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Cover Story: Meet the New FCAs
Beyond Numbers · February 2005

By Deborah Folka, MA, APR

Congratulations to the Institute's newest FCAs! Without further ado...

Yik Fung Au-Yeung, FCA

By the time Yik Fung Au-Yeung immigrated to Canada with his wife and daughter in 1968, he was a UK-certified accountant who'd run his own account-ing firm in Hong Kong for eight years. Determined to work in public practice as a CA in BC, Fung has been successful beyond his wildest dreams.

“I feel very fortunate,” he says. “I was 41 years old when I came here. The firm of Shoemay & Oleskey [later Laventhol & Horwath] took a chance on me, providing me with the required 18-month experience, and I was very grateful.”

After becoming a CA in 1974, Fung started his own solo practice in Vancouver. The firm now employs 17 people, including CA students. Daughter Yvonne Au-Yeung Lam, CA, became its managing partner three years ago, and Fung has been content to work part-time ever since.

“I believe strongly in hard work and honesty, but also in harmony achieved by a balance between family and work,” he explains. “I tell my CA students to work hard while they're here, but I also ask them to go home and spend time with their families at the end of the day.”

Fung also believes strongly in “giving back” to the community. He has acted as a special adviser on Asian affairs to the president of the University of Victoria (for which he was recognized as an Honorary Patron), and has worked tirelessly to raise money for organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society, the Chinese Cultural Centre, and the Vancouver Hospital and UBC Hospital Foundation. For over 20 years, he volunteered as a lecturer with the Public Legal Education Society, and he has also served on the advisory committee of Vancouver Community College's accounting program.

Fung has also served on a variety of ICABC committees, including the Benevolent Fund, the Members in Public Practice Committee, and the Standards Appeal Board.

Today, he continues to volunteer as a lecturer for seminars organized by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and the Chinese Cultural Centre, writes a twice-monthly financial column for Ming Pao Daily News, and sits on the advisory committee for Fairchild TV.

“I come from a very old Chinese family, middle-class, and was one of 13 children,” Fung says. “We were all taught that honesty is always the best policy, so I have applied that to my work, believing that as CAs, while we work to upgrade our auditing and accounting standards, we must always be mindful of upgrading our ethical standards at the same time.

“I never thought I would get my FCA,” he adds. “I was so surprised, but very happy.”

Larry Campbell, FCA

Larry Campbell, a partner in the Kamloops firm of Campbell & Co., describes his decision to become a CA after graduation from the University of BC as “pivotal.”

“I was about to graduate from the Commerce program, and I was struck with horror at the thought of going to work for some big Eastern manufacturing company,” he remembers. “I wanted something ‘portable,' so I looked at law and accounting—accounting won out.”

Wanting out of the big city, Larry surprised Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche LLP) by asking to article with the firm's Prince George office. There he earned his CA designation in 1964. “I loved living and working in Prince George,” he says.

After a stint with a Fort St. James sawmill, Larry settled into public practice in Kamloops. It's been a good career.

“I have always enjoyed working with entrepreneurial clients,” he shares. “They are a lot of fun, being so independent-minded, and it's interesting to see the different mindsets of people. I never provide ‘answers' to my clients—I provide advice and information and let them make up their own minds about what's right for their businesses.”

In addition to his busy practice, Larry has transformed a 30-head cattle operation purchased in 1969 into a 500-head herd today. Over the years he has been very active in service to the BC Cattlemen's Association (BCCA) including serving as BCCA president (1986-87). His contributions were recognized with an honorary life membership in 2002.

Larry has also served as president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce (1970), vice-president of the BC Livestock Co-operation Association (1985), vice-president of the BC Federation of Agriculture (1991-92), and chair of the Farm Business Management Council (1992-96). As chair of the Council, Larry helped developed standardized financial statements for several commodity groups in cooperation with the CICA. These models are still in use today.

He has also been active with various committees of the Workers' Compensation Board of BC, helping to develop safety regulations for the agriculture sector, and has worked with a variety of ICABC committees, including Professional Development, Fee Resolution, and Members in Public Practice.

