone. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class of 2014, a community of next-generation leaders aiming to make the world a better place.

Nolan has received numerous accolades to date, including an ICABC Early Achievement Award, a BC CEO of the Year Award from Business in Vancouver, and the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was named to the Casey List as one of the “Top Ten Rising Stars in the National Resource Sector” in 2008 and made the Globe and Mail’s Top 40 Under 40 list in 2011.

ICABC Fellows



Eric Watt, CPA, FCAEric built a 35-year career with KPMG that culminated in his role as audit partner of the financial institutions practice for the Greater Vancouver Area. He retired from public practice in 2012.

Eric became a CA in 1974 while articling with Wolrige Mahon & Company. He joined KPMG in 1977, and was admitted to the firm’s partnership five years later. During his outstanding career with KPMG, Eric worked with the firm’s offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and New York.

Eric has contributed extensively to the accounting profession. He has served on the ICABC Council for the past four years, providing leadership during the

unification process. Eric is also a member of the ICABC Audit Committee, and has served as its chair since 2012. His past contributions include serving on the board of governors of the School of Chartered Accountancy.

Equally committed to giving back in the community, Eric has a lengthy history of volunteerism. His current contributions include serving on the boards of the Knowledge Network Corporation, the Rick Hansen Foundation, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, and the Children’s Arts Umbrella Foundation.

ICABC Fellows

Robert (Rob) Watts, CPA, FCARob is the managing partner of Rolfe, Benson Chartered Accountants in Vancouver.

It was while articling with Rolfe, Benson that Rob became a CA in 1990. This was followed by a two-year secondment in London, England with a firm that was then an international affiliate. He returned to Rolfe, Benson in 1992, joined the partnership in 1996, and became managing partner in 2003.

Rob has volunteered with the ICABC for nearly 20 years, contributing to a variety of committees, forums, and special projects, including the Practice Review & Licensing Committee, on which he served as vice-chair.

He has also made tremendous contributions to the community, having served on the boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations. Rob currently serves as chair of the Social Enterprise Committee for Family Services of Greater Vancouver and secretary-treasurer of the Coleman Rogers Bursary Fund. His past contributions include serving as president of the Western Gold Theatre Society, the Vancouver Club, and the New Directions Business Re-training Association, and chairing the fundraising committee for the Camp Artaban Society. He is also a founding member of the Tsawwassen Community Association.

Rob received the Bert Emery Award from the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce in 1996, in recognition of his community service.

ICABC Fellows


34 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 201534 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015

Carrie Yu, CPA, FCACarrie is an assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Hong Kong, specializing in the retail and consumer industry.

Carrie earned her CA designation in 1994 while working with Coopers & Lybrand in Vancouver, and subsequently relocated to PwC Hong Kong, where she became a partner in 1996.

Carrie led the China and Asia Pacific division of PwC’s retail and consumer practice area for 10 years, and led the global division for four. She made inroads as the first Chinese woman to serve on PwC’s Global Board of Partners, and had the distinction of representing the firm in Switzerland at the World Economic

Forum’s Governors Meetings for the food and beverage and retail and consumer goods industries. Today, she continues to speak at key international events.

In the community, Carrie contributes as a member of the Zonta Club of Hong Kong East, as an honorary adviser for the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, and as the founder and chair of the Hang Yan Chain Store Education Foundation.

Carrie was chosen as one of China’s top 100 outstanding female entrepreneurs in 2011, and received the China Economic Development Woman of the Year Award in 2012. She is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs and a Fellow of the Institute of CAs in England and Wales.

ICABC Fellows

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

The ICABC established its

Lifetime Achievement Award

in 2001 to recognize FCAs

who’ve made an indelible

mark in BC (and beyond)

through decades of

professional and volunteer

work. The award is the

Institute’s highest honour.

Four members were

recognized for Lifetime

Achievement in 2014/2015.

>>>



Robin Elliott, CPA, FCARobin has been an outstanding leader in the accounting profession for over 40 years.

He became a CA in 1969 while articling with Coopers & Lybrand, and subsequently joined the firm’s tax group. After a brief foray into industry, Robin returned to public practice in 1977, launching a sole proprietorship. Three years later, he co- founded the firm that has since evolved into Manning Elliott—now one of the largest firms in the Lower Mainland.

Along the way, Robin has given back to the profession through his participation on over a dozen ICABC task forces and committees, 15 years of service on the Discipline Tribunal, and three years of

service on Council, which included a 2002-2003 term as president. He was also a longstanding member of both the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners.

A dedicated volunteer in the community as well, Robin currently serves on the boards of the Audain Foundation, the Audain Museum Foundation, and the Order of St. John Palliative Care Foundation. His past contributions include serving as president of the Arthritis Society of BC and as a board member of the Central City Foundation, the Vancouver Lawn and Tennis and Badminton Club, and the UBC Alumni Association.

Robin was elected to the ICABC Fellowship in 1991.

ICABC Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Bruce Flexman, CPA, FCABruce has made tremendous contributions to the accounting profession as a leader, tax expert, and mentor.

He became a CA in 1978 while articling with KPMG, and went on to hold numerous leadership roles with the firm over the next 30 years—including chair of the Canadian board of directors and Canadian managing tax partner, responsible for approximately 900 tax professionals. After leaving KPMG in 2008, Bruce served as president of AdvantageBC for six years.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bruce was instrumental to the introduction of the GST in Canada through his work as KPMG’s national partner-in-charge of GST, as a technical adviser to the Senate

Banking and Finance Committee, and, on executive exchange, as deputy director general of GST policy and legislation for the Canada Revenue Agency.

