Fellows of the Chartered Professional Accountants

Scott has spent nearly four decades driving transformative impact across Alberta. As President and CEO of United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Limited (UFA), he led the organization from challenging financial circumstances to record profitability, expanded its business operations into Saskatchewan, returned patronage dividends, and launched the $50-million Community Cornerstone project to strengthen rural infrastructure and employment. He also co-founded and capitalized the UFA Agricultural Community Foundation with a $25-million endowment, directing over $1 million annually into rural communities.  

Prior to UFA, Scott was Partner, National Energy Leader, and Alberta Consulting Leader at PwC Canada, building nationally recognized due diligence, internal audit, and consulting practices while mentoring the next generation of CPAs.  

Scott served as a trusted advisor to Premier Jason Kenney during the pandemic, helping maintain Alberta’s vital agricultural supply chains in the grain, oilseeds, and beef cattle sectors. His volunteer leadership spans Calgary Quest School, Special Olympics, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Children’s Link Society, and the Business Council of Alberta.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
Our profession is built on the highest principles of ethical behaviour, technical competence, and community service. These principles, which were instilled in me since starting my first day at Price Waterhouse in 1985, have been my guide for over forty years.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
I have spent 25 years supporting those who dedicate their lives to helping children and adults with developmental disabilities. I am not a front-line worker. I support those who are—they are the true heroes. In 2022, Calgary Quest, a school for children with developmental disabilities, where I serve on the board of directors, opened a new campus dedicated to a full-time program for young adults with developmental disabilities, many of whom had nowhere else to go. Seeing the joy on their faces as they gain confidence and purpose has been one of my life's great rewards.

What was the most challenging moment in your success so far?
I have lived through the severe pain and stress of challenging financial circumstances in business. It is in these moments that our profession's principles provide such important guidance. It has certainly been this way for me.

What is one of the greatest things you've learned about leadership?
My father, Hugh Bolton FCPA, FCA (a past recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award and many other awards), taught me from an early age that a leader always takes responsibility for failure and gives others the credit for success. Of all the great leaders I have been so fortunate to work for, this is their common quality. In the end, it is the purest definition of leadership.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
One of my most important mentors told me many decades ago: “play to your strengths.” As he put it, if you've got a good shot, shoot the puck. As our strengths so often align with our interests, these words are doubly wise and indeed have served me well. I repeat them often.

What was the hardest piece of feedback you've gotten and how has that changed you for the better?
My first year in the profession was tough. At my year-end review I was told I was the lowest-ranked member of my hiring class. It was a tough message, but it was delivered honestly, factually, and positively (i.e., you can do this). In the end, it gave me confidence and I ended up spending another 26 years with the firm!

What's your personal motto?
Always do the right thing (unfortunately, it is often the hard thing).

What has been an eye-opening realization you've made throughout your career?
I am continually amazed at how valuable my CPA designation has been outside of finance, auditing, and accounting. The skills I learned helped me in every discipline in my career, including business strategy. I guess what I am saying is my career as a CPA taught me the art of critical thinking.

Why is it important for you to give back?
I have been fortunate in my career to have benefited from incredible mentorship. I have also been lucky to be at the right place at the right time in critical moments in my career. It is the responsibility of those who have benefited from good fortune to give to others what they have received and to offer a hand up to those less fortunate. It is the glue that binds society together.

What values do you live by?
Caring, compassion, humility, resolve, duty, and constancy of purpose.

Who or what has been instrumental in your success and why?
My father, Hugh Bolton FCPA, FCA. A man for whom the glass was always half full, who led from the front, who had the courage of his convictions, who made decisions and owned them, who lived every day with passion and resolve, and who changed lives for the better.

Note of thanks
My wife, Ellen, and our four sons, Ben, Max, Tom, and Cullen, are, of course, my support network and the centre of my life. My journey as a CPA was inspired by my father Hugh Bolton FCPA, FCA and I am proud that my two oldest sons, Ben Bolton CPA and Max Bolton CPA chose to follow, like me, in their grandfather's footsteps.

