across the country to provide strategic input
to the Community Connect initiative. It will
also be mobilizing networks of “area leaders”
and holding regular meetings to share best
practices, challenges, and key learnings.
And it will be launching an awards program
to recognize extraordinary commitment in
volunteering.
“It is the passion of our volunteer members
that has been absolutely critical to the program’s success,” said Wilson. “With their assistance, we have propelled this program to
the forefront of financial literacy undertakings
in Canada, and we look forward to expanding
its reach in the year ahead.”
Publications are another prong of CPA
Canada’s Financial Literacy Program, and
Wilson told the crowd that a new book on
retirement planning has been added to the
library of publications. The Procrastinator’s
Guide to Retirement is targeted at baby boomers who are within 10 years of retirement and
need to better prepare for the future.
The March 24 event was attended by a number of CPABC staff, including president & CEO
Richard Rees, CPA, FCA; Jan Sampson, CPA,
FCA, executive VP of member engagement
and information technology; and David
Chiang, CPA, CA, VP of member services,
who served as master of ceremonies for the
evening.
“CPABC’s member services team has been
supporting this national initiative since its
launch,” said Chiang. “To date, over 300 BC
members have signed up to be part of the CPA
Canada Community Connect network. There
are now 15 area leaders across the province.*
Volunteers have completed financial literacy
sessions for over 25 schools and community
groups.
“Over the coming year,” he added, “we plan to
continue working with our national counterparts to organize ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions
in regions across BC. We also plan to raise
awareness of the program with our CPABC
chapter leaders so chapters can support these
initiatives in their local communities.”
Key pillars of CPA Canada’s
Financial Literacy Program
1. The Community Connect Program.
2. ought leadership through ongoing
Th
surveys.
3. CPA Canada guidance publications.
More info about CPA Canada’s
Community Connect volunteer
program available online
To find out more about the Community
Connect initiative, email your inquiries
to: [email protected].
Train the Trainer sessions in BC
Two training sessions have been
scheduled for BC this summer—one in
Kelowna and one in Surrey. For more
information and to register, visit the
Okanagan and Surrey chapter blogs at:
bccpa.ca/members/cpabc-chapters.
*Meet one of BC’s area leaders on page 44.
Understanding, Advising, Guiding
CPABC in Focus • May/June 2015 23