Fraser Valley Members Support Future CPAs with Donation to the CPAEF

The CPA Education Foundation of BC (CPAEF) would like to thank the members of the Fraser Valley Technology Forum (forum) for their generous donation of almost $7,400.  As directed, these funds will be used to support CPA students with bursary awards that have a technology focus.   

The forum has since shut down after 32 years of history.  To read more about the forum, see the information below.  

You can also support the advancement of accounting education in BC by making a donation to the CPAEF.  You can contribute any amount during the annual dues payment process, donate any time through CPABC’s Online Services site at services.bccpa.ca, or for larger donations and bequest, by contacting David Chiang CPA CA, CPABC’s vice-president member advice and programs, at dchiang@bccpa.ca.  

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History of the Fraser Valley Technology Forum (submitted by the leadership group)

In spring of 1988, a group of members from the Surrey/Langley/North Delta Chapter (a legacy CGA-BC chapter at the time), had the idea to form a user group for local members to network and share computer information.  Founding members included Rick Long, Phil Dyer, Rene Blackstone, Tom Stocking and Peter Henriques, who held their planning meetings at the offices of Stocking Dyer.  

The first forum meeting was held at the Sunrise Golf Course in Surrey in September of 1988.  The forum used small groups for discussions with the objective being to solve each other’s IT issues.  As the forum expanded, it moved to Shannon Hall at the Cloverdale Fair Grounds.  Around this time, the forum started to invite speakers to present on various topics.  As the popularity of the forum increased, so too did the need for extra space, and the forum moved to the Danish Community Hall in Cloverdale, then Clayton Hall in Surrey and finally to Don Christian Recreation Centre in Surrey. 

Over the past three decades, the forum has invited a wide variety of speakers to inform local members about various topics related to computer hardware and software.  These speakers, many of whom were invited back for encore presentations, have always generated new and interesting conversations.  The forum is indebted to these speakers for their willingness to present.

For most of the forum’s existence, Richard Long CPA CGA served as chair until his retirement in May 2013.  Rick always happily complained after each AGM that he was “railroaded” into being the chair each year, though, he clearly relished this position and always shared a joke or two when sending out monthly meeting reminders.  Fred Monckton also served many years as the Presentation Coordinator putting in many hours to make sure that the forum always had a speaker.  Fred also retired from the forum in May 2014.  

The current forum executive consists of Melvin Weikum CPA CGA (chair), Peter Henriques CPA CGA (treasurer), Judy Girard CPA CGA (secretary), and Directors at Large – Mark Rowell CPA CGA and Carl Markwart CPA CGA.  

In recent years, it became more challenging to source speakers resulting in a few meeting cancellations.  With the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, the executive, with input from the Forum membership, made the difficult decision to close the group.   

However, forum members who are interested in continuing their networking with other like minded CPA professionals, are invited to join the CPA Technology Forum of BC (formerly the CPABC Vancouver Technology Forum).  That forum meets nine times per year and hosts various sessions.  To join the forum you must be a member of CPABC and have an interest in IT topics.  Meetings may be eligible for verifiable CPD.  Contact professionaladvisory@bccpa.ca for more information.