1908
Birth of the CGA designation |
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John Leslie, Assistant Comptroller of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and two fellow railway accountants, E.B. Manning and F.A. Cousins, form the Canadian Accountants' Association. John Leslie is the association's first president. The association organizes lectures for members and funds a professional library. |
1913
Association gets federal nod |
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On June 6, 1913, the association, now known as the General Accountants' Association, is federally incorporated. It becomes a self-regulating professional organization able to set standards and examinations for admission. The CGA designation, born in 1908, is now confirmed. |
1921
Expansion begins |
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The association's first chapter is formed, in Toronto. Over the next two decades, chapters are established in Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax and Regina. |
1924
Study guide published |
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The first book of past exams is published as a study guide. |
1932
First woman CGA |
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Ivy Cox becomes the association's first female CGA. She would later marry and become Ivy Thomas. |
1945
Chapters from coast-to-coast |
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Association membership stands at 1,253 and there are chapters from coast-to-coast. Provincial and territorial associations are later established under their own charters. |
1948
Bilingual origins |
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Examinations are offered in French and English in Quebec. The move to a bilingual organization is underway. |
1950s
Innovation education program |
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CGA-BC and the University of British Columbia's School of Commerce develop an innovative five-year extension program, available on campus or by correspondence. The program is later adopted in other jurisdictions and becomes a national curriculum standard. |
1964
Education program goes international |
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The education program is extended to the Caribbean and Bermuda. |
1974
Code of Ethics enshrined |
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CGA-Canada approves what would become the Code of Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct. The national office relocates to Vancouver from Montreal. |
1977
Founding member of IFAC |
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CGA-Canada becomes a founding member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). |
1982
Officially Certified |
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At the national level, the General Accountants' Association becomes the Certified General Accountants Association. |
1984
Education program grows, again |
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The CGA education program is extended to Macau, and later to Hong Kong and China. |
1987
CGA becomes a brand |
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CGA is registered under the federal Trademark Act, providing national, as well as provincial, recognition. |
1988
John Leslie's Award |
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John Leslie Award is established in honour of the association's founding president and Chair. The award recognizes exceptional service. |
1987 – 1991
Competency-based accounting education pioneered |
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A major revision of the education program, known as Program 90, is completed. Competency-based objectives, management emphasis and integration of ethics and information technology become hallmarks of the revised program. |
1991
Affiliation agreement inked |
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An agreement between CGA-Canada and the provincial and territorial associations further defines their respective roles and responsibilities. |
1998
Degree becomes a requirement |
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A national requirement is instituted for CGAs to obtain a bachelor's degree prior to certification. Partnerships are developed with universities to provide distance-learning options for degree completion. |
2003
Asian links secured |
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CGA-Hong Kong is granted affiliate status. CGA education materials are offered at more than a dozen Chinese universities. |
2004
Education program goes fully online |
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The CGA education program moves to a fully online distance learning model. CGA-Canada enhances its certification model. Laurentian University and CGA-Canada team up to offer online MBA program for CGAs. |
2006
Worldwide opportunities |
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CGA-Canada signs a mutual recognition agreement with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the world's largest and fastest-growing accounting association. |
2007
Caribbean joins CGA family |
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CGA-Caribbean is granted affiliate status. |
2008
CGA-Canada turns 100 |
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CGA-Canada marks its centennial anniversary and the birth of the CGA designation. |