Shane combines national leadership in energy and public company audits with transformative community service.

As Senior Partner and National Energy Leader at KPMG Canada, he is consistently selected by the firm’s largest SEC and Canadian public company clients to lead audits, and senior executives and boards seek his guidance on complex, nation-defining challenges. Over the past five years, he led KPMG Canada’s Energy and Natural Resources industry group, acting as a keynote speaker and providing internal leadership on evolving industry issues.

Beyond the firm, Shane served more than a decade with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede (CES), including ten years as Audit and Finance Committee Chair, and supported various Stampede volunteer committees such as the Stampede Lotteries Committee. In recognition of his service, he was named Honorary Life Director. Shane also mentors CPA students and supports community engagement initiatives, including welcoming newcomers to Canada.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
I have loved balancing my role as an audit partner on several amazing clients, my role at KPMG leading our energy practice, and working closely with incredible upcoming and younger CPAs, all whilst investing time in our community through the Calgary Stampede. It is incredible what being a CPA has allowed me to experience.

Robert’s career is defined by professional excellence, mentorship, and civic leadership. As Partner and PwC Canada’s most senior energy partner in Calgary, he has led audit engagements for major organizations including Enbridge, Suncor, Cenovus, Shell Canada, and TAQA North. Beyond client work, Robert contributed to PwC’s global quality review program in China, Korea, Australia, Russia, and Central Europe, strengthening international standards and elevating the Canadian CPA designation. 

Mentorship has been central to Robert's impact. Throughout his career, he has guided CPAs and early-career professionals, fostering technical skill, leadership, and professional confidence.  

Robert’s service extends to public and civic leadership. As an Institute of Corporate Directors instructor, he advanced governance and audit committee oversight, and his secondment to the Alberta Securities Commission enhanced capital market integrity. He also served on the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Calgary Philharmonic Society boards and led charitable initiatives including PwC United Way campaigns. 

Shelley has consistently demonstrated a high level of integrity, leadership, and professionalism. She has more than 30 years experience specializing in corporate and personal income tax advisory services and tax compliance services, and she is well known for her expertise in agricultural taxation matters. She thrives on assisting her clients in developing business and succession models that will move their enterprises forward and with consideration to integration of the next generation.

As both a leader and a role model, Shelley has mentored many CPAs throughout their careers, fostering an environment where questions are encouraged, mistakes are treated as learning opportunities, and growth is continuous, while instilling a strong sense of technical excellence, compassion, and leadership in those around her.

Shelley’s leadership extends to professional governance and community service. Of particular note is her service to CPA Insurance Plans West, where in her role as Chair she assisted in guiding modernization of the organization, a CEO succession, and strategic transitions that enhanced member value and long-term sustainability. As a member of the Board of Directors of Wheatland & Area Hospice Society, her expertise assists in strengthening financial governance and controls to move the organization forward in achieving their fundraising initiatives and goals.

Why have you chosen the CPA designation?
Career versatility and opportunities provided.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
It has enabled me to become a valued advisor to my many clients, assisting them and their families in developing strong business models and integrating the next generation into their businesses.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
The growth and development of Gregory Harriman & Associates over the past 30 years has provided a very gratifying experience both professionally and personally.

What was the most challenging moment in your success so far?
My focus is on public practice; that has brought the challenges of managing the pressure of deadlines but also has provided the most reward serving my clients.

What is one of the greatest things you've learned about leadership?
While technical expertise is important, I have found that strong communication and building trust are keys to being a good leader, as well as the ability to bring all members of the team together.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
Find what you enjoy doing and are passionate about and success will follow.

What professional experience in your life do you feel most grateful for?
The relationships that I have been able to build with my clients: working with them over the years and assisting them in developing their businesses.