Larry and his wife Holly have six children.

Robert Cole, FCA

Bob Cole was “caught completely off guard” by the phone call that informed him of his FCA award. “I was so surprised,” he says. “I've always associated the FCA with people who've worked very hard, and I've just had fun all these years. It hasn't seemed like hard work at all.”

Bob graduated from UBC with a degree in agriculture in 1969 and earned his CA designation in 1975 after articling with a national firm. He also has the certified public accountant (1999) and certified financial planner (1998) designations.

In 1980, along with five other CAs, Bob established Smythe Ratcliffe, now one of Vancouver's leading mid-sized firms. He's been in public practice ever since, and has developed significant specialties in several industry sectors during his career, always with an emphasis on providing technical advice on accounting and auditing matters.

Bob currently chairs two major national initiatives: the CICA's Differential Reporting Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the Accounting Standards Board (since 2000), and the Public Interest and Integrity Committee's Task Force on Public Interest Entities (since 2003). The latter task force recently submitted its final report, and Bob points to the Accounting Standards Board's approval in 2001 of the new section on differential reporting as “a major milestone.”

He is also a former member of the CICA's Assurance Standards Board (1989-1992) and the CICA Task Force on Illegal Acts (1992-93), and has been a member of the ICABC's Practice Review & Licensing Committee since 2000.

In the community, Bob has been involved with the Vancouver Power & Sail Squadron since 1977, serving as treasurer and later as squadron commander (1988-89) and district commander for the Pacific Mainland District (1993-94). The Pacific Mainland District is the largest in Canada, with 22 squadrons between Whitehorse and White Rock.

Bob and his wife Brenda have two sons: Sam is studying commerce at UBC with an interest in becoming a CA, and Terry is a high school student.

Brian Dyer, FCA

After earning his CA designation in his native Ireland in 1968, Brian Dyer worked for Price Waterhouse (now) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) in the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas for several years before moving with his family to Vancouver Island in 1977.

Brian joined Victoria firm Treholme Winterbottom, becoming a partner just two years later. Two mergers would follow, ultimately bringing the Victoria office of Ernst & Young into the KPMG LLP fold in 1996. Brian subsequently served as a partner in the audit and accounting practices until his retirement from public practice in 2003. Since then, he's been the chief financial officer for Custom House Global; it's a part-time advisory role he describes as tremendously enjoyable.

Over the course of his career, Brian has built up not only a specialty in high-tech companies, but also a strong expertise in governance that has benefited both his clients and the community.

His myriad volunteer efforts include serving as both treasurer and chairman of the board of governors of St. Michaels University School, and as chairman of the same school's foundation (1993-95); governor of the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society (1989-94); president-elect and a board member of the BC Rugby Union (1998-2001); and a founding member of the Pacific Pride Rugby Centre for the Canadian National Under-23 Rugby Program (1997-2003). Brian has also served on the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Society's Business Advisory Panel (2000-2003), working primarily to help hi-tech, start-up companies obtain financing. Brian and his wife Thelma have two children: Kathy, works in banking in Victoria, and Colin, currently teaches English in Korea.

“I feel privileged to have been named as an FCA,” says Brian, who got the news on a golf course in Palm Springs, “especially since I believe I have had such good fortune throughout my career, being associated with wonderful colleagues and clients, all providing great intellectual and professional challenge and exchange.

“Young CAs just starting out should know this is the most portable of the respected professions,” he adds, “and their designation will serve as a passport to great opportunities. They will be faced with the need to make weighty decisions about where to go in the profession, but it will undoubtedly be a great journey. It certainly has been for me.”

Ron Fichtner, FCA

“‘Stunned' and ‘overwhelmed' would best describe my feelings at getting the news of being elected an FCA,” says Ron Fichtner. “I even feel a little mystified at being selected when so many of my colleagues have accomplished so much. It is such an honour.”

Ron was born and raised in Prince George. After graduating from UBC in 1976, he returned to his hometown to article with the local office of Deloitte & Touche LLP. He's been a partner with the firm since 1990. “I am that rare commodity: a home-grown CA in a smaller centre,” he laughs. “I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.”