Among his myriad contributions to the accounting profession, Bruce served on the ICABC Council and on numerous provincial and national committees, including the CICA Tax Committee, for which he was the first chair.

He is a past governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Business Council of BC, and currently provides leadership on the boards of AdvantageBC, the Vancouver Economic Commission, Providence Health Care Society, Fraserside Community Services, and the Arts Club Theatre Company.

Bruce was elected to the ICABC Fellowship in 2001.




Kenneth (Ken) Mahon, CPA, FCAKen’s story is one of remarkable commitment to his colleagues, peers, and community.

In 1962, just one year after earning BC’s gold medal on the UFE and qualifying as a CA, Ken co-founded Wolrige Mahon Chartered Accountants with partner Alan Wolrige. Together, they built the Vancouver firm into one of the largest independent accounting practices in BC.

Since his retirement from public practice in 1996, Ken has served as chair of the Adera Group, a family owned group of companies.

Over the years, he has volunteered extensively in the accounting profession,

including as a member of the ICABC Council, as the first chair of the Practice Review & Licensing Committee, as a professional development lecturer, and as a governor of the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation.

He has also lent his expertise to more than 40 not-for-profit organizations. Among his numerous contributions, Ken chaired a $5.4-million fundraising campaign to build St. John Hospice at UBC, and served as president of the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, the Vancouver Opera, and the BC Neurological Centre. In recognition of his volunteerism, he received the Order of St. John Medal of Merit, an Honorary Life Directorship from the Vancouver Opera, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

Ken was elected to the ICABC Fellowship in 1983.


Richard Rees, CPA, FCARichard has been a tireless leader in the accounting profession since 1999, when he began serving as CEO of the ICABC. Having been appointed president & CEO of the CPABC Joint Venture in December 2013, he is currently leading the profession’s integration in British Columbia.

Richard is also the first chair of the national CPA Council of Chief Executives and represents Western Canada on the Professional Learning Development Committee and the International Qualifications Advisory Board. In addition, he has been a key player in the development of the CPA Western School of Business and the new CPA certification programs.

Richard began his career with Deloitte Haskins & Sells in London and Vancouver. After a secondment to the BC Rapid Transit Project in the 1980s, he joined the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, where he served as CEO for more than a decade. In 1996, the Financial Post named him one of Canada’s inaugural “Top 40 Under 40.”

Today, Richard’s commitments also include serving on the Sauder School of Business Faculty Advisory Board, the Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Organ Failure Board, and the Vancouver Foundation’s Finance and Audit Committee.

Richard became a CA in England and Wales in 1980. He joined the ICABC in 1983, and became a Fellow in 2000.



CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 41CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015 41

HONORARY CA RECIPIENT

The Honorary CA designation

recognizes non-CAs who

have made outstanding

contributions to the

accounting profession. One

individual was chosen for

this award in 2014/2015.

>>>

Honorary CA Recipient

Barbara Brink, CA (Hon.)Barbara is a highly respected voice in business and the community, having held a range of leadership roles in both sectors.

Currently vice-president of management consulting firm Applied Strategies Ltd., Barbara is perhaps best known as having been the driving force behind Vancouver’s Science World. As board president and CEO, she not only spearheaded a campaign to obtain the iconic Expo Centre building, but also secured $12 million of public sector funding and oversaw a $19-million retrofit.

Since 2011, Barbara has served as a public representative on the ICABC Council, lending her expertise to the accounting profession and providing

valuable input, particularly with regard to the merger initiative. Barbara is also a board member of the Legal Services Society, vice-chair of the West

Vancouver Police board, and co-chair of the Business Laureates of BC Business Hall of Fame. Her past contributions to the community include serving as chair of the West Vancouver Community Centres Society, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, and the United Way of the Lower Mainland.

Barbara is a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia, and a recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal. In 1993, BC Business magazine named her one of the 12 most powerful women in BC.


42 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 201542 CPABC Celebrating Achievement • February 2015

FCAsPhoto of Rod Barr by Andre Van Vugt of Giant Vision. Photo of Dave Brownlie by Brad Kasselman of Coast Mountain Photography. Photo of Cal Buss courtesy of Deloitte Toronto. Photo of Bill Cox courtesy of BDO. Photo of Sandy Hilton by Christian Ryan Photography. Photo of Russ Jones provided by Russ Jones. Photo of George Mason courtesy of MNP. Photo of Shelagh Rinald by Melissa Welsh Photography. Photo of Peter Swinton courtesy of PwC Vancouver. Photo of Carrie Yu courtesy of PwC Hong Kong. All other photos by Kent Kallberg Studios.

Lifetime Achievement AwardsPhotos of Robin Elliott, Bruce Flexman, and Richard Rees by Kent Kallberg Studios. Photo of Ken Mahon provided by Ken Mahon.

Honorary CAPhoto of Barbara Brink by Joel Chamaschuk of Painted Alley Creative.

ICABC Council PresidentPhoto of Dan Little by Kent Kallberg Studios.

Cover image: wavebreakmedia/iStock/Thinkstock

PHOTOS


Member Recognition Supplement_Feb 2015_Michelle.indd 44 2/16/2015 6:38:48 PM

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Celebrating Achievement · 2017-11-23 · Celebrating Achievement 2014/2015 Honourees FCAs Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Honorary CA Recipient FEBRUARY 2015 Member Recognition