What has been the most difficult but rewarding conversation in your life?
Encouraging my children when things don't go as planned and seeing them succeed.

What was the hardest piece of feedback you've gotten and how has that changed you for the better?
Difficult feedback is often the hardest to receive, but it provides the most growth.

What's your personal motto?
Work hard and enjoy life.

What has been an eye-opening realization you've made throughout your career?
Helping others is the greatest reward.

Why is it important for you to give back?
I have always felt that it is important to give back to your professional community as well as the community where you live. This helps build relationships and improve your own well-being while supporting the things and people around you.

What values do you live by?
Integrity, kindness, and the importance of family and health.

Who or what has been instrumental in your success and why?
My husband, as he has always been supportive of my education process (I went back to school as a mature student with three daughters), and my career path.

Note of thanks
Thank you to my family for all their love and support!

Throughout his career, Greg has had a transformative impact on bridging accounting, data, and emerging technology. As Co-Founder and CEO of Black Owl Systems, he has built one of Alberta’s most innovative accounting technology companies, harnessing automation and data intelligence to turn financial information into strategic insight. Under his leadership, Black Owl’s solutions have helped organizations across Canada, the U.S., and international markets reframe accounting technology as a driver of efficiency, insight, and competitive advantage, while also positioning Alberta as a hub for finance and tech innovation.

Greg is also a dedicated mentor, educator, and community-builder. His volunteer work includes supporting major sporting events such as the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup, where his financial leadership and governance processes continue to be used.

A respected innovator and collaborator, Greg inspires the next generation of CPAs and business leaders by demonstrating how technology can elevate accuracy, transparency, and ethical governance.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
Being a CPA has shaped my career in many ways, but the greatest impact has been the people I met along the way. Working with exceptional accountants, including friends, colleagues, staff, clients, and vendors, has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career. Although we share a foundation in accounting, each person brings different experiences and perspectives. That diversity taught me that receiving my designation was only the beginning. Being a CPA has connected me to a community that continues to challenge, support, and inspire me.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
The accomplishment that has made me feel most alive is building Black Owl with my son, Derek. I had already begun thinking about retirement when he came to me with the idea of starting a fintech company to address a gap in lease accounting software. Saying yes meant stepping into unfamiliar areas like fundraising, digital marketing, and software sales. It has been one of the most demanding experiences of my life, but also one of the most rewarding because it lets me build with my son and serve the accounting community in a new way.

Who or what has been instrumental in your success and why?
Many people have shaped my career, but one stands out: C.J. Byrne McNamara CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer of Wascana Energy. Early in my career, he took me under his wing when I stepped into my first management role as Audit Manager. He challenged me with thoughtful, unconventional questions that sharpened my judgment, strengthened my preparation, and improved how I presented ideas. Byrne made me a better auditor, a better leader, and a more thoughtful professional, and his influence has stayed with me throughout my career.

Note of thanks
I want to thank my wife, Jean, who has been my rock throughout my career. Through long hours, travel, and many moves, she always supported me without question. As well, my daughter, Lauren, for her love and confidence, and my son, Derek, whose drive and success have challenged and inspired me in ways I never expected.

Darlene has built a career distinguished by professional excellence, academic leadership, and dedicated community service. Following high school, she joined the Naval Reserve, training as a signalman and attaining the rank of Leading Wren (equivalent to a Corporal in the Army). While pursuing her accounting studies, she was awarded the Queen’s Commission as a Finance Officer in the Northern Alberta Militia District.

She began her professional journey by earning an accounting diploma from NAIT. Recognizing the importance of continued education, she completed both her CMA designation and MBA while working full-time.

Darlene’s career spans both industry and more than 25 years in post-secondary education. She has been a respected role model to colleagues and students alike. A gifted instructor, at MacEwan University, she achieved the highest possible ranking in the institution’s evaluation system and was among the first business instructors promoted to Associate Professor following the institution’s transition to university status. As well, in 2019, she was honoured with the CPA Education Foundation Teaching Prize. In addition to her teaching roles, she served for five years as Chair of the Accounting Certificate, Diploma, and Applied Degree programs.