In the mid-1980s, Ron left public practice and spent five years as CFO of Carrier Lumber Ltd. “I enjoyed my stint in industry,” he says, “but ultimately decided I wanted an equity position and so happily returned to my alma mater Deloitte's. [Working with Carrier] helped hone my expertise in the forestry sector, though I still feel like I'm a general practitioner. If I could say anything to new CAs besides ‘congratulations,' it would be to caution against specializing too soon.”

Outside of work, Ron has been involved extensively with education, beginning with his participation on Simon Fraser University's board of governors and foundation (1989-96), followed by a three-year term as the board's deputy chair. He then became involved with the board of governors of the University of Northern BC (UNBC), and is currently in his second year as board chair.

“It has been wonderful being part of the establishment and development of UNBC,” Ron says. “I was chair for its tenth anniversary celebrations, and it was just magic to be involved at that time. I was involved in the largest convocation we ever held, and I will cherish that memory forever.”

Ron has also been a moderator for the Fort George Baptist Church (1990-95); chair of “Prince George Alive,” an interdenominational evangelistic conference (1998); a member and director of the Rotary Club of Prince George (1991-2004); and a member of the UNBC's Medical Trust Board and the Northern Sports Centre Strategic Planning Board.

Ron met his wife Deborah Shannon while both were SFU board members. He has two children: Ross, a firefighter with the Calgary Fire Department, and Erin, currently pursuing an arts and publishing career in London, England.

Peter Gregory, FCA

Recently retired deputy auditor general of BC Peter Gregory was “surprised, flattered, and very honoured” to learn that he'd earned FCA recognition from his peers.

After graduating from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in economics in 1968, Peter joined Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young LLP), earning his CA designation in 1971. He remained with Clarkson's for ten years, working primarily in auditing, and it was there that he had his first exposure to consulting work for the federal government for the Auditor General of Canada.

“If anyone had told me when I was a student that I would end up working in the public sector, I would never have believed them,” Peter admits. “But that's the thing about a CA career. It contains so many opportunities and possibilities and certainly in recent years, technology has taken away most of the drudgery, leaving us able to focus on the really interesting aspects of our work.”

From 1978 until his retirement last October, Peter worked with the Auditor General's office in Victoria, first as manager, then executive director, assistant auditor general, and finally deputy auditor general. He participated in the introduction of “value for money” auditing in BC, and has been a significant contributor to the development of accountability and audit-ing concepts and practices.

“In Canada, with its very mixed economy, the public sector makes decisions that significantly affect lives of citizens,” Peter says. “It's been rewarding to play a part in helping to ensure effective public sector decision making and good public accountability.”

Peter served on the CICA's Assurance Standards Board from 1998-2004, including two years as chair (2002-2004), as well as on three task forces: Assistance to Standard Setting Process Task Force (2004), the Uniform Standards of Practice Task Force (2004) and the Value-for-Money Audit Evidence Task Force (1990-91). At the provincial institute, Peter was a member of the Student Recruitment Committee in 1979-80, the Multidisciplinary Committee in 1986-90, and the Presidential Nominating Committee in 1993-94. He has also been an active member of the Canadian Council of Legislative Auditors and the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation (now the CCAF-FCVI). He earned the certified management consultant designation in 1994.

Peter is an avid golfer. He and his wife Joy have two daughters: Sara is a lawyer in Vancouver who recently gave birth to a baby girl (the Gregorys' first grandchild); Tania works in communications in Victoria, and is currently expecting.

Frederic S. (Rick) Hirtle, FCA

Rick Hirtle, a partner with BDO Dunwoody LLP, kept quiet about his election to Fellowship for a few days in order to keep the firm's spotlight on those who'd just passed the UFE.

“I called my wife, and we had a little private celebratory conversation, but I didn't want anything to detract from the focus on our new CAs,” Rick says. He let his partners in on the news the following week. “I was truly delighted and very honoured,” he adds, “and very surprised, too. It was quite unexpected.”

