Media Kit -
Media release: Don Johnston Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FPSC ESTABLISHES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
TO PROFESSION OF FINANCIAL PLANNING IN CANADA

Toronto, January 26th, 2006 – To recognize and further inspire outstanding contributions to the advancement of the profession of financial planning in Canada, the Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) Board of Directors inaugurated the annual Donald J. Johnston Award at FPSC’s 10th Anniversary celebration in Toronto, January 26th.

FPSC’s founding and current president Mr. Donald J. Johnston was recognized as the inspiration for and the first recipient of the award in a surprise ceremony at the anniversary event attended by approximately 100 people. FPSC Board Chair, Ms Margaret Koniuck, CFP, CGA said the award was “inspired by a decade of Don’s leadership at FPSC’s helm, developing and promoting a made-in-Canada CFP™ professional certification for financial planners.”

The purpose of the award is to recognize and honour in perpetuity the spirit, imagination, dedication and contribution exemplified by FPSC’s first and founding president in establishing and leading FPSC through its first successful decade as the standard-setting organization for the emerging financial planning profession in Canada.

“Don’s vision, dedication, tenacity and talent have made an enormous contribution to the evolution of the financial planning profession,” says Ms. Koniuck. “His contribution recognized through the establishment of this award, we hope will inspire other similarly meaningful and profound contributions for years to come.”

In addition to a trophy, a formal award presentation, and the recipient’s name on the perpetual plaque that will sit at the FPSC offices in Toronto, FPSC’s Board of Directors will make a financial contribution to a charity chosen by the annual recipient of the Donald J. Johnston award. This year FPSC will contribute $10,000 to a charity to be chosen by Johnston.

“Financial planning is about helping people, and we are told consistently by CFP professionals that “wanting to help people” is one of the main reasons they chose careers in financial planning,” said Koniuck. “It is in this spirit of benevolence that is so pervasive in our community of CFP professionals, that the FPSC Board of Directors has linked the Donald J. Johnston Award to an annual contribution to a charity that we hope will touch the lives of people who may be beyond the professional reach of financial planners.”

More on Don Johnston’s Contribution to the Profession of Financial Planning in Canada.

Johnston founded FPSC in 1995 with a vision and unrelenting passion to create the foundation for a profession through the development of a made-in-Canada certification based on uniform, rigorous requirements in education, examination, ethics and experience. Johnston, rallied support for his mandate from key influential organizations in the industry, and, in 1996, secured the rights for FPSC to be sole licensor of the internationally recognized CFP™ professional certification marks in Canada.

“ Don Johnston is one of the latter day pioneers of professional regulation in Canada. His dedication and foresight will benefit financial planners and their clients in our country for years to come,” said John Carpenter, FICB, FCGA, Executive Director and CEO of CGA-Alberta, and Chair of FPSC Board of Directors from 2000 to 2002.

Under Johnston’s leadership, FPSC has continued to ensure the ongoing relevance, integrity and rigour of the CFP standards. A few examples: the CFP™ Financial Planning Practice Standards; the ongoing refinement of the certification process, including the national CFP™ Examination and the recently completed financial planning competency analysis; and an ongoing and powerful public awareness effort that has contributed to an increase in public understanding and appreciation of financial planning and the value of hiring a CFP professional.

Johnston has also played a leading role in the development and advancement of the CFP standards at an international level.

“Don's leadership in the financial planning profession has been greatly appreciated in the international arena as well as within Canada. Don's role as Council Chair and board member for the international Financial Planning Standards Board has been key to the continued growth and development of the financial planning profession around the world. Congratulations, Don, on the success of FPSC,” said Elaine Bedel, CFP, President of Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc. and Chair of the Financial Planning Standards Board.

Today, there are almost 17,000 CFP professionals working across Canada in every sector, providing Canadians ready access to an identifiable, competent body of credentialed financial planning professionals.

Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1995 to foster professionalism in personal financial planning. FPSC develops and enforces the highest standards in financial planning competency and ethics for individuals who hold the CFP™ (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) in Canada. There are currently almost 17,000 CFP professionals in Canada and more than 94,000 individuals who have earned CFP certification in 18 countries around the world. See www.cfp-ca.org for more information.

FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Eileen Chadnick /Chadnick Communications at 416.631.7437 or Eileen@Chadnick.com or
Ann Bowman / FPSC at 416.593.8587 ext. 225 or abowman@cfp-ca.org.

Further details about the Donald J. Johnston Award are available at www.cfp-ca.org/10thanniversary.