Earlier this year, my son presented me with something he read in an online tabloid as a fact. When I asked him how he knew it was true, he assured me it had to be if someone had posted it online. This innocuous celebrity gossip became a teaching moment on using online fact-checking resources like Snopes and led to some discussion about countering confirmation bias.

Maintaining a critical eye toward the media we consume is trickier than ever, thanks to a variety of factors, including who we are connected to on social media platforms, what they believe and post, what media we subscribe to, limited online access to Canadian news care of Bill C-18 (the Online News Act), and so much more. We must be mindful of what is being curated for us, even when seeking to expand our perspectives. I am working to learn more about differing viewpoints, listen and read more, and talk less, particularly about divisive topics.

Under our March theme of Diversity and Inclusion, we aim to help you expand your learning by exploring the impacts of male-centric language and how to incorporate inclusive alternatives into your lexicon. We also investigate how institutional investors use proxy voting and other strategies to approach diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Our charterholder profile features wealth management professional Grace Cleary-Yu, CFA, who is working alongside her nine-year-old daughter, Rose, to expand the financial literacy of children and parents alike with their co-authored book, Fabulous Finance.

This issue also examines the art of asking the right questions as a financial professional and explores how immigration has impacted Canada’s economy. We also study the impact regulatory changes have on corporate demographics.

We delve into data referencing and copying in Python to provide readers with some technical learning.

I want to draw attention to a survey sent out simultaneously with this issue of The Analyst to learn about your preferred way to read this magazine. Please click here to participate.

Finally, we congratulate Brenda Bickram, contributor for The Analyst’s  Books for Business segment, on her well-deserved retirement. Her insightful book recommendations have been a consistent highlight for readers. She is succeeded by Clare Campbell, who will begin curating book recommendations for us beginning in June.

As a new season approaches, it’s an opportune time to let go of old impressions and let new ones blossom. Happy spring!