York Region students eligible for $500 YCA Award

York Region, Ontario (April 12, 2006) - Students in York Region have another reason to consider a career as a Chartered Accountant - the YCA Award and the $500 prize that goes to each of the top three contestants. The York District Chartered Accountants Association launched the YCA Award to give high school students considering a career as a Chartered Accountant the opportunity to compete, have fun and earn some cash prizes.

The top three entering students will receive an award plaque and a cheque for $500 and the top 10 entries will receive a Certificate of Excellence. The deadline for submissions is May 11, 2006 at 5 p.m.

"This contest gives York Region's graduating high school students a chance to think about a career as a Chartered Accountant, while making some money," says Arun K. Mathur, CA, York District Chartered Accountants Association Awards Committee chair. "There are over 31,000 Ontario CAs and they're working at a wide range of top jobs in almost every industry you can name. The more students learn about the opportunities a CA designation offers, the more likely they are to choose this exciting career path."

To qualify, a student must be a graduating full-time student attending high school in York Region. The student must be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario's Associate Student program, which students can sign up for at: https://www.ca2b.biz/H/pdfs/CA20050089.pdf

To enter, students must submit an essay of no more than 300 words on why they might consider a career as a Chartered Accountant. Essays will be evaluated for demonstrated research, creativity, effective writing style, spelling and grammar. All entries must be received as a Microsoft Word document sent to Jon French at the Institute at jfrench@icao.on.ca, and include the student's name, contact phone number, high school and principal.

About the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario:
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario is the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario's 31,000 CAs and 3,500 CA students. Since 1879, the Institute has protected the public interest through the CA profession's high standards of qualification and the enforcement of its rules of professional conduct. The Institute website is: www.icao.on.ca

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For more information please contact:
Perry Jensen
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
416-969-4271 or 1-800-387-0735 ext. 271
pjensen@icao.on.ca