Burlington CPA receives Life Membership Award

Blake Mercer, FCPA, FCGA, recognized for his outstanding professional and community contributions

TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2014 /CNW/ - The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario is proud to announce that Burlington resident Blake Mercer, FCPA, FCGA, has been named one of just three Life Membership Award recipients in 2014.

Life Members recipients are recognized for their extraordinary service to the accounting profession through activities at the provincial level. These accomplished chartered professional accountants are among today's leading accounting and finance professionals, proudly representing their profession and designation.

Blake helped to shape the changing landscape of the accounting profession in Ontario. As past Chair of CGA Ontario, Blake was influential to unification activity - in the province and at the national level - devoting long-hours and expertise to unification discussions and negotiations. He supported communications initiatives and engaged with members, all while providing trusted leadership to peers and colleagues. During the unification of the accounting profession process, he traveled across Ontario participating in 30 town halls, addressing unification-related issues and speaking to the concerns of the membership.

Blake continues to demonstrate leadership beyond his term, always taking time to assist in industry related matters, speaking engagements, media relations, and governance. Licensed by CGA Ontario as a public accountant in 2012, Blake serves as a role model and mentor to members and students who aspire to be public accountants.

First elected to the Board of Directors in 2006, Blake chaired the professional standards and competency committee, admissions standards committee, governance committee, finance committee and, in 2011, the executive committee. He currently serves as a director on the board of the Milton Chamber of Commerce and, from 2002 to 2005, served as its treasurer.

Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations for their financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership.

Note to editors: More information and photographs are available for this Life Membership award recipient.

About the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario is the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario's more than 80,000 CPAs and approximately 20,000 CPA students. CPA Ontario serves the public interest by developing, monitoring and enforcing the highest standards of professional competence and ethical conduct. Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations for their financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership. For information on the profession, visit www.cpaontario.ca. To become a CPA in Ontario, visit www.goCPAontario.ca.

SOURCE: The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

Perry Jensen, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 416-969-4271 or 1-800-387-0735, ext. 271, [email protected]; Amy Mulhern, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 416-322-6520 or 1-800-668-1454 ext. 8311, [email protected]