-      Launched the CIRI Ontario Professional of the Year Award to recognize a chapter member who has made an outstanding contribution to the practice of investor relations through professional activities or volunteer support of CIRI and/or the investment community – nominations are now open to all chapter members and the winner will be chosen by an online membership vote

-      Developed a solid programming calendar, beginning with our Mentorship Breakfast on January 17th and continuing with the RBC Capital Markets-sponsored Equity Sales and Trading – Behind the Scenes event on January 24th.

We are also changing and improving the way we do programming. In the spring, we will host an open forum brainstorming session where you will have the opportunity to participate in choosing the content – and speakers – for our fall events.

Plans are also underway to employ a social media strategy to stay connected and we are working cooperatively with otherCIRI chapters to share programming ideas, and, where possible, webcast other chapter’s events.

If you would like to volunteer in support of CIRI Ontario, have a programming idea you want to share, or wish to participate as a mentor or protégé in our mentorship program, please let me know or contact a member of your board.

A final note of thanks to the sponsors of our December gala (IPREO, Laurel Hill Advisory Group, Renmark, ACT Teleconferencing, Marketwire, CDS Clearing and Depository Services, Fundamental Creative), the 62 members and guests who attended and our volunteer organizing committee of Sarah Borg Olivier, Jerry Ormiston, Tracy Ewing, Elaine Wyatt, Linda Montgomery and Chaya Cooperberg. Thanks also to IR Magazine for donating a draw prize in support of early membership renewal. By all accounts, the event was a success and we hope to build on what we learned for next year.

If you have not yet renewed your CIRI membership for 2012, or have never belonged, I encourage you to act. Educational, networking and advocacy efforts have never been stronger and you will participate in a chapter that now has over 250 members – and in a national association with more than 650. 

Yours sincerely, 

Ernie Stapleton 

President, CIRI Ontario