With support from a CPA Education Foundation grant, Darlene was one of five co-authors of a Management Accounting e-textbook now adopted by some post-secondary institutions across Canada. She has also contributed extensively to the development of accounting education, working with publishers to review textbook editions and serving on Nelson Education’s Editorial Board during the launch of a new Canadian financial accounting text.

Committed to community service, Darlene has volunteered extensively, often in financial leadership roles. She has served as Treasurer for several non-profit organizations and currently holds that role with the Namao Agricultural Society. She is also actively involved in her church group’s initiative to develop a 50-unit affordable housing project. In addition, Darlene and her husband, Maurice, are Officers in the Edmonton Commandery of The Military & Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, where they support fundraising, hospitaller, and communications efforts.

What is one of the greatest things you've learned about leadership?
As a leader, it is important to create an environment where people feel welcomed, included, supported, and valued.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
Dr. Grant MacEwan (the namesake for MacEwan University) said we should all try to leave things in His vineyard better than we found them. Each person should question whether they have done this.

Note of thanks
Thank you to my family for always believing that I could accomplish anything I set my sights on. And thank you to my friends who helped me along the way, especially Glen Gadowsky FCPA, FCGA and his wife, Darlene.

Raj has spent nearly three decades advancing entrepreneurship, mentorship, and trusted advisory services across Alberta and Saskatchewan. His work is best understood not just as a career, but as a continuation of a legacy. Following the sudden passing of Raj’s father, Raj Manek Sr., in 1996, members of the Saskatoon business community came together to find a meaningful way to carry forward his work. Known for his passion for economic development and his natural ability to mentor and connect people, his father had left a lasting impression on entrepreneurs and community leaders alike.

From this collective effort, the Raj Manek Mentorship Program was established in 1997 in partnership with the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. From the outset, the program was intentionally designed as a business-to-business mentorship model, pairing entrepreneurs and business owners with experienced leaders to support real-world decision-making, growth, and leadership. The philosophy that strong businesses create strong communities has shaped not only the program but also Raj’s approach to his professional practice.

As Chair of the Raj Manek Sr. Foundation, Raj has taken on the responsibility of stewarding this vision as a long-term commitment to the community, with the program achieving its 30th anniversary this year. What began as a tribute has grown into one of the Prairies’ most enduring mentorship platforms, facilitating more than 670 mentor-protégé matches supported by over 160 experienced business leaders. For Raj, the program’s impact is reflected in the relationships formed and the success of entrepreneurs who, in turn, strengthen their communities. He remains personally involved in shaping the program, working closely with participants, supporting mentor matches, creating community partnerships, and ensuring it continues to reflect the values on which it was founded.

As a trusted advisor, Raj works closely with business owners through critical moments, including growth, transition, dispute, and sale. His approach reflects the same principles that underpin the mentorship program: listening first, understanding the full context, and providing thoughtful, practical guidance tailored to each situation. Clients and colleagues consistently recognize his ability to bring clarity to complex issues while maintaining a calm, balanced perspective, particularly in high-stakes and adversarial environments.

Through his leadership, Raj has done more than sustain a program: He has built a bridge between mentorship and professional practice, where the same principles of trust, clarity, and long-term thinking guide both. As well, his work has helped business owners navigate complex decisions, unlock value, and achieve successful outcomes, while reinforcing a broader ecosystem where strong businesses contribute to stronger communities.

In carrying forward his father’s legacy, Raj has created something enduring: a platform and a practice that continue to empower others to grow, succeed, and give back.

