President's Message Summer 2011

Hello Everyone! It was great to see so many of you at the 2011 IIA National Conference. If you weren’t one of the 800 or so that participated,you truly missed a great event. At the Conference Gala on September 27, two Toronto Chapter members were recognized for their outstanding achievements in the field of internal auditing in Canada. The Arthur Childs Distinguished Service in Canada award honours IIA Canada members for their service to the organization in Canada. This award was granted to Mark Britt, CIA, CA and Chief Audit Executive at the University of Toronto. Mark has been involved with the Toronto Chapter since 1994, assuming a number of roles including Audit Committee Chair, President, Past President and Governor. During his time as a Chapter leader, he took on various “beyond the call” initiatives including a major Chapter financial review, a revision of the Chapter By-laws and governance structure, and a bid for the 2012 IIA International Conference. Mark has been serving Canadian members on the IIA Canada Board and the IIA North America’s Chapter Relations Committee since 2008, holding the position of District Representative for Eastern Canada.

The IIA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individual members who, through a lifetime of accomplishments and dedication to the profession and to the Institute, have impacted the Canadian practice of internal auditing, advanced the awareness of IIA Canada, and inspired professionals in Canada and around the world to make a difference in our profession and in the organizations we serve. This award was granted to Archie Thomas, CIA, FCMA. Archie joined the IIA in 1980, and his involvement with the Institute has continued for 30 years. Archie has held all Toronto Chapter executive positions, including President in 1993-1994 which led to hosting the 1994 IIA International Conference in Toronto and the Chapter’s 50th Anniversary dinner recognizing chapter founder, Arthur Child. Archie also established the Chapter’s Volunteer of the year Award and contributes a prize annually. He has held regional and national roles, as well significant involvement at the international level. Archie was on the Global Committees responsible for reviewing the Global IIA Structure, which was instrumental in the eventual formation of the Canadian Council, and our evolution to a stand-alone Canadian Institute. He was also one of the leaders who successfully got the Canadian Accounting Designations recognized as exempt from part 4 of the CIA exam. It has been my pleasure to interact with both Mark and Archie on a regular basis in my role as Toronto Chapter President.

As you will see from the newsletter header, the Toronto Chapter has reached “platinum” status. We have held “gold” status for the last 10 years, and based on the sustained commitment and dedication of many chapter volunteers, Officers and Governors, we have achieved this new level of recognition through the IIA’s Chapter Achievement Program. Congratulations to all.

You will see on our homepage that the Call for Nominations for the 2012-2013 Chapter year has been posted. The deadline is December 31, 2011. The new Chapter leaders will be appointed at the Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2012 and will begin their terms on June 1, 2012.

Until next time,