2015 Legacy CGA Program — Top Ten Graduates
Niki Westman, CPA, CGA
2015 Valedictorian
Birthplace & current city of residence:
Ottawa, ON; Vancouver, BC.
Employer & position: Pacific Nephrology
Group and Vancouver Renewable Energy
Cooperative; accountant.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your
studies? Thank you to: the CGA Educational Foundation; Erin Creagh;
Adriana Ruso, Brenda Kuecks, Ecotrust Canada; Bonita Magee, Heather
Pritchard; Michael McIntosh, Bruce Whitty; Patricia Newton, Margaret
Voth, Amir Moghadasi; my friends Stephanie, Ian, Howard, and Hazen;
my landlords Jim and Rose; my grandma Rita; and my sister Erika. I
also thank cocoa farmers and chocolatiers for energizing me, CBC
Radio for connecting me to the world beyond school and work, and
Madonna for keeping me healthy, motivated, and disciplined.
What’s next? I want to diversify my professional experience, ride my
new bicycle, garden, sew, sing, dance, play with my nieces, explore
BC, inhale coastal forests, honour First Nations, and support social
and environmental wellness.
32 CPABC in Focus • Nov/Dec 2015
Patricia Winchell, CPA, CGA
Birthplace & current city of residence:
Nanaimo, BC; Powell River, BC.
Employer & position: Catalyst Paper
Corporation; accountant.
Who would you like to thank for providing
support during your studies? I would like
to thank my husband and three children for all of their support and
patience during my studies. Obtaining my designation would not
have been possible without the support of my parents and parents-i