Three years after completing his under-graduate degree in commerce at UBC in 1974, Rick began articling with Buxton, Cates (now BDO Dunwoody LLP). He and his wife Linda, a dental hygienist, moved to Salmon Arm in 1977, after Linda was offered a professional opportunity there. He became a CA the following year and a partner with BDO in 1983. The regional managing partner for BDO's BC Interior Region since 2000, Rick's professional and technical specialties include logging, placer mining, and agriculture.

Rick has served on a variety of regional, provincial, national, and international committees for his firm, culminating as chair of BDO's Policy Board. He has also been a member of the ICABC's Practice Review & Licensing Committee since 2002.

Extremely active in his community, Rick is a longtime member of the Salmon Arm Rotary Club, a past and current director, and now chair of the Rotary International Conference 2007 Committee, which will host the District conference for some 700 participants. Other charitable work includes serving as a member of the Shuswap Lake General Hospital Board, and chair of the Finance Committee of Okanagan University College. He was also involved in the establishment of the Shuswap Community Foundation and the formation of the Dairy Business Club.

Still, Rick says his “greatest achievement” is his family: “I have a wonderful wife and two terrific daughters, both now in university. Stephanie is on a track scholarship at the University of Michigan, and Megan is attend-ing the University of Calgary. They both seem to have inherited my love of sports, and all of us are avid skiers and runners.

“If I were talking to new CAs today,” he adds, “I would tell them to keep an open mind to all the opportunities out there. The key though is to always enjoy what you're doing, stay focused, and not give up.”

Peter Lloyd, FCA

“I am so pleased to have been nominated by my partners for this honour and delighted to be elected by my peers,” says Peter Lloyd. “I was walking down a busy street in Victoria when I got the call. It was a great pleasure.”

Though officially retired at the end of 2003 from partnership at Grant Thornton LLP's Victoria office, Peter remains active with some key clients he has served for many years. The news of his FCA election coincided with the announcement of the UFE results, and with several young people in his firm involved—one, Sukaina Rashid, making the national honour roll—the sense of excitement and accomplishment was heightened.

Peter immigrated to Canada in 1970, and joined the ICABC that same year. He established the firm Hayes, Lloyd, Debeck in Duncan, which grew to become one of Vancouver Island's largest independent firms in the 1980s. Peter's portfolio included accounting work for small clients, as well as audits for many larger organizations and an increasing specialty in insolvency work. In 1986, he joined the partnership of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) in Victoria, and served as managing partner until 1993. Peter helped the firm navigate the complications of another evolution when PW decided to withdraw from the Victoria marketplace in 1994. The partners retained local ownership, managed a successful transition, then merged with Grant Thornton LLP in 1995.

Peter has been a long-time member of the Canadian Insolvency Association, including stints as secretary-treasurer and president of the BC association (1984-85). As well, he has been a member of several ICABC committees, including Professional Development, Members in Public Practice, Presidential Nominating, and the Discipline Tribunal.

His extensive community service includes spearheading the development of “Destinations,” a highly successful program sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resources that helps people on income assistance find work, and serving on a panel struck by the Ministry of the Environment to review contaminated sites and develop appropriate legislative change.

Peter is currently treasurer of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. He was appointed to the board of Camosun College in 2001 and recently became chair. A strong advocate for education and life-long learning, he is convinced of the significant educational contribution of community colleges.

Peter and Gwen, his wife of 38 years, have a son Christopher and daughter Penny residing in Victoria. Another daughter Alison is also a CA, currently working in Bermuda.

Amed Naqvi, FCA

As president-elect of the Institute, Amed Naqvi knew something was afoot when he was asked to leave the room during a Council meeting and when he realized his Council package lacked information from the FCA selection committee.

“It was suspicious,” he remembers, “but at the same time, I was still overwhelmed when I learned I'd been elected. So many capable, accomplished people have come before me in receiving it, I am humbled.”

