Valla Tinney , FCPA , FCGA Valla started her accounting career as a staff accountant with Hutcheson & Co . and obtained her CGA designation in 1991 . Currently the director of finance for the District of Saanich , she has held a variety of progressive roles in the public sector , including accounting supervisor and deputy director of finance with the Township of Esquimalt and director of corporate services for the towns of View Royal and Sidney . Under her leadership , Saanich has received and continues to receive awards from the Government Finance Officers Association of the US and Canada for financial reporting and budgeting presentation . Passionate about giving back to her profession , Valla has volunteered as a presenter with the Government Finance Officers Association of BC ( GFOABC ) and as an instructor with the Municipal Administration Training Institute since 2005 . In addition , she has served the GFOABC
as president ( 2010-2012 ), director ( 2005-2013 ), and instructor ( 2009-present ). Valla also participated on the steering group for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities ’ Comment on Fiscal Management in British Columbia ’ s Municipalities . In 2015 , she received GFOABC ’ s Outstanding Contribution Award for her dedication to the education of local government financial professionals . Valla is one of Camosun College ’ s first Business Administration Co-op Program graduates , and she has supported the program by serving as a co-op employer and mentor . In the latter role , she educates accounting students on the benefits of the profession and inspires them to pursue a professional accounting designation . She actively promotes careers in local government finance to new CPAs to ensure that communities receive strong financial leadership well into the future . An active volunteer in her community , Valla has contributed in a variety of capacities , including as team captain for the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay , treasurer of the Victoria Jazz Society , and as a fundraiser for Cops for Cancer . She is currently a member of the advisory board to the Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre .
~ Lifetime Achievement Award ~
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the exceptional dedication , commitment , and extraordinary contributions of those members who have received their Fellowship and since then have continued to attain significant achievements in a broad range of areas .
Robert ( Bob ) Strachan , FCPA , FCMA , C . Dir Bob is principal of Bob Strachan & Associates in Victoria . Before founding his firm in 2013 , he held a number of management positions as an accountant with the Capital Regional District ( CRD ) from 1986 to 2013 . Prior to his work with the CRD , he held roles with the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Province of BC . Bob obtained his CMA and fellowship designations in 1995 and 2004 , respectively . While at the CRD , Bob held a lead role in the implementation of a new enterprise risk management program , enterprise information system , and corporate asset management program . Under his leadership , the CRD received numerous awards from the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting . Bob is highly regarded for his contributions to the accounting profession , and he played a pivotal role in the unification of Canada ’ s profession . This included leading the CMA Canada board through merger discussions and developing unification strategies , and serving as co-chair of the National Steering Committee that helped to develop
the CPA Collaboration Accord and oversee the formation of CPA Canada . Bob went on to serve as vice-chair and chair of the CPA Canada board , and he worked with CPA boards in every province to ensure that the unification of the profession was fully integrated within the national and provincial partnership . In addition , Bob served on the CMABC and CMA Canada boards , including as chair ( in 2001-2003 and 2009-2011 , respectively ). He is also the former chair of both CPA Canada ’ s Nominating and Governance Committee and CPA Canada ’ s President and CEO Search Committee . Today , he is a member of CPA Canada ’ s Corporate Oversight and Governance Board and the Chartered Professional Accountants ’ Education Foundation of BC . Bob has generously shared his expertise with other organizations as well . This has included serving on the board of the Financial Management Institute of Canada ( Victoria Chapter ) and chairing the Camosun College Foundation , as well as contributing to Royal Roads University ’ s Master of Arts in Leadership program and serving on the Province of BC ’ s Accounting Policy Advisory Committee . Bob also makes time to volunteer in the community . He has served as a director of Leadership Victoria and coached and served in executive positions with amateur sports organizations .
Photo of Christopher Burnley by Heydemann Art of Photography . Photo of Norman Daley by Tyler Meade Photography . Photo of Paul Hargreaves courtesy of the BC Dairy Association . Photos of Gordon Holley , Derek Johnson , Geraldine Lai , Jeff Morgan , Bruce Morris , Shane Onufrechuk , Walter Pela , and Jeremy Pierce by Kent Kallberg Studios . Photo of Al LeFebvre by Bobbi Carpino Photography . Photo of Regan McGrath by Antonio La Fauci Photography . Photo of Peter Ranson courtesy of KPMG . Photo of Ann Senae by Jeff Andrews Photography . Photo of Bob Strachan courtesy of CPA Canada . Photo of Valla Tinney by John Yanyshyn of Visions West Photography . Photo of Sean Wandler by RDC Photography .
28 CPABC in Focus • Mar / Apr 2017