Why have you chosen the CPA designation?
At my father’s direction, who believed that a CPA understands the foundations of business like a doctor who can diagnose a health issue. From that diagnosis, solutions can be found, and similarly, the CPA designation enables the analysis and understanding of the underlying fundamentals and drivers of a business that, in turn, enable the subsequent decision making to fix problems or capitalize on opportunities.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
It has given me the opportunity to experience the business world in such diverse aspects and the confidence that I can bring tremendous value in almost any business situation. My CPA designation has allowed me to be exposed to and advise on business strategy and tax and understand potential legal considerations, financing, assets' worth (i.e., valuation), and even psychology as it relates to transactions and litigation matters.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
Celebrating the success of our clients or being there for them during life-altering moments. With our involvement in the sale of businesses, we often receive messages of extraordinary gratitude as we help steer one of the client's most important life events and enable them to move on to their next chapter. This often results in lifetime friendships that develop through extreme emotions over long periods of time, which is typical for the sale process. Also, in dealing with litigation matters, the extraordinary stress that clients go through is something we can help facilitate as our analysis and explanation brings clarity, which is usually stress-relieving.

What was the most challenging moment in your success so far?
When we are involved in litigation matters and our work is held to high standards and through scrutiny with the legal counsel we are working for, the opposing legal counsel who are seeking to find problems in our analysis, and a judge who wants to ensure robustness in our work to determine the reliability and weight that should be given to our financial analysis and opinions.

What is one of the greatest things you've learned about leadership?
To surround yourself with people even stronger than you and to rely on them. Leveraging the highest skill sets will result in the fastest, most optimal, and most efficient results.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
Surround yourself with the best people you can in the relevant field you are looking to succeed in, and don't think that anyone is too far above you or unreachable to engage with. The most successful people are often also the ones who share the most. They understand the concept that when they give, they get much more back.

What professional experience in your life do you feel most grateful for?
I am grateful to a veterinarian who sat in the crowd listening to me speak about valuation as it relates to succession planning considerations. That person took a chance on me in selling their business and then referred me to all their friends and colleagues, which resulted in my career direction.

What has been the most difficult but rewarding conversation in your life?
A conversation I had with a partner at Horachek Cannam Joa (now MNP) when I met with him to discuss wanting to specialize in tax. He knew from my skills and personality that I would not succeed and would likely not be happy in the area. That difficult conversation made me focus on what I had a passion for, which was the markets, and in doing so I sought out the valuation field at a time that was early in the profession's development. I found an area that married public practice with my genuine passion, which opened the door for the work I love doing today.

What was the hardest piece of feedback you've gotten and how has that changed you for the better?
I have been criticized by a judge in a legal decision, and it has enabled me to sharpen my focus on how I approach our work for the better in ensuring our independent and transparent thoughts on matters.

What's your personal motto?
Not mine, but that of our mentorship program: "businesses build better communities.”

What has been an eye-opening realization you've made throughout your career?
The most successful people are the ones who leverage the best talents of others and are misers with how they use their own time efficiently.

Why is it important for you to give back?
What we give back is the legacy that we will leave behind. My father passed away 30 years ago, but he gave so much to the community while he was around that the community continues to remember him 30 years later with a street named after him, a flag raised for a week at City Hall to commemorate him every year, and a program in his name. Through that experience, I have realized that what we achieve for ourselves ends with us. What we give to others lives beyond us and potentially forever.

What values do you live by?
Humility. Let our actions speak for themselves. It is not important if others recognize our good work or not. Humility keeps us grounded and focused on good actions and not on how others will react.

Hard work. I have never been the smartest, but hard work will always compensate for my deficiencies and hopefully allow me to get to the same place as someone better positioned.

Who or what has been instrumental in your success and why?
My father. I had no intent to go into accounting as his background was economics and marketing, and I felt I would follow him in the marketing field. His encouragement to pursue accounting changed my career path to enable me to experience the business world and gain confidence in a way that I would not otherwise have achieved.

Note of thanks
Yusuf Karbani FCPA, FCA, who nominated me and worked so hard to present my accomplishments. My mother, who has worked tirelessly for our mentorship program. Without her involvement and her support, I could not have achieved this recognition. My wife, who supported my long work hours and engaged in whatever was needed for our practice.