Amed emigrated from Iran to Canada in 1966, landing first in Calgary before moving to Nelson, BC. Aware of the designation's credibility and the profession's stature, he knew immediately that he wanted to become a CA.

Amed articled with a firm in Nelson and earned his CA designation in 1969. The following year, he was invited to partnership in what eventually became Berg, Naqvi & Co., his firm with Michael Berg, FCA. Ten years ago, Mike's son Craig Berg, CA, joined the practice.

“I have taken great satisfaction in being able to help people with their financial and business problems over the years,” he says, “as well as using my CA skills to help community organizations.”

He is currently vice-chair of the Community First Health Co-operative, and has served as director of CUE Data West Corporation (1986-89), president of the Nelson & District Credit Union (1985-90), president of Kootenay Lake General Hospital (1980-85), chair of the Nelson Regional Library (1975-81), and president of the Nelson Golf & Recreation Society (1990-95). He still acts in an advisory capacity to all of these organizations.

Amed has also been extremely active in service to the CA profession, including serving on the Recruiting and Training Task Force, the Merger Assessment Steering Committee, the National Firms Forum, the Practice Review & Licensing Committee, and the Task Force on CA Professional Learning, as well as on Council and the ICABC Executive. He was also closely involved in the launch of the original School of Chartered Accountancy in the 1980s, and served as an instructor for three years.

“Here is my advice to new CAs for a happy and prosperous life: ‘some work, some fun, some food, some sun, someone,'” he offers. “I don't remember who said that, but I believe it to be true. As I told my son recently, do what makes you feel good about yourself.

“We are all faced with choices in life and opportunity,” he adds. “I think my greatest achievement still was in getting my CA designation.”

Amed and his wife Gladys Evelyn have two sons: Damian, a physician practising in Montreal, and Adrian, a dentist practising in Vancouver.

Gary Patterson, FCA

“[Getting elected to Fellowship] is very important to me,” says Gary Patterson, “having had such a long relationship with the Institute. There have been many highlights over the years, but a few that stand out include my work with the Professional Development Committee when it created more offerings for members outside of public practice—I feel I made some significant contributions to that work. I was involved in the merger discussions in the 1980s, and feel quite strongly about that issue as well.”

A 1971 graduate of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, Gary earned his CA designation in 1974 and joined the ICABC in 1977. In addition to his work with the PD Committee, which included serving as chair from 1985-87, he has served on Council (1985-89), the Members in Industry Committee (1988-89), and the CICA Standards Advisory Board (1990-92). He has also been an active member of the Financial Executives Institute since 1981.

Gary left public practice early in his career to join Intrawest Corp. as vice-president of finance in 1980. Seven years later, he left Intrawest for a stint with Burns Fry (now BMO Nesbitt Burns). In 1988, he became executive VP and chief financial officer of Inwest Investments Ltd. and its wholly owned real estate subsidiary Wesbild Holdings Ltd.

At Wesbild, Gary was involved in the acquisition, financing, and development of Westwood Plateau, a master-planned com-munity in Coquitlam, as well as the financing and growth of the company's retail shopping centers.

As CFO of Inwest's subsidiary Future Shop Ltd., Gary had broad responsibilities for the organization's financing, accounting, real estate, and public relations up until the its sale to Best Buy in 2001. He was instrumental in helping Future Shop reach its pinnacle of over $2 billion in annual sales.

“I enjoyed the opportunities my association with Future Shop gave me as a senior executive for a public company,” he says.

Gary retired from Inwest in 2003 and is now president of his own consulting firm GAP Financial Ltd. He also currently serves on the board of trustees of Summit REIT and the Art in Motion Income Fund.

In the community, Gary has been involved with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well coaching baseball when sons Michael and Jeffrey were younger. Michael earned his CA designation in 2003 and is controller for St. Moritz, a watch making company headquartered in Vancouver. Jeffrey recently graduated from UBC.

William S. Phillips, FCA

Born in Glasgow and educated in Scotland and South Africa, William S. Phillips immigrated to Canada in 1953, where he soon found himself involved in projects such as the audit of Taylor & Drury in Whitehorse, a department store that started as a trading post during the Klondike gold rush.

