Recently in CIMA Category

On this Remembrance day I was sad to receive an email from CIMA Canada President, Kanish Thevarasa which I repeat below.

Dear members and students:

We are very saddened to inform you of the passing away of Tony Thompson. Tony has been the voice of CIMA in Canada for the last 30 years and most of you would have spoken to him, exchanged emails or received mail from him during that time. Tony's commitment to CIMA has been enormous; his recent illness could not keep him away from furthering CIMA in Canada and as recently as two Monday's ago he was at a GO Transit meeting to promote the CIMA qualification. Tony was instrumental in organizing CPD events in Toronto, setting up branches for CIMA across Canada, organizing member events, conducting CIMA examinations in Toronto and so much more.

Our prayers and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

I had the pleasure of meeting Tony when he came to Vancouver for a CIMA Meeting back in 2006. I also exchanged telephone calls and emails with him over the months. I can not say I knew Tony very well but I did immediately recognise his dedication to CIMA, his desire to promote the Institute and support members.

I am certain that as BC Correspondent here in Vancouver I have not managed to achieve the standards Tony obviously set back East. I can only say that maybe it's time for me to look at that again and try to contribute more effectively. I will do so in the knowledge that the world has lost a man whose passion and integrity will remain an inspiration to all.

Rest in peace, Tony.

Technorati Tags: CIMA, CIMA Canada, Tony Thompson

This week I received an email from CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. They are the UK equivalent to the CMA here in Canada and I act as their BC Correspondent.

This coming week see's the Canadian Branch host the biggest event of the year in Toronto. The CIMA Canada Mayor's Trophy takes place on June 23rd at Sunnybrook Park, 1132 Leslie Street and has grown over the years to be a very successful and well reported event.

The event is a Celebration of Cricket and every years succeeds in bringing together people from diverse communities across the Toronto Region. Sponsors have included Bell Canada, Scotiabank not to mention the support of the Mayor of Toronto, the Toronto Police Service and many more. Last year the event won a Global Prize from the International Cricket Council for Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Event. High praise indeed!

This year Gordon Grant, the newly elected President of CIMA and Glynn Lowth Deputy President will be in Toronto to attend the event next week. CIMA is striving to be an International organisation and the visit of our youngest ever President and his Deputy President is very welcome. It's a shame I can't make it to Toronto, but it does demonstrate this is one very big country - maybe I'll suggest this for next year and the clearly excellent sponsorship team can factor the costs in ;-)

The CMA, at least here in BC had a very successful marquee event of their own in May. Over 250 participants attended the provincial conference, which featured keynote speakers from across North America including international bestseller Freakonomics co-author Stephen Dubner, Captain of the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Cassie Campbell, and award-winning psychologist and Harvard Professor Dr. Brian Little. You can read more about the event here.

CIMA and the Society of Certified Management Accountants have an existing Mutual recognition programme which I was pleased to give feedback on recently. Personally I think the two organisations should continue to increase our links to each other. The global community of Management Accountants can only benefit from strengthening our ties with each other.

I'm told there should be plenty of publicity for the event and for CIMA - CBC is the official media sponsor this year, as well as coverage in more traditional press. The CMA campaigns are also well worth looking at as well. If you click here you can see the online ads. I must ask the office if they can give in a proper link so I can embed on on this blog!