Honouring some of the biggest names in the CPA profession

EDMONTON, April 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Forty-one Alberta Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) are being honoured by their profession for their significant contributions to charitable and community causes, as well as to the business community. The names of the 2019 recipients were announced April 8 by CPA Alberta, the regulatory body for the CPA profession.

Notably, two members — Brian Ferguson FCPA, FCA and Robert (Bob) Young FCPA, FCA — have been selected to join the exclusive roster of Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to those CPAs whose continual commitment to the betterment of their profession, their communities, and the organizations they have served is unparalleled. Mr. Ferguson is the former President & CEO of Cenovus, one of Alberta's largest companies, and Mr. Young is a former National Partner of accounting firm KPMG LLP.

"Alberta CPAs make a difference in their communities and in Alberta's business sector," says Rachel Miller FCPA, FCA, CEO of CPA Alberta. "I am in awe of the tremendous contributions of the individuals being honoured with Achievement Awards this year. They have all had an enormous impact on the organizations they have been a part of, and the profession is proud to recognize their achievements and give them some well-deserved recognition."

CPA Alberta Achievement Awards are given in four categories: Lifetime Achievement, Fellows of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA), Distinguished Service, and Early Achievement. Recipients come from a diverse list of industries and organizations from across Alberta.

In addition to the Achievement Award recipients, the CPA Education Foundation, the non-profit foundation that supports business and accounting education across the province, has named the recipient of its 2019 Impact Award: Brian Hesje FCPA, FCA. Mr. Hesje is a well-respected business and community leader and the former CEO and Chair of Fountain Tire. The Foundation's Impact Award honours individuals who support the Foundation's initiatives through their commitment and generosity.

Recipients will formally receive their awards at the 2019 CPA Alberta Elevate Awards Gala, being held on June 8 in Calgary. The gala is just one part of a week-long celebration—Elevate 2019: Celebrating Progress and Achievement—that brings together Alberta CPAs for various events such as: networking events, community volunteer opportunities, and a full-day professional development conference.

A full list of award recipients follows.

Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) is the Canadian business and accounting designation representing more than 200,000 professional accountants across the country. As part of the CPA profession in Canada, CPA Alberta is the professional organization for more than 29,000 CPAs across the province.

Backgrounder

The full list of 2019 CPA Alberta Achievement Award recipients:

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to those CPAs whose continual commitment to the betterment of their profession, their communities, and the organizations they have served is unparalleled.

• Brian Ferguson FCPA, FCA
• Robert Young FCPA, FCA

Fellows of the Chartered Professional Accountants
The Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) is granted to those members who have rendered exceptional service to the profession or whose achievements in their careers, the community, or in the profession have earned them distinction and brought honour to the profession.

• Duncan Au FCPA, FCA
• Linda Dalgetty FCPA, FCA
• Glen Gadowsky FCPA, FCGA
• Glen Jarbeau FCPA, FCA
• Paul Lanni FCPA, FCA
• Penny Leckie FCPA, FCA
• Deanna Muise FCPA, FCA
• Trevor Nakka FCPA, FCA
• Alan Norris FCPA, FCA
• Mary Persson FCPA, FCMA
• Michael Ross FCPA, FCMA
• Barry Sawada FCPA, FCA
• Aroon Sequeira FCPA, FCA
• Murray Suey FCPA, FCA
• George Virtue FCPA, FCA

Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes members or supporters of the profession who have demonstrated a significant achievement within the last five years and have therefore brought honour to the profession.

• Dr. Sherif Elbarrad CPA, CMA
• Hugh Erickson CPA, CA
• Suzanne Henuset CPA, CA
• Jennifer Kaufield CPA, CA
• Ryan Krutzfeldt CPA, CGA
• Cynthia Kumar CPA, CA
• Leah Turner CPA, CA
• Niki Vlooswyk-Steele CPA, CMA
• Corey Wight CPA, CA
• Ross Wilson CPA, CA

Early Achievement Awards
The Early Achievement Award recognizes CPAs who have had their accounting designation for 10 years or less and have rendered exceptional service to the profession or whose achievements in their careers or in the community have earned them distinction and brought honour to the profession.

• Cody Austin CPA, CMA
• Ashley Bodnarchuk CPA, CA
• Damara Casper CPA, CA
• Jane Davidson CPA, CA
• Krystal Huebl CPA
• Saqib Jalil CPA, CA
• Jan Nutting CPA,CA
• Janine Rogan CPA
• Jenna Truong CPA
• Steve Vaartstra CPA, CA
• Kiersten Walker CPA, CA
• Samantha Weerasekera CPA, CA
• Greta Wierenga CPA, CA

CPA Education Foundation Impact Award
The Impact Award honours an individual for his/her contributions to the work and goals of the Foundation.

• Brian Hesje FCPA, FCA

SOURCE CPA Alberta