“I remember travelling with a colleague...” Bill recalls. “We drove over ice bridges, constructed to accommodate vehicles in the winter. I was struck by the incredible difference between living in Canada and experiencing its early days and the countries I was familiar with, such as Britain, India, or Burma—those with deep histories.”

Bill's father was a pilot for Imperial Airways (now British Airways) and the family lived for some time in Durban, South Africa, with young Phillips returning to Glasgow to complete his education. Bill's family thought it was a grand idea when he announced he was moving to Canada at the end of his CA articles, and they moved out to Vancouver ahead of him.

Now a retired assurance practice partner from Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP), Bill first became involved in the audits of large public companies such as MacMillan Bloedel in the early 1970s, building a strong specialty that took him around the world. He spent his entire career with PW, becoming a partner in 1966.

“It was a fascinating time, with lots of mergers and acquisitions fuelling the growth of large public companies,” he recounts. “In 1982, I was ‘loaned' to PW's world firm for a special project. Working with partners from our UK and US offices, we developed auditing standards to be implemented worldwide. It was an especial challenge to work with offices in smaller, developing countries, as well as in big industrial countries, but we found the smaller offices were more than equal to the task.”

Beginning in the late 1960s, Bill served on several ICABC committees with a focus on Professional Conduct. He continued through the late 1980s on the Discipline Committee. He was also a member of CICA's Auditing Standards Committee from 1978-81.

In the community, he has been active with a number of healthcare organizations, including the Vancouver Epilepsy Society, the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and the BC Epilepsy Society. On the board of G.F. Strong for over ten years, he served two terms as chair.

Bill and his family were the first full-time residents of Eagle Island near Fisherman's Cove, and he has spent many years building and renovating their residence. He has four children.

Murray Presley, FCA

Murray Presley got his FCA news while vacationing with wife Ann Scott, CA, in Argentina. “Though there was no one else around to share the news with,” he says, “we were pretty excited just the two of us.”

Murray earned his CA designation in 1971 and became a partner with a Courtenay firm shortly thereafter. He left the firm in 1982 to establish his own practice with George McCreadie, CA, and was joined by Ann in 1984.

Along with Colleen Ellison, CA, Murray and Ann are partners in Presley & Partners, the largest CA firm in the Comox Valley. In 2002, the firm won “Professional Company of the Year,” a Vancouver Island Business Excellence Award, as well as top prize in a competition sponsored by their firm's international consulting network Ran One.

“I think it's something of an achievement to have survived this long in public practice,” Murray laughs. “Especially since I'm not really the ‘accountant type' and long ago gave up doing audits. I really enjoy the people side of our business, providing controller and consulting services.”

His people skills have propelled him into local politics as well. He's currently in his third term—his eighth year—as a city councillor for Courtenay.

A long-time member of Rotary, Murray began volunteering his services to community organizations when he was a CA student. Over the years he's worked with what is now the Comox Valley Child Development Association, the Comox Valley Mental Health Society, the Comox Valley United Way, and the Strathcona Employment and Economic Development Society. The ICABC named him “BC CA of the Year” in 1997.

Murray was also a founding member of the ICABC's BC Check-up Committee in 1999 and continues with the committee today. In addition, he has represented the profession at local high school career days, and has been a speaker at the provincial government's pre-budget consultation meetings and a participant in its budget presentations.

“If I could tell a new CA just two things, it would be get involved in your community and hone your public speaking skills,” he says. “Getting involved as a volunteer will open your eyes to so many things, to new ways of thinking. Becoming a good public speaker will help you in so many situations, both professionally and personally. I used to be very nervous speaking to groups, but through Rotary, I learned how to present myself and gained confidence.”

Murray has two children: Trevor, who works in insurance in Victoria; and Heidi, who provided the Presleys' with their first grandchild last year, a little girl Kailena.

John Sims, FCA

“I got the news of my FCA on my 32nd wedding anniversary,” says John Sims, a partner with Ellis Foster in Vancouver, “so it was just a wonderful treat for my wife Barbara and me—a special privilege.”