Jay has built a distinguished global career defined by transformational leadership, innovation, and public service in emerging technology. As EY’s Global Emerging Technology Ecosystem Leader, he drives the firm’s AI strategy, shaping how technology, governance, and ecosystem collaboration are integrated across professional services worldwide. He co-led the EY AI global program, embedding AI responsibly across client service, operations, and public-interest initiatives.

Jay also advances societal impact through his work with the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, and World Economic Forum. He also shares his time and expertise with Junior Achievement Worldwide, which serves to expand digital skills, financial literacy, and AI-powered education for millions of youth.

He has also led EY’s growth in Guyana, advancing an AI-first national strategy in the country’s first Big Four audit and tax practice. Throughout his career, Jay has combined strategic vision, technical expertise, and public-minded leadership to advance the profession and technology for global benefit

Why have you chosen the CPA designation?
35 years ago, I chose the designation because of the opportunities for growth, great work and people, and portability.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
It has opened so much for me, providing a platform to meet others and learn all over the world.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
Qualifying so many years ago and knowing the kind of future that the platform would provide.

What was the most challenging moment in your success so far?
Change. There has been a lot of it and I think I've learned how to lead through it.

What is one of the greatest things you’ve learned about leadership?
Organizations and roles provide you authority. Your people give you leadership.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
Bet on yourself and take risks as early as you can.

What professional experience in your life do you feel most grateful for?
I've been lucky to have always worked with great teams. Plus, my family has been exceptionally supportive.

Phillip is a visionary leader whose career reflects sustained excellence, ethical leadership, and transformative impact. Both a CPA and a lawyer bestowed with the King’s Counsel designation, he was appointed Alberta’s Auditor General in March of 2026. Prior to that appointment, he served as General Counsel & Ethics Officer at the Office of the Auditor General of Alberta (OAG), where he pioneered oath-questioning in legislative audits, advised on the recovery of millions in public funds, and, as inaugural Ethics Officer, assisted in the establishment of enduring frameworks now embedded in OAG methodology and legislative protocols.

Phillip has assisted in submissions for the development of professional standards nationally and internationally, specifically to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board, CPA Canada’s Independence Standing Committee, and the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board. He also serves on the CPA Alberta Discipline Tribunal.

In the community, for over 24 years, Phillip has strengthened BGC Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area, been a driving force in the establishment of its charitable foundation, led United Way campaigns, served in leadership roles with Scouts Canada, leaving a legacy of ethical leadership, mentorship, and community impact.

Why have you chosen the CPA designation?
For me, the designation is a calling. It represents an opportunity to serve a greater purpose by helping others.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
In grade 10, the designation established a direction for my life.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
Overcoming fear of failure through preparing for the UFE. That lesson inspired me to take on other challenges in my life, like pilot lessons to overcome my fear of flying.

What professional experience in your life do you feel most grateful for?
Not limited to one. Every time I am able to help someone in desperate need to face something they don't understand, that gives me purpose.

What's your personal motto?
Don’t be afraid of mistakes, just don’t make the same mistake twice.

What has been an eye-opening realization you've made throughout your career?
How much helping others gives us purpose.

Why is it important for you to give back?
I believe the world is made a better place by the givers.

What values do you live by?
Learning, trust, gratitude, and generosity

Who or what has been instrumental in your success and why?
My mom taught me resilience, grace, empathy, and accountability.

Note of thanks
To my wife, Janice, and my mom, Linda, for their love and support in so many ways. To Eric, for his inspirational leadership and the opportunity to work together through some of the incredible challenges an audit career has to offer.

Mehri’s career reflects steady leadership, strong technical capability, and a commitment to her profession and community. At Suncor Energy, she played a key role in the merger with Petro‑Canada, helping integrate financial systems and teams under tight timelines while maintaining continuity and collaboration. 

