I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and had the opportunity to take some time to relax and recharge for another productive year.

At CFA Society Toronto, we started 2016 in high gear as we rolled out a diverse offering of events and programs aimed to get your year started on the right foot. Our programming team is making great efforts to elevate your experience at our events by sourcing high-calibre keynote speakers to discuss current and relevant topics in the investment community. Professional development of our membership is our priority, and I encourage you to check our website for upcoming events on a regular basis.

On January 19, we congratulated 250 of our newest CFA charterholders at the Annual CFA Charter Recognition event. During the ceremony, we celebrated their accomplishments and acknowledged the dedication required to successfully become a CFA charterholder. Becoming a new charterholder is more than just a three-letter designation; it represents your commitment to the investment community, professionalism, and high ethical standards. Many of us are familiar with the time and effort required to achieve the designation, and, at one point, we also shared the same struggles. Well done, new charterholders!

On January 28, Laura Rittenhouse, CEO of Rittenhouse Rankings and author of Investing Between the Lines, joined us at the third annual Financial Journalism Awards to recognize the role our press serves in educating the public in gaining a better understanding of the investment profession. This year, we extended invitations to our membership to give local media an opportunity to meet the diverse community that makes up the Society.

We have some exciting programs and events coming up this year. I look forward to seeing you at them!