Eight CAs among 2006 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100

Toronto, Ontario (November 21, 2006) - The presence of eight Chartered Accountants on the 2006 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 list once again shows the empowering nature of the designation. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario is pleased that so many Chartered Accountants were recognized at the Women's Executive Network's (WXN) 4th Annual Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 ™ Awards and Summit on Tuesday, November 21. The number of CAs on the list is up from seven in 2005.

"By becoming a Chartered Accountant, these professional achievers have earned respect and recognition, and have used it to make a big impact at senior levels of Canada's business community," said Brian Hunt, FCA, President and CEO of the Institute, "It's no wonder that today, more than half of graduating CAs are women. For anyone considering a career in business, the CA designation fosters superior financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight and leadership."

WXN is dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in Canada's workplaces. Under its auspices, the Top 100 are chosen by an independent advisory board. Winners are categorized by:

Corporate
Entrepreneurs
Public Sector Leaders
Trailblazers and Trendsetters
Professionals
Champions
Arts and Communications
Future Leaders

The Chartered Accountants on the 2006 Top 100 List under Corporate:

Janice Fukakusa, CA, Chief Financial Officer, RBC Financial Group, Royal Bank of Canada
Marianne Harrison, CA, Executive Vice-President and Controller, Manulife Financial
Colleen Johnston, FCA, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officers, TD Bank Financial Group
Karen Maidment, FCA, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, BMO Financial Group
Franca Smith, CA, Senior Vice-President, Financial Control, Loblaw Companies
Barbara Stymiest, FCA, Chief Operating Officer, Royal Bank of Canada

The Chartered Accountant on the 2006 Top 100 List under Champions:

Nicole Beaudoin, FCA, President and CEO

The Chartered Accountant on the 2006 Top 100 List under Professionals:

Mary Lou Maher, CA, Chief Financial Officer, KPMG LLP

"Ontario's CAs salute all 100 of the winners of the Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Awards and the WXN for promoting this worthy event," said Hunt. " We look forward to Chartered Accountants continuing to enjoy their prominence on this list - and in Canadian workplaces."

About the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario:
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario is the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario's 32,000 CAs and 4,000 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. Recognized internationally, the CA designation denotes financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight and leadership. The Institute website is: www.icao.on.ca

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For more information please contact:

Perry Jensen
Director of Media Relations
[T] 416-969-4271
[F] 416-962-8900