In senior leadership roles at Superior Gas Liquids, Mehri has focused on building effective teams with clear accountability and strong collaboration. She has supported employee engagement through several initiatives to improve internal policies and programs, including SGL’s first-ever social club, and has been an active partner with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). Through her leadership, she has also supported efforts to promote diversity and inclusion and to increase the presence of female leaders at the senior level.

Beyond her day‑to‑day roles, Mehri contributes to the broader profession and community through leadership with the Energy Accountants Society of Canada, mentoring with CPA Alberta, teaching at the University of Lethbridge, and volunteering with the Rundle College Society to support students with learning disabilities.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
Be kind to yourself.

What professional experience in your life do you feel most grateful for?
International experience.

Norman is recognized for his principled leadership, technical mastery, and lasting impact on the tax profession. Rising from articling student to Partner and Practice Area Leader-Taxation at KRP, he transformed and standardized the firm’s tax practice; as a result, KRP’s Tax Practice more than doubled. He also established new practice areas in Indirect Tax and Canadian International Tax, strengthened internal training, and led the firm to become an early designated CPA Tax Stream training office, expanding pathways for future tax specialists and elevating professional standards.

Norman has guided complex corporate restructurings and significant transactions with disciplined, tax-efficient strategies that protect value and uphold trust. 

His influence extends beyond the firm through service on the Entrepreneurial CAs of Edmonton Board, leadership within the Edmonton CPA Club and Edmonton Tax Discussion Group, and mentorship across the profession. A Trust and Estate Practitioner and Certified Financial Planner, Norman applies his expertise in dedicated service to seniors, individuals with disabilities, First Nation entrepreneurs, and his church community.

Why have you chosen the CPA designation?
In my youth, I spent a lot of time on the back of lawn mowers and snow blowers and determined at 40 I didn't want to be doing hard labour. I was determined to achieve a good-paying career in the financial sector and was introduced to the profession by my uncle, Malcom Fast FCPA, FCA.

How has being a CPA impacted you?
The CPA designation has provided a platform to work with some very intelligent, thoughtful, and successful business owners and professionals. This expanded my thought process and sharpened my mental output, allowing me to solve complex human problems. Pursuing the designation massively expanded my ability to think through, reason, and solve unusual situations for which I had no previous experience.

What was the most challenging moment in your success so far?
When I was a new accountant, the firm allowed me to take on the relationship with a significant client. The client directed me to do something that was not within our code of ethics and values. Eventually, I told the client that no client or file is worth my designation, and that I and the firm would not proceed in that way. At the time, I did not know what the result would be—whether the client would fire us or the firm might fire me for unilateral action. Looking back, I see that the experience strengthened my mettle. I became and remain good friends with that client today.

What is one of the greatest things you've learned about leadership?
Generals lead from the front—you cannot lead where you won't go and, proverbially speaking, people respect hands that are dirty from work. People follow because of relationships. Relationships are built on a common cause and care for others.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
In my office, I have a sign posted: “Dreams don't work unless you do!". To succeed, you need to do your own hard work, do your own research, and learn from every source possible all the time.

What professional experience in your life do you feel most grateful for?
The ability to work with other intelligent and thoughtful individuals. I have experienced a wide variety of clients and projects, which has allowed for an expansion of knowledge and thought processes. Many of those people stand out in my mind, and I am grateful for all of them.

What's your personal motto?
God first, family and work second, everything else after that.

What has been an eye-opening realization you've made throughout your career?
Some people are a whole lot more successful than others; success does not necessarily correlate with education, intelligence, morals, or socio-economic status of one’s family.

Why is it important for you to give back?
If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know that it did not get there by itself. It is important to help your fellow man where and when you can. You may not always be able to help or assist with their issues and/or path to success, but it is important to look for ways to do so. Also, I just can't help myself.

What values do you live by?
Love thy neighbour as thyself.

