Executive Director’s Message

Penticton or Bust!

We did it! This year’s conference marked a highly anticipated return to in-person events— the first in more than two and a half years. Not being ones to rest on our “virtual” laurels, our first in-person event was also our first-ever hybrid event—an effort worthy of the phrase “Penticton or Bust!”

The conference program featured an array of inspirational and impactful sessions— thirty in total. The agenda included two amazing keynote speakers tackling the topics of bias and reconciliation. Plenary sessions focused on themes of ESG, purpose, digital transformation, and the future of work. Forum sessions included discussion topics around municipal tax sales, accounting for natural assets, and best practices for managing fraud during a pandemic. The conference wrapped up with a light-hearted Pecha Kucha session on innovation.

We would like to extend our sincere thank you to our members, sponsors, and exhibitors for joining us in person in Penticton and online for our first hybrid conference. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our conference speakers whose donation in lieu of speakers’ gifts enabled us to continue our annual donation to the YMCA kid’s camp program. This year the YMCA of the Okanagan received a donation of $2,500. A big thank you to Lya Iglesias from Every Aspect Management for overseeing the event planning, the team at SW Audio Visual for their onsite and online production, Gerilee McBride for graphic design, and Cindy Dale for communications support. AND thank you to the newest member of the GFOABC team, Jason Tollman!

Last, but not least, thank you to the GFOABC Board of Directors and Committee Members for their continued participation in delivering the conference and for their support this past year.

We hope everyone will join us again in Whistler for the 2023 Annual Conference!

Kala Harris, Executive Director