An elegant affair to be sure: Toronto CFA Society welcomed its 2008 charterholders and their loved ones to a cocktail reception in their honour, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel’s Imperial Room on 15 January. The event, sponsored by Michael Page International, saw 82 newly minted charterholders being congratulated by current society President Deborah Lee Chang, CFA, new Executive Director Peter Jarvis, CFA, and Vice President Steve Rostowsky, CFA. As the charterholders’ names were called and projected onto a large screen, their families and friends who provided support over the path to charterdom took the opportunity to snap a few pictures and videos to commemorate the feat.

The keynote speaker, Margaret Franklin, CFA, society past president and member of the Board of Governors at CFA Institute, shared some memorable words, as well as a special video tribute to Ben Graham from his loyal protégé, Warren Buffet. Margaret suggested that the journey for charterholders is just beginning and recommended three themes to guide them: inspiration, aspiration, and perspiration. Consider that for every 100 people who enrol in the CFA program, only 22 make it to this point! She also asked everyone to think about “giving back” and volunteering with the society–a suggestion that we at The Analyst couldn’t agree with more.