Who or what has been instrumental in your success and why?
Particularly the mentorship of Malcolm Fast FCPA, FCA; Deanna Muise FCPA, FCA; Harold Kingston FCPA, FCA (2018 CPA Alberta Lifetime Achievement Award recipient); and in the case of tax matters, Hugh Neilson FCPA, FCA. Also, my parents for instilling character and moral framework; and support of my life partner, Tanya.

Note of thanks
I want to thank God; my life partner, Tanya; Deanna Muise FCPA, FCA, a career long mentor; my uncle, Malcolm Fast FCPA, FCA; 2018 CPA Alberta Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Harold Kingston FCPA, FCA; and in the case of tax matters, Hugh Neilson FCPA, FCA for their advice, patience, and long-suffering.

Tina exemplifies the ideals of Fellowship through transformative leadership, strategic vision, and sustained community impact. As CEO of the Edmonton Community Foundation since 2022, she is part of a team responsible for asset under management growth from $700 million to over $1 billion, endowment fund expansions, and nearly $500 million in cumulative granting to support critical community initiatives. Her leadership balances operational excellence with mission-driven impact, and during her tenure she has revitalized governance, board processes, brand and reputation, and philanthropic innovation. 

Previously, Tina led Edmonton Public Library’s (EPL’s) strategic initiatives, including the service design for the $85 million downtown library revitalization and programs and services that reached 1.3 million users during the pandemic. Her leadership helped EPL earn national and international awards such as the John Cotton Dana Library Marketing Award, the International Federation of Library Associations Marketing Award, and Library of the Year. She also previously held senior roles at Nortel, served on boards including Canada Helps, the Association of Grant Makers in Alberta, and the Mayor’s Housing Task Force, and contributed internationally with the American Library Association. 

Tina is also a passionate advocate for Intellectual Freedom and diversity of thought. For her considerable achievements, Tina has been recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2024), Edify Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40, and multiple sector awards.

What accomplishment has made you feel the most alive and why?
Rebranding the Edmonton Public Library is still the thing I am most proud of. When I joined EPL, few public libraries across North America had marketing professionals in leadership positions. It was so rewarding to take an institution that provided so much value but was viewed as archaic and out-of-date and completely transform its public perception both internally and externally. Fifteen years later, I still hear from people who remember how transformational the change was and how it made them feel proud to be a library lover. Public libraries are amazing places for community, learning, and belonging. I am so proud to be a part of increasing people's awareness of how special libraries are.

What is one of the greatest things you've learned about leadership?
There is no right answer. I have sometimes been depressed reading about all the things that make a "great" leader and realizing I am so deficient in so many ways, but then I remember that we all bring something different to the table and who I am and what I offer differs from someone else. As long as I am showing up as my best self, with integrity, passion, curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn, I know I am starting from a good place.

What advice would you give to others looking to succeed?
Say yes. I have never had a long-term or even medium-term plan. I didn't have a set career plan. Being flexible and open to new possibilities has allowed me to try new things, develop new skills, be comfortable with change, and embrace ambiguity. I have gone to school in three countries and worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. I am a CPA and a librarian. I negotiated with industry analysts on Wall Street, was part of the leadership team for a Fortune 50 CEO event at 30 Rock, led the service design for the downtown library, and now lead a team responsible for $500 million in cumulative granting. What do you have to lose by trying new things and being open to possibilities?

What's your personal motto?
I am going to be a little better today than I was yesterday. I heard this when I was 16 and it stuck.

What has been an eye-opening realization you've made throughout your career?
There is no right answer, most of the time many answers or solutions can work. The most important thing is buy-in and execution. A good idea implemented well beats an excellent idea with no plan.

Note of thanks
I have been blessed to work with and for so many people who have nurtured, shaped, and committed to my growth and development; rounding out my rough edges and challenging me to be better. Special thanks to Drew Thomson FCPA, FCMA for championing this recognition.