CPA CANADA CONVOCATION MESSAGE

FROM THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD, CPA CANADA

Beth Wilson, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D Vice-Chair, CPA Canada Board of Directors

It is an honour to celebrate the success of Saskatchewan’s newest graduates. You’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this career milestone. Congratulations to each of you!

Let’s also take a moment to acknowledge the family, friends, and colleagues who have supported and encouraged you throughout the CPA program.

It has been a few years since I was in your seat. Let’s just say, it was a time when the computers we used were called “portable” and certainly didn’t sit on my lap, never mind fit into a palm-sized smartphone, and the CPA exams were handwritten, color-coded by day, and shipped securely to marking centres for grading with paper evaluation guides.

A lot has changed since then. But one thing holds true:

CPAs are invaluable to organizations across every sector of the economy.

The versatility of the CPA designation is impressive. At the risk of sounding cliché, a career in accounting can truly take you anywhere.

Along my own journey, the experience and transferrable skills gained have taken me from high tech and telecommunications to the private and public sectors. From auditor to Chief Human Resources officer, to business unit leader, to CEO, and now public company director and community leader.

Wherever your interests lie, you have the opportunity to lead meaningful and purpose-driven work.

Far from being replaced by technology and software systems, CPAs have never been in more demand for our ability to synthesize information and guide sound decision making in a complex world overloaded with data.

Beyond our financial expertise, we as CPAs add value through strong acumen, good governance, and an ethical mindset grounded in discipline and fairness.

You now belong to a dedicated community of more than 220,000 CPAs who are each contributing to a more resilient financial ecosystem across Canada and globally.

Working collectively, we can build a stronger profession – one that anticipates change, and successfully navigates the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

You are the next generation of CPAs… bright, ambitious, and well on your way to becoming future leaders.

I have no doubt that each of you will go on to accomplish great things. Congratulations and welcome to the profession!