Partners in the Community

Individual CA Community Service and Leadership

The Institute is proud of the extensive community service and leadership provided by its individual members. Throughout Ontario, CAs are active as volunteer leaders in their communities.

The Institute recognizes and celebrates this community service and leadership of its members through the ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit and through triennial FCA elections.

ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit
The ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit, the highest honour that the Institute can bestow upon its members, recognizes conspicuous and sustained service to or on behalf of the CA profession, including service to the community. Seventy-five per cent majority votes of both a nominating committee, made up of the five most recent Institute past-chairs, and of the governing Council are required for election to this prestigious Award. Since its inception in 1984, there have been 42 ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit Recipients.

FCA Elections
The Institute's FCA Election honour those members who have brought distinction to the CA profession with outstanding achievements in their careers; community leadership; and service to the profession. Following the 2006 FCA election, there were 891 FCAs in Ontario, just under three per cent of the Institute's membership.

ICAO Award of Distinction
Coinciding with the FCA elections, the ICAO Award of Distinction is given every three years to acknowledge and profile younger Ontario CAs who have brought distinction to themselves and to their profession through their leadership and achievements.

Christine E. Sinclair Community Leadership Award
In addition, all nominees from the ICAO Award of Distinction election will be automatically considered for the Christine E. Sinclair Community Leadership Award, a special award for voluntary community leadership. 

Individual Contribution to CA Profession

Distinguished Service Award
An entirely new award, the ICAO Distinguished Service Award, was created to honour an individual – not necessarily a Chartered Accountant – who has provided outstanding service to, or on behalf of, the CA profession. The first recipient is Mr.. Peter H. Barnes.

Institute Sponsorships and Programs

The Institute is also proud of its sponsorship of several carefully selected community and charitable groups, and its partnership involvement in selected economic development initiatives. These sponsorships and related programs reflect the CA profession's commitment to diversity and the development of Ontario's youth.