SPRING IS NORMALLY THE TIME OF YEAR when CFA Society Toronto volunteers come together to celebrate the work they have completed as a team. The sun is shining, and it’s the start of that most Canadian time of year: patio season. On Thursday nights in Toronto, the patios in the downtown core are packed with charterholders, their colleagues, and close friends enjoying some downtime together. With the final push of work on, and the promise of summer vacation and some much-earned R&R with our families and friends only a few weeks away, this is generally a very promising time of year.

Unfortunately, nothing about 2020 has been “typical,” as we face a global healthcare crisis head-on, combined with previously unimaginable market volatility and immense changes in how we are able to interact with our co-workers, stakeholders, clients, and extended families. Thankfully, modern technology allows us to enjoy video conferencing, to telecommute, and to connect virtually with coworkers, committee members, and family alike, so we can appreciate the semblance of regularity this provides.

This spring, aspiring charterholders will not be filling their evenings and weekends with study groups, sample exams, and CFA curriculum-related readings. While it seems a pause button has been pushed on so many of the things we have grown accustomed to in our everyday lives, other things continue on. The way CFA Society Toronto membership and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure they meet all of their commitments, despite tumultuous work and personal schedules, is inspiring. Our dedicated volunteers have pulled together and shown how truly unshakeable they are in the face of adversity and change, rising to every occasion. Perseverance has surely become a descriptor that is synonymous with CFA charterholders.

I am tremendously proud of the leadership role that our members and volunteers have taken through a time of crisis. Thanks to the work of the Board of Directors of CFA Society Toronto and our volunteers, we have managed to provide a near-seamless experience for our membership. We remain focused on our goals of building a stronger future for finance, and providing meaningful educational experiences.

We will be evaluating upcoming volunteer opportunities in the months ahead, as we move towards the next programming year and aspire to continue our role of serving one of the greatest investment communities in the world most effectively.

I wish you and your loved ones safety and wellness during these trying months.