CPABC’s Fall 2021 Virtual Convocation Celebrates Success

The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia was proud to recognize its May 2021 CFE passers from BC and Yukon at its fall convocation ceremony, which took place online on November 9, 2021.

A virtual crowd of hundreds of family members, friends, and colleagues connected online to celebrate the graduates’ many accomplishments.

The celebration began with remarks from three special guests – CPABC’s president and CEO Lori Mathison, FCPA, FCGA, LLB, CPABC’s board chair Karen Horcher, FCPA, FCGA, CFA, and CPA Canada’s board chair Richard Olfert, FCPA, FCA, CMC, ICD.D – all of whom congratulated the graduates for their achievements and expressed their best wishes and support for their continued success.

Another convocation highlight was the address from class valedictorian, Sammi Leung. Leung, who achieved top results in the May 2021 writing of the CFE, encouraged her classmates to stay curious and explore the vast opportunities that are now in front them, saying, “The CPA designation equips us with invaluable skillsets that we can use in many different ways and as business leaders in every sector.”

Another special part of the presentation was a display of personal photos submitted by the graduates, which also included messages of thanks to those who supported them during their studies.

Fall convocation 2021 also featured words of wisdom from some of CPABC’s Member Recognition recipients, interviews with honour roll students Sammi Leung and Lexi Zhang, and an inspiring address from disruption strategist Shawn Kanungo. In his high-energy presentation, Kanungo dove into the changing nature of work and encouraged graduates to disrupt themselves by flipping old narratives about what it means to be an accounting professional by continuing to embrace innovation and non-traditional skills.

To round out the event and acknowledge the fall class of 2021 one last time, the celebration closed with the list of May 2021 CFE passers. Congratulations to the fall class of 2021 – you have so much to be proud of!