THE NEW YEAR WAS KICKED OFF WITH A ROAR at the Society as our staff and volunteers planned and executed a lineup of superb events and initiatives. For many of us, our resolutions include new career goals, as we recognize the competitive environment in which we operate. In response, our staff and volunteers are developing programs designed to provide you, our members, with the tools and knowledge required to gain and maintain that competitive edge. For example, programs such as Career Advice From Recruitment Experts on January 24, and Career Chat – Innovation in Wealth Management on February 15—both sold-out events—provided insights from the investment community’s top recruiters and employers on industry trends and how to seek career opportunities strategically, while leveraging the CFA designation as a differentiator.

On January 31, we hosted our 2017 Mentorship/Protégé Reception. Our Mentorship Program, now 10 years old, was developed in 2007 to help members build access to professional networks and gain expertise—critical components for their professional development. Since the program’s inception, we’ve successfully paired up more than 300 mentors and protégés. The program bridges the gap between new and experienced charterholders, where both parties benefit: the protégé from the experienced practitioner’s knowledge, and the veteran from the new member’s challenges and the talents he or she brings to the industry. Overall, by sharing knowledge with each other and demonstrating high ethical practices, we can ensure future generations of successful leaders while promoting a healthy, long-term investment community.

This year, our Local Ethics Challenge has advanced to become a nationwide competition. Over the next few months, local Societies will host their own events, and each local winning team will advance to the inaugural 2017 Canadian Ethics Challenge, to be held here in Toronto on June 1. This initiative, spearheaded by Toronto volunteers in 2014, was designed to promote the importance and understanding of incorporating high ethical standards into our daily investment practices. It also serves as a vehicle to develop stronger relationships with key academic institutions and future industry leaders. On January 19, we were pleased to announce the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University as our Local Ethics Challenge champion. They will represent our Society at the nationals.

I’d also like to congratulate all of our new 2016 CFA charterholders. Last year, we welcomed more than 600 into our Society and, on February 9, I had the pleasure of celebrating this momentous occasion with them and their guests at our CFA Charter Recognition event.

Finally, your membership experience remains our top priority, and we value your feedback. If you have any suggestions on how we can better serve the Society, or if you have any questions or concerns about any of our past or upcoming initiatives, please don’t hesitate to connect with us.