MEMBERS IN FOCUS
From EMC to AGLG: Gordon Ruth Takes on a New Role
CPABC would like to congratulate Gordon Ruth, FCPA, FCGA, formerly CPABC’s executive vice-president of
certification and operations, on his appointment as British Columbia’s Auditor General for Local Government,
effective October 1, 2015.
Gordon made tremendous contributions to CPABC. First as CEO of CGA-BC and then as EVP of certification
and operations under the CPABC Joint Venture, he played a lead role in the merger of BC’s three professional
accounting bodies. Post-merger, Gordon continued to serve on the organization’s executive management
committee, laying the groundwork for the future.
“It was a very difficult decision to leave CPABC,” he says, “but I think the organization is very well placed to
continue on with its journey of success.”
Gordon’s career prior to joining CGA-BC included 15 years with the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now
Metro Vancouver), so this new appointment marks a return, of sorts, to his roots.
“I’m very excited about this new role,” he says, “and the opportunity to work closely with local government in
BC once again.”
We wish him all the best in this new endeavour!
New Endowment Fund
Honours Bill Johnson’s
Years of Service
We’re delighted to announce that an endowment fund named the
CPABC Bill Johnson UBC DAP Student Achievement Award has
been established at the University of British Columbia to honour
the many years of service Bill Johnson, FCPA, FCGA, has provided
to the advancement of accounting education in this province. The
fund is a fitting tribute to Bill as he approaches retirement from
his role as CPABC’s VP of CGA certification this year.
The fund, which was the brainchild of Graham McIntosh,
director of the Diploma in Accounting Program (DAP) at UBC,
will benefit deserving DAP students on an annual basis in
perpetuity. It was created with matching funds from the CGA-BC
Educational Foundation* and UBC, and will be administered by
the latter.
*See below for an update on the new education foundation.
L to R: CPABC board member Brian Friedrich, FCPA, FCGA; Winston Lum, CPA, CGA, representing the CGA-BC Educational
Foundation; Bill Johnson, FCPA, FCGA; and Graham McIntosh, director of UBC's Diploma in Accounting Program, at a
ceremony held in Bill’s honour at the University Golf Club on October 8, 2015.
CPA Education Foundation
Work is progressing on the amalgamation of the three legacy charitable educational entities* into a new entity to be called the Chartered
Professional Accountants’ Education Foundation of BC (CPAEF). It is expected that the CPAEF will be launched by the end of 2015. Until the
new entity is created, the legacy entities will continue to operate and receive donations, which are eligible for tax receipts. Stay tuned for a
more detailed update in a future issue of the magazine.
*The legacy charitable educational entities are the Chartered Accountants’ Education Foundation of BC, the Certified General Accountants of BC
Educational Foundation, and the Certified Management Accoun