President’s Message

Dear Colleague,

As the holiday season approaches, I want to extend my deepest thanks to all of you—our members, board of directors, and staff. The year 2024 has been another busy and productive year for our association, and I would like to share some of the accomplishments we have achieved together.

One of our major accomplishments was implementing the key initiatives identified in our strategic plan. The first of these initiatives was the expansion of the CFSA into Western Canada. I am pleased to share that we have established a committee, led by our Treasurer, to oversee this effort. Additionally, we have added representation from Western Canada to our Board of Directors to help facilitate this expansion. We will continue to provide updates throughout the upcoming year as we make further progress.

Our second major initiative was to diversify and increase our membership. I am happy to report that we had a strong membership drive in 2024 and made significant strides in diversifying our membership; we increased our membership by 10% over the past calendar year. The Membership Committee also launched a targeted membership drive in the last quarter of the year, aiming to continue our efforts to broaden and strengthen our membership base.

While the development of a formal set of policies and procedures was on our agenda for this year, the Board of Directors decided to postpone this initiative. However, the board has allocated funds for us to begin preparing these policies in the upcoming year.

Another major accomplishment for CFSA was the 2024 Annual Education Forum (AEF). This year’s event was expanded from a single-day format to a day-and-a-half event, complete with a full-scale trade show. The AEF had a record-breaking year, with over 250 attendees and more than 30 sponsors and exhibitors. The success of this event has encouraged the AEF Committee to plan an even larger event for 2025. Planning is already underway, and next year’s AEF will be our first full two-day event.

The Board of Directors also experienced some changes in 2024. I would like to thank our outgoing board members for their hard work and dedication to the CFSA. At the same time, I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to Farzad Heirani, Jason Rowland, and Glenn Stephenson. We look forward to collaborating with you and benefiting from your expertise.

In closing, I would like to offer a few home safety reminders to keep you and your families safe this holiday season:

• Check your batteries and ensure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working properly.
• Share fire escape plans with your overnight guests.
• Water your Christmas tree daily.
• Keep lit candles away from children, pets, and other combustible materials, and never leave them unattended.

From my family to yours, and on behalf of all CFSA members, I wish you a safe and joyful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Kind regards,

 
Anthony Rago
CFSA President