John began thinking about a career as a CA in high school, when he took his first accounting course. After completing an economics degree from Simon Fraser University in 1969, he articled with Wolrige Mahon, CAs. In 1972, he earned his CA designation. That same year, after responding to a newspaper ad, he joined Ellis Foster in Vancouver. He became a partner with the firm in 1975.

“I feel very lucky to have become a CA,” he says. “It's the best profession in the world, and the only one that allows you to go virtually anywhere in the world and get a job.”

Since the early 1980s, John has been very active in service to the Institute as a member of the Practice Review & Licensing Committee, the Members in Public Practice Committee, the Fee Resolution Subcommittee, the Rulings Committee, and the Professional Conduct Committee, which he currently chairs.

“I think we have to take great care with how we manage professional conduct matters today,” he says. “It is a demanding role for our Institute, but extremely important for us to deal with these issues and to be seen by the government, the public, and the business community to be dealing with matters affecting our performance, yet protecting our members in accordance with our rules.”

In the community, John has served as chair, director, or treasurer for a variety of organizations, including the BC Special Olympics Society, the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, the BC Centre for Ability, and St. Pius X Parish.

In 1999, the ICABC recognized his contributions to the community with the “CA of the Year” Award.

John and his wife Barbara live in North Vancouver and have three children: Kristen, who works for Telus in Vancouver; Stephen, presently travelling in South America; and Lauren, a student in the creative writing program at the University of Victoria.

Kathleen Stevenson, FCA

“I keep thinking there will be a phone call saying it was all a mistake,” says Kathleen Stevenson, senior VP and CFO of Interior Savings Credit Union in Kelowna. “I am overwhelmed and very honoured to be elected an FCA, but it was a complete surprise. I'm sure everyone in my office could hear the incredulity in my voice as I took that call from Barb.”

Born in Penticton and raised in Merritt, Kathy graduated from SFU with a major in business administration in 1981. She articled with Thorne Riddell (now KPMG LLP) in Kamloops, earning her CA designation in 1984. From 1986-88, she and her husband Gerry Stevenson, CA (controller for Identec Solutions) lived in New Zealand, where Gerry was seconded to a travel agency and Kathy worked for Arthur Young. After the couple returned to Canada, Kathy returned to public practice for a short time before making the move into industry.

“I knew Vancity [Savings Credit Union] was always named as a ‘top employer,' so I replied to [their] ad and got the job,” she explains. “I credit my CA designation and skills with my ability to build a career specializing in the credit union sector.”

Kathy joined the company's Vancouver branch in 1990 as manager of accounting, and later became controller (1994) and VP, finance (1999-2002). Former employer and Vancity CEO Dave Mowat has described her as “...an exemplary employee, mentor, and leader...”

Kathy's service to the CA profession includes working with the Professional Development Management Program Committee and the Kamloops CA Association. She has also been very involved with Financial Executives International (FEI) since joining its Vancouver chapter in 1995. In 1996, she became chapter president and served on the national executive and the national Finance and Audit Committee. She later participated on the Planning & Membership Committee and the Chapter Presidents' Council, and served as treasurer for FEI Canada. Currently vice-chairperson of FEI Canada, Kathy is on her way to becoming national chairperson in 2006-07.

In the community, she's been a member of the board of directors of the BC Lottery Corporation since 1992, and was a public representative for the Audit Hearing Panels of the Medical Services Commission for the Ministry of Health from 1995 to 2002.

Kathy and Gerry have two children: Jay (10) and Sean (8). They are all keen skiers, and Kathy also runs regularly. In 2002, she completed the Vancouver International Marathon.

Hari Varshney, FCA

Born in a small village in northern India, new FCA Hari Varshney had already completed an undergraduate degree at Agra University and a master's in accounting (scoring the top marks for both) by the time he moved to Canada in 1967 to take up a $1,500 MBA program scholarship at UBC. That's when fate—in the form of the CA designation—intervened.

