Mastering Money : CPA Canada Hosts Inaugural Financial Literacy Conference
NOTES & NEWS
Mastering Money : CPA Canada Hosts Inaugural Financial Literacy Conference
On November 1 and 2 , 2016 , CPA Canada helped kick off Financial Literacy Month by hosting a two-day financial literacy conference at the Allstream Centre in Toronto . 1 Entitled “ Mastering Money ,” the inaugural event brought together more than 500 financial professionals , educators , and other stakeholders from various government , not-for-profit , and business organizations . Keynote speakers at the conference included former Canadian prime minister Paul Martin , who spoke about the challenges faced by aboriginal communities and described how the Martin Family Initiative , a charitable organization he and his family launched in 2008 , supports longterm solutions to address these challenges . Martin was followed by Jane Rooney , Canada ’ s first-ever financial literacy leader , who provided an update on the activities of her office . 2 Among those in attendance were several CPABC members who have been actively engaged in CPA Canada ’ s Financial Literacy Program , co-ordinating and presenting financial literacy sessions in their communities . Jessica Sliz , CPA , CMA , area leader for the Financial Literacy Program in Burnaby , actively promotes the program and co-ordinates volunteers through the CPABC Burnaby / New Westminster Chapter . Sliz is a business process , planning , and service transformation manager in customer and business services for BC Clinical and Support Services ( formerly Health Shared Services BC ). For her dedicated efforts to help Canadians improve their financial well-being , Sliz was recently nominated for a CPA Canada Volunteer Award in the financial literacy category . Another BC member at the conference , Charlene Smart , CPA , CGA , will begin promoting the Financial Literacy Program in the Okanagan region in early 2017 . Smart , a public practitioner who operates her own firm Smart & Associates in Vernon , is a keen supporter of the program and an active member of the CPABC Okanagan Chapter . Last year , hundreds of other BC members with similar interests in financial literacy presented educational sessions to local school groups , community groups , and organizations , using materials and workshops developed by CPA Canada for each audience .
BDC partners with CPA Canada to help entrepreneurs One organization that has been an active proponent of CPA Canada ’ s Financial Literacy Program is the Business Development Bank of Canada ( BDC ). In 2016 , BDC organized more than 30 financial literacy sessions for female entrepreneurs in BC ; these sessions were presented by trained CPABC member volunteers who used award-winning materials developed by CPA Canada . Fiona Chan , BDC ’ s western regional manager for corporate relations and partnerships , says she values these resources and the support and commitment shown by CPABC members . “ CPA Canada ’ s Financial Literacy Program is tremendous ,” says Chan . “ BDC is privileged to be able to partner with CPA Canada , and we appreciate the contributions of the many CPAs who have made this program such a success .” Chan notes that internal surveys conducted by BDC have identified financial literacy as one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs , which makes CPA Canada ’ s entrepreneurial financial literacy presentation all the more salient .
To learn more about CPA Canada ’ s Financial Literacy Program or to sign up as a financial literacy volunteer , visit cpacanada . ca , or contact David Chiang , CPA , CA , CPABC ’ s VP of member services , at dchiang @ bccpa . ca for more information .
Complimentary books available CPA Canada publishes a number of books on financial literacy , including A Canadian ’ s Guide to Money-Smart Living by Kelley Keehn ( 2013 ). If you ’ d like to receive a complimentary copy of this book , email your name and mailing address to David Chiang , CPA , CA , at dchiang @ bccpa . ca . Complimentary books are available to the first 75 members , candidates , or students who respond by January 31 , 2017 . The book can also be ordered online through the CPAstore .
Top ( l to r ): Charlene Smart , CPA , CGA , and Jessica Sliz , CPA , CMA , two of the many BC members active in the Financial Literacy Program ( see page 66 for a profile of program volunteer Bryan Sommer , CPA , CA ). Below : Jane Rooney , Canada ' s financial literacy leader , addresses a packed house in Toronto .
1
In 2012 , the Canadian government named November as Financial Literacy Month .
2
We introduced Jane Rooney to readers in the May / June 2015 issue of the magazine ( pages 20-23 ).
18 CPABC in Focus • Jan / Feb 2017