OVER THE PAST MONTH, several demonstrations have been held in High Park surrounding Phase 1 of making the public space car-free. People on all sides of the issue are speaking out, whether it’s protesting the lack of accessibility a car-free space provides for those who have mobility issues, rallying for the benefits of a car-free haven more akin to Central Park within the bustling city of Toronto, or voicing concerns that these changes don’t address the bike racing in the park and its inherent danger to pedestrians. 

As someone whose family frequents the park for various programs, I have made a point of educating myself on the different aspects of the issue and how it impacts my family and the people in my community.

No matter where you stand on car-free park space, there is no denying that advocacy is essential work and that there is an intrinsic link between advocacy and education. 

With the theme of Advocacy and Education, this issue of The Analyst takes an extensive look at their importance in the financial community. We highlight the advocacy work of CFA Societies Canada and the ways the organization strives to represent the sentiments and values of charterholders across Canada. 

As education is a cornerstone of the CFA Society Toronto community, we delve into everything you need to know about attaining and showcasing your Professional Learning credits each year and explore the CAIA stackable credential program available to CFA charterholders. We also provide exclusive event coverage of three CFA Society Toronto events, offering critical analysis on sustainable investments from energy transition investing experts, in-depth analysis of the crypto market in 2023 and beyond, and insights into how artificial intelligence will impact investment decision-making. 

We explore the gap between accounting rules and underlying business economics and the growing need for regulation in the era of the “finfluencer.” 

We have a technical piece on Regular Expression (Regex) for those looking forward to sharpening their Python skills. Our featured guest contribution looks into volatility management and portfolio outcomes.

And, back by popular demand, this issue offers two charterholder profiles: one showcasing the educational and professional endeavours of the youngest person in Toronto to earn his charter, Maximillian Robson, CFA, and the second a conversation featuring the importance of research and mentorship with Senior Analyst, Howard Leung, CFA. 

No matter what you have planned for the back-to-school season, this issue will surely pique your educational and advocacy-related curiosities. Enjoy!