“I went to the recruitment meetings held by the various firms on campus and came away with several job offers,” Hari recalls. “The CA designation is very respected in India and I was intrigued, so I took a position with Arthur Andersen. I will always be grateful to UBC for the scholarship that brought me here.”

Hari became a CA in 1971, and stayed with the firm until 1982. In 1986, after a four-year stint as a sole-practitioner working exclusively on audits of publicly traded companies, he turned his attention to investing in capital markets. Today, he is the president of Varshney Capital Corp., a venture capital company that has raised tens of millions of dollars for venture capital projects around the world and counts a number of highly successful large-scale entrepreneurial companies among its clients, including Carmanah Technologies Corp. and Camphor Ventures Inc.

Working alongside Hari is son Praveen, also a CA (Praveen's wife Anuja is a CA, too) and son Peeyush, a lawyer. Daughter Vandana is an investment advisor with Canaccord Capital Corporation in Vancouver. Hari gives his wife Madhu credit for the family's success.

“None of it would have been possible without her support,” he explains. “We have been married 41 years. She came with me to this country, and that decision changed the lives of many. We brought other members of our families to join us, and our children have been so successful here.”

Outside of work, Hari has been involved with the ICABC's Professional Education Course Content Committee and Board of Examiners. In the community, he has been extensively involved with a wide variety of organizations, including the Varshney Capital Corp. Charity Golf Classic, St. Paul's Hospital Foundation, the Indian Earthquake Relief Fund, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the Board of the College of Denturists of BC, and the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Hari is also a member of UBC's President's Circle for major donors.

“When I got that phone call informing me of my FCA election, I was just speechless with surprise and delight,” Hari says. “The CA profession has been very good to me, and the credibility of the designation has been instrumental in my success.”

Kenneth Woods, FCA

“After the initial surprise and excitement I felt when I first heard I had been elected an FCA, I took a moment to reflect, and I saw how things had come ‘full circle,'” says Kenneth Woods.

It started with an undergraduate degree in math and economics from UBC in 1969, followed by an MBA from Montreal's Concordia University in 1975. It was the head of Concordia's finance department, the late Professor Calvin Potter, FCA, who suggested he pursue the CA designation.

“I spent an enormous amount of time working with [him],” Ken recalls. “I was focused on investments, but when we talked about my career path, he told me to take my CA. It was the best advice I ever received.”

Ken began articling with Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche LLP) in Montreal in the mid-‘70s, when talk of separation by Quebec was rife.

“It was a very exciting time,” he says, “and a very charged atmosphere. The firm sent me to England on assignments, and I still consider that period the best training and experience I could have had.”

After becoming a CA in 1978, Ken left public practice and became a founding partner of T.A.L. Global Asset Management, which rapidly became one of Canada's largest and most successful investment firms. Ken opened its Vancouver office in 1991, and began negotiations with CIBC in 1994 that resulted in T.A.L. taking over management of a large portion of the bank's mutual fund.

Since retiring in 1998, Ken has dedicated himself to community service. He has served on the Accounting Standards Board, and is currently a director of the Accounting Oversight Council and an independent voting member of the Workers' Compensation Board of BC's investment committee. He is also a board member of the Vancouver General Hospital/UBC Hospital Foundation and chair of the Art's Umbrella Foundation's board.

Ken currently chairs the 2005 Bell Canadian Open. During the past four years, he has worked hard to bring the Canadian Open, a PGA tour event, back to the West Coast. In 2005, the tournament will be held in Vancouver for the first time since 1966.

“I enjoy all of these activities,” Ken says, “but I am particularly proud of establishing the Kenneth Woods Portfolio Management Program [KWPMP] at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.”

Founded four years ago, KWPMP gives students the opportunity to work with investment community professionals to gain “real world” experience managing a $1 million fund.

Ken and his wife Anne have three sons: Mark, a teacher who earned a master's in communications; Jason, currently articling with Deloitte's in Vancouver; and David, a student in an audio engineering and production program.

Deborah Folka, MA, APR, is an independent, Vancouver-based communications consultant providing services to the professions.